Beyond the Spotlight: Creating Space for Queer Voices in Local Theater
Whim Productions, founded by Kevin King, amplifies LGBTQ+ voices in Kansas City theater. Through Alphabet Soup, a queer-focused play showcase, the company nurtures diverse stories, fosters community, and reshapes local theater.
By Frances James, for OUT in Kansas
In the heart of Kansas City’s vibrant arts scene, one theater company is making space for voices that have often been left out of the spotlight. Founded by Kevin King, Whim Productions is dedicated to bringing LGBTQ+ stories to life, creating a platform where queer narratives are at the forefront. Through thought-provoking performances, as well as a commitment to representation, Kevin King is reshaping the landscape of local theater by offering fresh perspectives and creating space for LGBTQ+ voices to be heard—one play at a time.
At the core of Whim Productions is Alphabet Soup, a bold and dynamic short play showcase that amplifies queer voices and experiences. With each production, the company fosters a space where storytelling becomes a tool for visibility, healing, and community.
Kevin King, a multifaceted playwright, producer, director, actor, choreographer, and sound designer, has been writing plays since college, developing a strong foundation in theater. Originally from Topeka, he’s always valued theater. He recalls visiting theaters with his parents and appreciating the deep intimacy of sharing a space with actors as they bring stories to life.
Whim Productions was founded in 2011, initially focusing on Kevin's local work. A year prior, one of his plays had been accepted into the Kansas City Fringe Festival. When he needed to list a name for his production company, he came up with one 'on a whim'—and thus, Whim Productions was born. Over the years, with the help of his friend and resident playwright Pete Bakely, it has evolved into a mission-focused theater company. “In 2019, I got a lot more intentional and less whimsical about Whim and decided to focus on presenting queer lives and only doing works by queer playwrights,” Kevin says. Whim is now a part of the Queer Theatre Alliance which is a national coalition of theaters presenting theatrical programming by, for, and about LGBTQ+ communities. (https://queertheatrealliance.org)
Whim Productions operates out of Whim Space, an arts-focused community center curated by the company. They began as a producer in the Kansas City Fringe Festival and have since hosted three seasons, along with dances, theater workshops, and neighborhood movie nights sponsored by the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association.
Kevin emphasizes that Whim Productions stands out in Kansas City as the only theater company solely dedicated to producing works by queer playwrights. Representing LGBTQ+ voices in theater is essential, as the queer community has long been connected to the art form, yet their stories are often overlooked. Kevin stresses that this work not only gives back to theater professionals but also fosters empathy and understanding, particularly among straight audiences. He underscores the importance of showcasing diverse queer experiences to help audiences better understand their friends, family members, and coworkers. Additionally, he highlights the significance of queer individuals seeing themselves represented on stage and witnessing a variety of queer experiences. “It can be both validating for themselves and also eye-opening.”
Initially presenting Alphabet Soup at the Fringe Festival as a collection of four short plays, Kevin was encouraged by the strong turnout and its status as one of the festival’s best-attended productions. Realizing its potential, he saw an opportunity to expand it into a stand-alone festival. Alphabet Soup gets its name from the many letters used to describe the queer community—LGBTQIA+— a term often called an "alphabet soup." Originally used mockingly, Kevin chose to embrace and reclaim the term.
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The plays selected for Alphabet Soup are chosen based on their potential. Before production, they are workshopped weekly with the playwrights for three months, with edits made based on feedback. “It’s really cool for me to be part of the building up of the queer writing here in Kansas City,” Kevin says about facilitating the workshops. He also highlights the success of several plays developed through Alphabet Soup, with many originating from the festival and being produced across the country, including being published. Two plays included in this year’s Alphabet Soup collection—Kevin King’s The Space Where We Met and John Adams’ The High Who Spied Me—were both selected for the 33rd Valdez Theater Conference in Alaska this June.
By facilitating the Alphabet Soup workshops, Kevin actively nurtures and develops queer writers, giving them the tools and support needed to bring their unique voices to the stage. He aims to continue impacting the local community and beyond through Whim Productions and Whim Space by creating a new queer canon of theatrical works. Their goal is to discover more plays that haven’t been staged before, offering stage reading workshops or full productions, such as Claire Carson's Kissing in the Grocery Store, which was premiered by Whim Productions.
With a dedicated space to execute their goals, Alphabet Soup now showcases once a year, with aspirations to stage four full different productions annually. Whim Space is available for venue rentals, workshops, gatherings, theater productions, and art exhibits. While open to anyone seeking a venue, its vision is to become an artistic hub for the LGBTQ+ community, focused on queer-centered work and activities. Currently, they host Improv Spring Board by Marian McClellan as a resident company, which exclusively serves women and nonbinary individuals by offering workshops, performance opportunities, and improv practice sessions.
Whim Space is located at 415 Prospect Ave, Kansas City, MO. Kevin King can be contacted at kevin@whimproductions.org for questions, venue inquiries, or information on upcoming submission dates for Alphabet Soup. For more details, visit their website at www.whimproductions.org
Alphabet Soup will run on the following dates and times:
Friday and Saturday, April 4th and 5th at 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 6th at 3:00 PM
Monday, April 7th at 7:30 PM
Friday and Saturday, April 11th and 12th at 7:30 PM
Through Whim Productions and Alphabet Soup, Kevin King and his team reshape theater, providing a safe space for silenced voices and highlighting the evolution of queer storytelling.
