Chosen By The Funk Presents: The Great Equalizer - A Variety Show

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- For the fourth consecutive year, performance artist, writer, dancer, and Gamut Gallery member Bobby Kahn returns to the old firehouse at Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis to present a variety show featuring comedy, dance, performance art and music acts. The show, called The Great Equalizer, will take place at 8 PM on April 28 and 29 at The Hook and Ladder Theater, continuing an annual tradition that began when the venue was operated by Patrick’s Cabaret.

For his first two shows, Bobby tapped into his social circle and booked mostly friends and acquaintances to perform. He realized he didn’t put enough effort into booking a diverse cast, and it showed. During that time, Bobby also attended several events where he was one of few white people in the room. These experiences prodded him to get out and try new things and meet new people.  Along the way, he found inspiration from many talented artists across many disciplines and expanded his network significantly. The Great Equalizer is a testament to that.

Performers in the show are ages 12 through 66, female, male, queer, straight, transgender, cisgender, veteran performers, emerging artists, American-born, foreign-born, white, black, Puerto Rican, everybody just a freakin’.

Once they hit the stage and feel the lights, all of these distinctions melt away. Anyone can be a star when given the chance to shine. The stage is The Great Equalizer.

While most of the acts are performing for Bobby for the first time, Hola Agua, a band fronted by 12-year-old Luna Hastur will return for an encore. At the age of 10, Hastur stole the show at Bobby’s 2015 show, and she and her adult bandmates received a standing ovation both nights. The only other return performer is Dani Frame, who has played second fiddle (or second banjo, more like) in previous shows but never had an act of her own.

The show will also feature Voice of Culture Drum & Dance (led by Kenna Cottman), a comedy act by New Year’s Steve (AKA musician, comedian, and artist Michael Gaughan), multiple dances from Energy Dance Collective, a reading by Patrick’s Cabaret board member Tom Cassidy, dance performances by Rikyrah Snow and Her Queens and Jaime Ramberg, and a musical performance by Simon Chama.

In a departure from his previous shows, Bobby will take a backseat as a performer and serve as host and MC.  

After the show ends, the stage will open to the audience for a dance party featuring a live techno set by Modwell on April 28 and a DJ set by Michelle Muse on April 29.

About Bobby Kahn/Chosen By The Funk
Bobby Kahn is a performance artist, writer, cable access television personality, Gamut Gallery member, dance class instructor and event curator/promoter in Minneapolis. He got his start as an artist on the wild cable access show Freaky Deeky and from there expanded into live performance and writing. He organized several Freaky Deeky live performances at venues including First Avenue and the Zombie Pub Crawl.  He produced and starred in variety shows as a guest curator at Patrick’s Cabaret in both 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Bobby and some friends launched a new comedy cable access show called And Now It’s. 2016 also saw Bobby’s debut as a feature writer for The Current’s Local Current Blog, as well as the launch of his Chosen By The Funk website, which covers the arts on a mostly local level. In December 2016, Bobby expanded Chosen By The Funk into an event promotion company with events at First Avenue (Get Together 7) and The Hook and Ladder Theater (Minneapolis Sound 2.0). Bobby curated and performed in both events. He will be promoting and hosting a Prince tribute event on April 21, 2017 in the Seventh Street Entry featuring Detroit DJ Moodymann.

Press Inquiries
Bobby Kahn//rbkahn@gmail.com//612-710-0741

Links
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/320863731644772/
4/28 Tickets: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1444220?utm_medium=bks
4/29 Tickets: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1444228?utm_medium=bks
http://www.chosenbythefunk.com

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