Dana Bagshaw and Rick Kuhn came by the KZSC radio station to talk with Nada Miljkovic about the Drama production — Cell Talk:1410. Drawn from the writings of two women from 15th century England: the highly regarded mystic Julian of Norwich (played by Ali Eppy) and her younger contemporary Margery Kempe (Shannon Hemphill) — a more controversial figure, both then and now.

Outdoor performances with music from the period will be held on Sunday afternoons, 4:00 to 5:30 pm.
The American premiere of the UK award-winning play by local playwright Dana Bagshaw on premieres, Sunday Sept. 22: Calvary Episcopal, 532 Center Street, Santa Cruz.
Sept. 29: First Congregational, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz
October 6: St. Jude’s Episcopal, 20920 McClellan Road, Cupertino
October 13: St. Francis Episcopal, 1205 Pine Ave, Willow Glen

Suggested donations: $10 seniors/students, $15 general, at the door. Santa Cruz proceeds to the Homeless Shelter.

To hear Dana and Rick’s interview, please click on the grey button below:

For more information:

John Kempe(Rick Kuhn) Margery’s long-suffering husband must take a vow of celibacy so Margery can become a pilgrim.

Dana Bagshaw – Playwright
Dana studied playwriting at San Jose State University where her first play was had a workshop. She lived in England for 18 years where her play CELL TALK about Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe from Medieval times won an award in 2000, got published and received eight productions. in Gibraltar by the Royal Navy Dramatic Society. This summer in Gibraltar, the Royal Navy Dramatic Society gave CELL TALK its ninth production. Dana’s play HILDA, DAUGHTER OF WODEN was also published in England with two productions.

Dana’s first novel, MAMA GRACE, was published for the Oklahoma Centennial celebration in 2007. Now its sequel, RUNNING FROM GRACE, is also available.

Rick Kuhn – John Kempe
Rick Kuhn is an actor, writer, and producer based in Santa Cruz. He has performed in many theatre productions in San Francisco and Sonoma County as well as locally. Rick performs self-written monologues and stand-up routines in Los Angles, San Luis Obispo and San Jose as well as Santa Cruz. He produced solo variety showcases for the Santa Cruz Fringe Festival for the past two years. He is thrilled to be working on Cell Talk with Shannon, Ali, Dana and Matt.

Ali Eppy – Julian of Norwich
Since coming to Santa Cruz in 2007, Ali has appeared in eight 10’s @ 8 Festivals, as well as Best of the Rest Festival, and Full-Length Play Festival at Actors’ Theatre; Tandy Beal’s multimedia HereAfterHere; Crossing Delancey, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Raison d’être”at the Liliana Moraru Santa Cruz Jewish Theatre; Vagina Monologues. Ali is also featured in a television commercial. With a doctorate in Counselling Psychology, she has performed in psychodrama, as a university instructor and national seminar leader.

Shannon Hemphill – Margery Kempe
This is Shannon’s first acting role since high school when she played the lead in Arsenic and Old Lace and a witch in Macbeth at Bellarmine High School in San Jose. She works as a consulting accountant and (before rehearsals started!) was writing a futuristic novel set in Antarctica when a virus wipes out the rest of the world.

Matt Matthews – Director

Matt is known for his work both as an actor and a director with the Santa Clara Players, including On Golden Pond. He also sings both as a soloist and with the San Jose Symphonic Choir.

Interview with Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens

Artist on ArtBy Nada MiljkovićJun 26, 2023