May 11, 2023 • 30 mins
Songs for Nobodies is a one-woman powerhouse performance that weaves the music of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, and Maria Callas throughout a mosaic of stories told by the everyday women who encountered these musical icons. Featuring the “flat-out spectacular" (Wall Street Journal) Bethany Thomas performing favorites like "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Crazy," and "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do," Songs for Nobodies celebrates the healing power of song. The performance is at People’s Light from now until May 21st. I speak with Thomas as well as Director Rob Lindley. Use the promo code SONGSBIZ for 25% off the ticket price.
https://www.peopleslight.org/whats-on/20222023-season/songs-for-nobodies/
SpeakOUT with Angela Giampolo, is a monthly segment on LGBTQIA issues and their implications to larger issues that impact us all. We speak about the increase in book banning across the country and her "Caravan of Hope" which will be traveling to rural locations across the country providing mobile legal help for LGBTQIA individuals who don't have easy access to legal help.
https://www.phillygaylawyer.com/
https://giampololaw.com/
https://www.caravanofhope.lgbt/ https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/childrensbooks https://www.aclupa.org/en/publications/banned-books-central-york-and-students-who-fought-it https://www.aclu.org/other/ban-booklist
First, I speak to Jill Perez Gobora, Found of Amy’s Kisses Foundation whose mission is to provide “Kisses of Opportunity” in the form of healthy relationship educational resources as well as educational scholarships to students in need. The foundation was created in the memory of educator and Jill’s sister Amy who was killed along with her two children in a tragic case of domestic violence. The Foundation seeks to remember Amy and her daughter Molly and son Gregory with a foundation that provides educational support for students in need as well as raises awareness about domestic violence. There is a Walk to Remember on May 21 to support the Foundation.
For more information go to: www.amyskisses.org Instagram: amyskisses FB: Amy's Kisses Foundation
https://www.peopleslight.org/whats-on/20222023-season/songs-for-nobodies/
SpeakOUT with Angela Giampolo, is a monthly segment on LGBTQIA issues and their implications to larger issues that impact us all. We speak about the increase in book banning across the country and her "Caravan of Hope" which will be traveling to rural locations across the country providing mobile legal help for LGBTQIA individuals who don't have easy access to legal help.
https://www.phillygaylawyer.com/
https://giampololaw.com/
https://www.caravanofhope.lgbt/ https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/childrensbooks https://www.aclupa.org/en/publications/banned-books-central-york-and-students-who-fought-it https://www.aclu.org/other/ban-booklist
First, I speak to Jill Perez Gobora, Found of Amy’s Kisses Foundation whose mission is to provide “Kisses of Opportunity” in the form of healthy relationship educational resources as well as educational scholarships to students in need. The foundation was created in the memory of educator and Jill’s sister Amy who was killed along with her two children in a tragic case of domestic violence. The Foundation seeks to remember Amy and her daughter Molly and son Gregory with a foundation that provides educational support for students in need as well as raises awareness about domestic violence. There is a Walk to Remember on May 21 to support the Foundation.
For more information go to: www.amyskisses.org Instagram: amyskisses FB: Amy's Kisses Foundation
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Good morning, and welcome to What'sgoing on, a show about making a
difference in our lives and our communities. I'm Lorraine Ballot. Tomorrow I speak
to the star and the director ofSongs for Nobodies, a one woman powerhouse
performance which weaves the music of JudyGarland, Patsy Kleine, Billie Holliday,
Edith Piaff and Maria Callis throughout amosaic of stories told by everyday women.
(00:24):
We also talk about book banning withAngela gam Paul for our monthly segment we
call speak Out, which examines lgbtQIA plus issues and their implications for the
wider community. But first this morning, we're going to talk about Amy's Kisses,
an organization that was formed to createhealthy relationship educational resources as well as
(00:47):
educational scholarships to students in need.This is to celebrate the memory of Amy
Perez and her children, Molly andGregory. There is going to be an
event coming up and we're going tobe talking about Amy's Kisses to tell us
more about it. As Jill PerezGobora, she's founder of Amy's Kisses Foundation.
Thank you so much for joining ushere today. Before we get into
(01:08):
the meat of what the organization does. Right now, let's talk about the
person for which this organization, thisfoundation is named for. Amy Perez was
very loved by her friends and family. She was the victim of a terrible
tragedy, and I wonder if youcould just briefly touch on it and then
we can move on to the legacythat you're creating in her memory. Sure,
(01:34):
on October eighteenth, twenty eleven,we could not get in contact with
my sister or my niece and nephew, and unfortunately it came to pass that
her soon to be a strange husbandhad murdered her and her children the night
before in their own under any circumstances. That is an unspeakable tragedy and sad
(02:00):
we see so much of this happeningin cases of domestic violence and abuse that
sometimes end in this unspeakable tragedy.And certainly, to find meaning in the
passing of someone who's so loved notonly your sister but her children, you
(02:21):
decided to create something that would bea legacy for the memory of everything that
you loved about your sister, andthat's where you founded Amy's Kisses Foundation.
Tell us about the foundation and whyyou decided to create it and what it
does. My parents and Amy's closefriends and I. After a year of
(02:44):
mourning and looking at ourselves and notknowing what to do, we decided the
best way to try to deal withour tragedy and to move forward is to
help others in Amy, Mali andGregory's name. So our initial mission,
which we still have what we've addedto it was to educate enrichual lives with
(03:05):
students in need. Because my sistereducation was very important to Amy. She
graduated top of her class at CornellUniversity. Then she went on to earn
her NBA from Wharton at the Universityof Pennsylvania. She was in the midst
of starting her own SAT tutoring.Business. Education was very very important to
(03:28):
your sister. Amy was all badeducation. Yes, she was just in
the process of starting this business.She already was the SAT tutor to go
to for these high school students andshe wanted to start giving back and then
to offer her services free of chargeonce she got on her feet, which
(03:49):
she never had the opportunity to do. So our initial mission was to enrichal
lives of students in need through donatingSAT books to off your Futures, which
is now Heights, and we alsosponsor students at Heights. We've since we
started Amy's Kisses eleven years ago.And we also award scholarships to high schools
(04:15):
where who have supported Amy's Kisses inmy area at Pennsbury Council Rock South in
the Bucks County area, and alsowhere Amy her high school students where they
went to high school. We givescholarships there and anything that anyone who shows
the need, we discuss it andwe'll get anywhere in the United States,
we award scholarships. We've given outkindle lending libraries to high schools and need
(04:42):
anything to do with education through donorschoose, Amy's Kisses gives to schools around
the country whatever their classroom is lacking. Yeah, so you have an event
that's coming up on May twenty,first, tell us about that event.
That is our Taking Steps to Enddomest Violence Walk to Remember. It's our
ninth annual Walk to Remember. Itshould have been our eleventh, but due
(05:05):
to COVID, it's our ninth annualWalk to Remember. We talk about Amy
and the foundation and have food andit's just a it's a lovely time to
remember Amy, Marian Gray Ray andhear about how their support is helping Amy's
Kisses. If people would like toparticipate, give us all the details and
(05:27):
where people can sign up. Goon our website at Amy's Kisses dot org.
You can sponsor a walker, orwe'd love to have you and your
friends and your family come out andwalk with us and learn a little bit
more about Amy's Kisses. And it'son May twenty first. What time does
it start and where's it located.It is at number one Lane Trail and
rich Barow, PA. That's TylerState Park and registration starts at a fifteen
(05:53):
and we start walking at nine fifteen. It's a little under a five k
and it's a good time. There'salso another project that you're involved with,
A Bowl full of Heart's book.Tell us about that. Yes. Our
dual mission, which created about fiveyears ago, is to address the domestic
(06:15):
aspects part of what happened in ourtragedy, and we try to educate students
about healthy relationships. And we supporta Woman's Place, Women Against Abuse and
the Laurel House and their community educationprograms where they go into school starting in
middle school and teach about healthy relationships. But Amy's Kisses is starting its own
(06:40):
project, and that is to reachthe earliest learners possible, which is the
preschool level. We created a bookcalled A Bowl Full of Hearts, which
teaches about the ten signs of ahealthy relationship. Certainly, it's something that
we don't really get in schools andit's very much needed. And because we're
(07:02):
a zoom and you showed me thebook cover, it is adorable and if
people would like to get a copy, how can they do that. We'll
be launching our book in October DomesticViolence Awareness Month, so you can go
on our website and we'll be thereInstagram at Amy's Kisses and we will be
selling it on Amazon. There'll beplenty of copies available for everybody. Fantastic
(07:28):
Again, for more information, goto the website and what is that website?
One more time, Amy's Kisses dotorg. Jill Perez gabora founder of
Amy's Kisses Foundation, thank you somuch for joining us here today, sharing
the story of Amy and Amy's Kisses, the Foundation, and being able to
lift up and share the memory ofsomeone who clearly was very special along with
(07:53):
her children who are lost tragically,but you're doing something to make this tragedy
have meaning and to do some goodin the community, and we thank you
for that and we acknowledge you forthat. So thank you for joining us
and sharing that information today. Thankyou very much. Have you ever wanted
to go above and beyond for yourcommunity? Volunteering for your local fire or
(08:16):
EMS department is your opportunity. Joina family that will serve with you,
always have your back, and trainyou to be the best version of yourself.
As a volunteer, you will meetnew people, learn new skills,
and make a meaningful impact. Learnmore at make me a Firefighter dot org.
That's make me a Firefighter dot org. For one hundred thirty six years,
(08:39):
the Boys and Girls Clubs in Philadelphiahave served youth to reach their full
potential as productive, caring, andresponsible citizens by providing programs such as Kids
Cafe, Littucy Initiative, and STEMLabs. On May seventeenth, join us
as the Stars have aligned to gofor the Gold by celebrating the Ericson family
and Coach Dick Formil at our annualCoaches Private Reserve Dinner Call two one five,
(09:03):
seven, three, five eight,eight one eight or visited BGC Phila
dot org for more info. You'relistening to what's going on the creative team
behind the acclaimed production at Chicago's NorthLight Theater are Real Nighting in Malvern to
(09:24):
bring you Songs for Nobodies. It'sa one woman powerhouse performance which weaves the
music of Judy Garland, Patsy Kleine, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaff, and
Maria Callas through the mosaic of storiestold by the everyday women who encountered these
musical icons. Joining us is thespectacular star of this one woman show,
(09:46):
Bethany Thomas, as well as itsdirector Rob Lindley. Thank you both for
joining us here today. I'm soexcited to be speaking to you about this
play. So I'm going to startwith you, Bethany. You've been getting
rave reviews. I've not had thepleasure yet of seeing the play, but
I plan to. But you haveto go through an incredible variety of performers.
(10:09):
I mean, you can't get twomore diametrically opposed people than Patsy Klein
and maybe Judy Garland or Edith Poff. Tell us how do you approach being
able to embody all these very disparateamazing performers the first time I even did
it. It's really just been abouttrying to figure out like the energy that
(10:31):
they're giving, and like figuring outthe essence, like what am I getting
from them? What makes Judy's voiceter, like her delivery or just anything that
she does, the way that shemoves, like what is interesting? What
does my body kind of already likedo in that, like how does it
feel? Let me and then kindof take it from there, and trying
(10:52):
to just match their energies and whatthey're giving to the audiences. It's also
just a lot of research and watchingvideos and listening to recordings and just trying
to find how their energies live inmy body. I guess because you know,
like I don't look like anybody.They all look super different, they
all sound super different. It's reallyjust been about like, all right,
(11:15):
what's the mood, what's the posture? How can I sink back into this?
How can I snap into her?It's becoming more and more natural,
which is awesome. It's never atthe whole moment, that's for sure,
no doubt. Rob Linley, You'vehad the opportunity to direct this and what's
kind of cool is that I understandthat you and Bethany were friends for a
(11:37):
long time and then you found out, oh yeah, I'm going to be
directing my friend, So that musn'tbeen pretty cool, right, It's the
best pleasure in the world. Itell the story often that when they approached
me with this show, they weredescribing what it was and I said,
oh, yeah, Songs for Nobody'sAnd they said, what, no,
No, nobody knows this show.How do you know this? I said,
(11:58):
oh, my friend did it inMilwaukee and they said, oh,
you know Bethany and I was like, oh, yeah, She's been one
of my best friends over twenty years, so that we just it's sometimes challenging
to work with a good friend,but for the most part, it's pure
joy. And we know each other'sinterpersonal wirings pretty well, so we know
(12:18):
when to dig deeper. We alsoknow when to be like, hey,
let's take a break, or shouldwe just go grab dinner, you know,
and make sure that we bring outthe best in each other well.
The play is entitled Songs for Nobody's, and although these iconic performers are featured,
the story is told by everyday women. And I want that encounter these
(12:41):
icons, Rob and Bethany how doesthat work in the structure of the play.
I mean, obviously there's the performanceswhere you get to perform these amazing
women, but also it's the onesthat we don't know about. These are
everyday people. Tell us more aboutthat structure and how that works. We
(13:03):
start out like our first person thatwe meet, her name's b Appleton.
She is a restroom attendant, youknow, like the plaza Athne on sixty
third Street. I'll just go throughmy whole script here. They all have
just like, ah, like allright, let me invite you in.
You don't know who they're talking to, but it's like I'm addressing the room
(13:24):
right away. As soon as thelight comes up. It's like I'm talking
to you. We're in a conversation. I have something that I need to
get across. And all the womenare very different, but Rob helped me
out with some words. Now,the structure of it is that they're they're
you know, five women who youmight not regard if you walk down the
street and saw them. A bathroomattendant, a usher at a venue,
(13:46):
a librarian, a nanny, areporter, and so it becomes this fun
structure where a play sets up thesewonderful musical performances. So and then in
the we're all arc of these,because it's really been ten characters Bethany's playing,
you start seeing that there's not reallyany such thing as a nobody,
(14:09):
and that these iconic women are changedby the everyday people they encounter, and
the everyday people they encounters. Livesare lifted up by these women that we
hold so high as quote unquote stars, especially in this day and age.
I think it's a piece that challengesus all to see each other and to
spend some time connecting with one another, and then you get these amazing,
(14:33):
iconic musical performances as kind of thebonus. Even though that's probably what you
came for. There's just this reallylovely message of the millions of possibilities that
each of us have within us.That sounds fascinating, and I think that
it also speaks to the role thatcelebrities, how they figure into our lives.
(14:56):
I may not ever meet Beyonce,However, if I happen to have
met her in the bathroom, thatwould have been a totally earth shattering experience.
But I think It also really doesreflect on the nature of what celebrity
is or what whether you directly encountersomebody or you don't, but simply know
(15:18):
them because of how they impact you, because of their genius and the idea
of happiness. On top of that, a lot of celebrities or stars we
place on a pedestal because if wethink, oh, they have it all,
and then maybe what the exchange isthat you realize maybe your life,
as ordinary and routine as it is, has a little bit more happiness because
(15:41):
a lot of our celebrities, especiallythe women that we tribute in this,
didn't have the easiest go of itall or lives ended tragically soon. Yeah
a bathany I have to say bigprops to anyone who does a one person
show because you're it's just you,right, You're it's just all about you
(16:03):
on that stage and having to jumpfrom character to character. What's your process
inside that allows you to be ableto to manifest all these different people and
at the end of the day goon to do it again. You know
that just seems like, oh mygosh, I'm I struggle to just be
(16:26):
me, right, so tell people, oh my god, here, well,
you know, it's a nice littlebreak from yourself for a while.
That's always nice. It's a lot, I mean, for me, once
the words are back in my brain, it's it's always it's just it's intention.
It's intention, it's posture. It'sa lot of breath work for me.
(16:48):
It's a lot of Okay, nowwe're in another thing. I think
if anybody tried it and had torehearse it for many times, I think
anybody would figure it out. Likeit just you lift out something, you
get right back into something else.The voices that I'm doing might not sound
super different from each other. It'sreally just like what does this person want?
What does this person want? Where'sthis person in the world right now?
(17:10):
Okay, now I'm this other person. I think I get what you're
saying. You got specific praise,and I'm going to quote it said,
you'd imagine it would be impossible fora single singer to do justice to such
a disparate group of musical artists,not this one that was praise for you,
Bethany Thomas, and you get tosing some iconic songs come rain or
Shine Crazy, ain't nobody's business.These are spectacular songs that were signature songs
(17:36):
for all these various artists that youget to recreate, and they're not it's
not like a simple quiet ballad.I mean, you're these are belters.
These are all very passionate songs sungand performed by some very passionate performers.
So kudos to you for this.True, it's a lot of fun anything
(17:56):
about these ladies, like you know, I'm excellent band and awesome arrangements by
our music director and stuff. Andit's funny because you just really have to
do the most balls out version everytime, you know. It's like,
I know, Judy probably had alot of nights were it was not coming
out that way. And you canlisten to Patsy client live recordings and those
(18:21):
keys are much lower than the recordedversion. So it's fun to try to
play around, like what if Billyhad like a real time getting to this
place? What which is not goingto sound perfect every time? But no,
that's what you have to give them, So it is it is interesting
like just coming in and be like, well, I've got to give like
their best performance right now, eachone of the songs with the show stoppers.
(18:45):
So usually in a musical you havetwo show stoppers. Bethany sings like
twelve shows each one of us springHouse down eleven o'clock numbers. Yeah,
there's no easy, breezy little shortballad anywhere in the show. Yeah.
Well, Strange Fruit is nice andquieter, but it is heart wrenching challenge.
(19:11):
Sure. Yeah. Well. Songsfor Nobody's playing at People's Light through
May twenty first. For more information, you can go to People's Like dot
Org. Rob Linley, director andBethany Thomas, the star of Songs for
Nobodies, Thank you so much forjoining us today. Thank you for having
us, Thank you for having us. One ale over one eleven and I
(19:41):
had a stroke. I can speakodd, walk one fifty or ninety,
and I add a stroke. Thisis what high blood pressure sounds like.
You might not feel its symptoms,but the results from a stroke are far
from silent. Get back on yourtreatment plan or talk with your doctor to
create a plan that works for you. Go to lower your HB pete dot
org. I had to tell everything'schanged. Brought to you by the American
(20:03):
Stroke Association, American Medical Association,and the AD Council. As we do
once a month, every month,we have the wonderful Angelo Giampolo of gm
Polo Law and also the Philly GayLawyer blog and so many things. She's
(20:23):
an activist and someone is my goto person for talking about issues related to
the LGBTQIA plus community, but alsothe conversations that impact all of us.
We get lessons from these conversations thatreally do relate to all of us in
our community. So great to seeyou again, and so what's up?
(20:45):
What's new with you? You're gettingready for you your big tour right in
June. Yes, the Caravan ofFolk Maiden Voyage June first through the thirtieth
and Caravana's Books all the City's seventeenstops wonderful providing free legal aid to folks
who are in the LGBTQIA communities,particularly in rural areas where they don't have
(21:07):
access to this resource. So whatare we talking about today? We are
talking about book banning, the wonderfuljoy of burning the First Amendment as we
know, it is running rampant allover the country. The American Library Association
just came out with a study thatbook banning is up forty one percent year
(21:30):
after year, so specifically the lasttwo years twenty twenty two and now just
a few months into twenty twenty three. So in Pennsylvania in particular is the
state with the third most banned booksin the country, only behind Texas and
Florida. So we have over fourhundred and fifty titles works books banned right
(21:53):
here in Pennsylvania. So it's rampantall over the country, but definitely increasing
in free WINC data day. There'salso been some pushback. I know that
in some locations they've had students who'vecome out and protested against the banning of
books. Now, the banning ofbooks has wider implications. Certainly they have
(22:15):
been targeting books that reflect the experiencesof folks in the lgbtqia communities. But
this book banning has a wide netthat it's impacting, right, absolutely,
protagonists of color LGBTQ folks, butpredominantly those main segments are the ones most
(22:37):
impacted. But you mentioned students andtheir own uprising, if you will,
have pushed back. So every yearfor the last fifty some o years,
there's actually a week that celebrates bannedbooks. So in schools they've always brought
attention and highlighted the fact that they'reare banned books in the United States,
(23:03):
and there'd be a whole week wherewe're gonna highlight banned book Week. And
here in Pennsylvania in Bucks County,two districts have banned Banned Book Week.
So the week in which they talkabout banned books is now banned banned banned
(23:23):
book Week. Now kids are students, grassroots organizers are doing gorilla book banned
book giveaways. Okay, so inthe libraries, they've been told that they're
not allowed to have public libraries,specifically that they're not allowed to have these
these banned book titles, so theyhave to take them off the shelves.
(23:45):
So instead of taking them off theshelves and doing nothing, they're doing gorilla
giveaway of the banned books. Soboth folks in public libraries as well as
kids in high schools everywhere definitely pushingback to the extent that they can leave.
It's fast scinating to me. Oneof my I'm a big science fiction
aficionado, and one of my favoritebooks is Ray Bradberry's Fahrenheit four or five
(24:07):
one, which is a science fictionstory about a future in which books are
not only banned, but they areburned and the firefighters are not putting out
fires, but they specifically are thereto burn books. And it's about the
freedom of expression. And at thetime that I read the story, it
(24:30):
seemed fairly remote to me because Iwas probably in middle school or junior high
school. But now the reality ofthat is so in our face and so
disturbing that this science fiction future,this dystopian future, is upon us now
right. I mean Margaret Atwood's handmadetale that wasn't meant to be reality in
(24:52):
any way. Last year she createda copy of the book that is indestructible,
unable to be burned, and there'sa video of her taking a flamethrower
to it and trying to burn thisbook. And so Sotheby's put up for
auction an indestructible, unburnable version ofthat book that she created for this exact
(25:15):
purpose. I have chills just eventhinking about the reality of where we are
and the fact that right here inour own backyard, Bucks County, right
is the center of an ACLU lawsuitof one of the strictest book banning districts
schools in the country. York Pennsylvaniais responsible for four hundred and forty one
(25:40):
of the four hundred and fifty ninebands here in Pennsylvania alone in Central York.
I mean, and what does thatmean for those kids? Right?
And any of the teachers who aretalking about the books and getting fired.
And a lot of folks ask me, ask me, what can we do?
Right? If this is the legalities, If I can be fired,
if my kids can't get these booksthat's pool or even in the public you
(26:00):
know, free Library of Philadelphia,then you know what can we do?
And I tell them buy books fromthe list of look up most banned books.
There's a great LGBTQ one that Ibuy all of my adoption clients called
Tango Makes Three about two gay penguinsfrom the San Diego Zoo that tried to
(26:23):
have a baby. And the onegay penguin would bring a rock to the
other that looked like an egg tothe other gay penguin who sit on it,
and they try to hatch an eggand mimic everyone else who was sitting
on eggs, and he would hatchand the zoologists started noticing what they were
doing, and they're like, ohmy god, they're trying to create a
family like everyone else. And theonly way that they know how and so
(26:45):
one day the zoologists took the rockand replaced it with an egg real quick,
without the penguin seeing. So thenhe sat on the real egg and
hatched, and they thought they madea family, and they were so happy.
And these zoologists just wrote a reallycute book about it, and it
became one of the top band booksin the country. And they're like,
(27:06):
we didn't we didn't do this.We're not gay, we didn't do this.
From an advocacy standpoint, this isa real story of two gay penguins
in the San Diego Zoo and Igive it to all my adoption clients.
But Gender Queer by my Kobab BigOne, All Boys Aren't Blue, The
Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison to yourpoint about rape incests, real things that
(27:27):
a lot of women deal with,and Flamer about LGBTQIA content and coming of
age. There's a new podcast thatjust started up about a month or so
ago out in the West Coast abouta guy who talks about books that saved
his life, the very few bookswhere he felt normalized. Right, And
(27:47):
so these books are not about spreadingan agenda or any propaganda. It's about
normalizing folks who don't see themselves inother books, and truly that helped save
lives. So if you're wondering whatyou can do, google most banned books,
buy them, share them, takepart in some of these gorilla giveaways.
(28:08):
If you're involved in your even ifyou're not involved, if you're especially
if you're not involved in your school, district and pta you know involvement,
become so and have a voice forthese band books. So very quickly,
if people want to know more aboutyour Caravan of Hope, about Gmpolo Law
and about Philly Gay Lawyer, yourblog tell us more. Absolutely so,
(28:32):
Caravan of Hope, just go toCaravan of Fope dot LGBT and learn more
about our itinerary there and form mylaw firm. Go to Jampolo Law dot
com or just google Philly Gay Lawyerand I'll pop up fantastic Angelo dmpolo who
is the owner, CEO and principleof Dmpolo Law and one of my favorite
(28:52):
people out there giving us her pointof view and sharing with us how LGBTQIA
issues are all of our issues,and I thank you for that. Thank
you rin as always for giving aplatform for these issues and to your point.
You know, lgbt QIA issues areall of our issues right. These
books are helpful and beneficial to everyonewho reads them, even if it's not
(29:15):
you seeing yourself in the book,it's you seeing an experience that is not
your own. For you to expandyour consciousness around other people's experience, and
that's truly what makes us well round. I love that. Thank you.
You could listen to all of today'sinterviews by going to our station website and
typing in keyword Community. You canalso listen on the iHeartRadio app key Words
(29:37):
Philadelphia Community Podcast. Follow me onTwitter and Instagram at Lorraine Ballard. I'm
Lorraine Ballard Morrow, and I standfor service to our community and media that
empowers. What will you stand for? You've been listening to what's going on
ed, Thank you. I I
Good morning, and welcome to What'sgoing on, a show about making a
difference in our lives and our communities. I'm Lorraine Ballot. Tomorrow I speak
to the star and the director ofSongs for Nobodies, a one woman powerhouse
performance which weaves the music of JudyGarland, Patsy Kleine, Billie Holliday,
Edith Piaff and Maria Callis throughout amosaic of stories told by everyday women.
(00:24):
We also talk about book banning withAngela gam Paul for our monthly segment we
call speak Out, which examines lgbtQIA plus issues and their implications for the
wider community. But first this morning, we're going to talk about Amy's Kisses,
an organization that was formed to createhealthy relationship educational resources as well as
(00:47):
educational scholarships to students in need.This is to celebrate the memory of Amy
Perez and her children, Molly andGregory. There is going to be an
event coming up and we're going tobe talking about Amy's Kisses to tell us
more about it. As Jill PerezGobora, she's founder of Amy's Kisses Foundation.
Thank you so much for joining ushere today. Before we get into
(01:08):
the meat of what the organization does. Right now, let's talk about the
person for which this organization, thisfoundation is named for. Amy Perez was
very loved by her friends and family. She was the victim of a terrible
tragedy, and I wonder if youcould just briefly touch on it and then
we can move on to the legacythat you're creating in her memory. Sure,
(01:34):
on October eighteenth, twenty eleven,we could not get in contact with
my sister or my niece and nephew, and unfortunately it came to pass that
her soon to be a strange husbandhad murdered her and her children the night
before in their own under any circumstances. That is an unspeakable tragedy and sad
(02:00):
we see so much of this happeningin cases of domestic violence and abuse that
sometimes end in this unspeakable tragedy.And certainly, to find meaning in the
passing of someone who's so loved notonly your sister but her children, you
(02:21):
decided to create something that would bea legacy for the memory of everything that
you loved about your sister, andthat's where you founded Amy's Kisses Foundation.
Tell us about the foundation and whyyou decided to create it and what it
does. My parents and Amy's closefriends and I. After a year of
(02:44):
mourning and looking at ourselves and notknowing what to do, we decided the
best way to try to deal withour tragedy and to move forward is to
help others in Amy, Mali andGregory's name. So our initial mission,
which we still have what we've addedto it was to educate enrichual lives with
(03:05):
students in need. Because my sistereducation was very important to Amy. She
graduated top of her class at CornellUniversity. Then she went on to earn
her NBA from Wharton at the Universityof Pennsylvania. She was in the midst
of starting her own SAT tutoring.Business. Education was very very important to
(03:28):
your sister. Amy was all badeducation. Yes, she was just in
the process of starting this business.She already was the SAT tutor to go
to for these high school students andshe wanted to start giving back and then
to offer her services free of chargeonce she got on her feet, which
(03:49):
she never had the opportunity to do. So our initial mission was to enrichal
lives of students in need through donatingSAT books to off your Futures, which
is now Heights, and we alsosponsor students at Heights. We've since we
started Amy's Kisses eleven years ago.And we also award scholarships to high schools
(04:15):
where who have supported Amy's Kisses inmy area at Pennsbury Council Rock South in
the Bucks County area, and alsowhere Amy her high school students where they
went to high school. We givescholarships there and anything that anyone who shows
the need, we discuss it andwe'll get anywhere in the United States,
we award scholarships. We've given outkindle lending libraries to high schools and need
(04:42):
anything to do with education through donorschoose, Amy's Kisses gives to schools around
the country whatever their classroom is lacking. Yeah, so you have an event
that's coming up on May twenty,first, tell us about that event.
That is our Taking Steps to Enddomest Violence Walk to Remember. It's our
ninth annual Walk to Remember. Itshould have been our eleventh, but due
(05:05):
to COVID, it's our ninth annualWalk to Remember. We talk about Amy
and the foundation and have food andit's just a it's a lovely time to
remember Amy, Marian Gray Ray andhear about how their support is helping Amy's
Kisses. If people would like toparticipate, give us all the details and
(05:27):
where people can sign up. Goon our website at Amy's Kisses dot org.
You can sponsor a walker, orwe'd love to have you and your
friends and your family come out andwalk with us and learn a little bit
more about Amy's Kisses. And it'son May twenty first. What time does
it start and where's it located.It is at number one Lane Trail and
rich Barow, PA. That's TylerState Park and registration starts at a fifteen
(05:53):
and we start walking at nine fifteen. It's a little under a five k
and it's a good time. There'salso another project that you're involved with,
A Bowl full of Heart's book.Tell us about that. Yes. Our
dual mission, which created about fiveyears ago, is to address the domestic
(06:15):
aspects part of what happened in ourtragedy, and we try to educate students
about healthy relationships. And we supporta Woman's Place, Women Against Abuse and
the Laurel House and their community educationprograms where they go into school starting in
middle school and teach about healthy relationships. But Amy's Kisses is starting its own
(06:40):
project, and that is to reachthe earliest learners possible, which is the
preschool level. We created a bookcalled A Bowl Full of Hearts, which
teaches about the ten signs of ahealthy relationship. Certainly, it's something that
we don't really get in schools andit's very much needed. And because we're
(07:02):
a zoom and you showed me thebook cover, it is adorable and if
people would like to get a copy, how can they do that. We'll
be launching our book in October DomesticViolence Awareness Month, so you can go
on our website and we'll be thereInstagram at Amy's Kisses and we will be
selling it on Amazon. There'll beplenty of copies available for everybody. Fantastic
(07:28):
Again, for more information, goto the website and what is that website?
One more time, Amy's Kisses dotorg. Jill Perez gabora founder of
Amy's Kisses Foundation, thank you somuch for joining us here today, sharing
the story of Amy and Amy's Kisses, the Foundation, and being able to
lift up and share the memory ofsomeone who clearly was very special along with
(07:53):
her children who are lost tragically,but you're doing something to make this tragedy
have meaning and to do some goodin the community, and we thank you
for that and we acknowledge you forthat. So thank you for joining us
and sharing that information today. Thankyou very much. Have you ever wanted
to go above and beyond for yourcommunity? Volunteering for your local fire or
(08:16):
EMS department is your opportunity. Joina family that will serve with you,
always have your back, and trainyou to be the best version of yourself.
As a volunteer, you will meetnew people, learn new skills,
and make a meaningful impact. Learnmore at make me a Firefighter dot org.
That's make me a Firefighter dot org. For one hundred thirty six years,
(08:39):
the Boys and Girls Clubs in Philadelphiahave served youth to reach their full
potential as productive, caring, andresponsible citizens by providing programs such as Kids
Cafe, Littucy Initiative, and STEMLabs. On May seventeenth, join us
as the Stars have aligned to gofor the Gold by celebrating the Ericson family
and Coach Dick Formil at our annualCoaches Private Reserve Dinner Call two one five,
(09:03):
seven, three, five eight,eight one eight or visited BGC Phila
dot org for more info. You'relistening to what's going on the creative team
behind the acclaimed production at Chicago's NorthLight Theater are Real Nighting in Malvern to
(09:24):
bring you Songs for Nobodies. It'sa one woman powerhouse performance which weaves the
music of Judy Garland, Patsy Kleine, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaff, and
Maria Callas through the mosaic of storiestold by the everyday women who encountered these
musical icons. Joining us is thespectacular star of this one woman show,
(09:46):
Bethany Thomas, as well as itsdirector Rob Lindley. Thank you both for
joining us here today. I'm soexcited to be speaking to you about this
play. So I'm going to startwith you, Bethany. You've been getting
rave reviews. I've not had thepleasure yet of seeing the play, but
I plan to. But you haveto go through an incredible variety of performers.
(10:09):
I mean, you can't get twomore diametrically opposed people than Patsy Klein
and maybe Judy Garland or Edith Poff. Tell us how do you approach being
able to embody all these very disparateamazing performers the first time I even did
it. It's really just been abouttrying to figure out like the energy that
(10:31):
they're giving, and like figuring outthe essence, like what am I getting
from them? What makes Judy's voiceter, like her delivery or just anything that
she does, the way that shemoves, like what is interesting? What
does my body kind of already likedo in that, like how does it
feel? Let me and then kindof take it from there, and trying
(10:52):
to just match their energies and whatthey're giving to the audiences. It's also
just a lot of research and watchingvideos and listening to recordings and just trying
to find how their energies live inmy body. I guess because you know,
like I don't look like anybody.They all look super different, they
all sound super different. It's reallyjust been about like, all right,
(11:15):
what's the mood, what's the posture? How can I sink back into this?
How can I snap into her?It's becoming more and more natural,
which is awesome. It's never atthe whole moment, that's for sure,
no doubt. Rob Linley, You'vehad the opportunity to direct this and what's
kind of cool is that I understandthat you and Bethany were friends for a
(11:37):
long time and then you found out, oh yeah, I'm going to be
directing my friend, So that musn'tbeen pretty cool, right, It's the
best pleasure in the world. Itell the story often that when they approached
me with this show, they weredescribing what it was and I said,
oh, yeah, Songs for Nobody'sAnd they said, what, no,
No, nobody knows this show.How do you know this? I said,
(11:58):
oh, my friend did it inMilwaukee and they said, oh,
you know Bethany and I was like, oh, yeah, She's been one
of my best friends over twenty years, so that we just it's sometimes challenging
to work with a good friend,but for the most part, it's pure
joy. And we know each other'sinterpersonal wirings pretty well, so we know
(12:18):
when to dig deeper. We alsoknow when to be like, hey,
let's take a break, or shouldwe just go grab dinner, you know,
and make sure that we bring outthe best in each other well.
The play is entitled Songs for Nobody's, and although these iconic performers are featured,
the story is told by everyday women. And I want that encounter these
(12:41):
icons, Rob and Bethany how doesthat work in the structure of the play.
I mean, obviously there's the performanceswhere you get to perform these amazing
women, but also it's the onesthat we don't know about. These are
everyday people. Tell us more aboutthat structure and how that works. We
(13:03):
start out like our first person thatwe meet, her name's b Appleton.
She is a restroom attendant, youknow, like the plaza Athne on sixty
third Street. I'll just go throughmy whole script here. They all have
just like, ah, like allright, let me invite you in.
You don't know who they're talking to, but it's like I'm addressing the room
(13:24):
right away. As soon as thelight comes up. It's like I'm talking
to you. We're in a conversation. I have something that I need to
get across. And all the womenare very different, but Rob helped me
out with some words. Now,the structure of it is that they're they're
you know, five women who youmight not regard if you walk down the
street and saw them. A bathroomattendant, a usher at a venue,
(13:46):
a librarian, a nanny, areporter, and so it becomes this fun
structure where a play sets up thesewonderful musical performances. So and then in
the we're all arc of these,because it's really been ten characters Bethany's playing,
you start seeing that there's not reallyany such thing as a nobody,
(14:09):
and that these iconic women are changedby the everyday people they encounter, and
the everyday people they encounters. Livesare lifted up by these women that we
hold so high as quote unquote stars, especially in this day and age.
I think it's a piece that challengesus all to see each other and to
spend some time connecting with one another, and then you get these amazing,
(14:33):
iconic musical performances as kind of thebonus. Even though that's probably what you
came for. There's just this reallylovely message of the millions of possibilities that
each of us have within us.That sounds fascinating, and I think that
it also speaks to the role thatcelebrities, how they figure into our lives.
(14:56):
I may not ever meet Beyonce,However, if I happen to have
met her in the bathroom, thatwould have been a totally earth shattering experience.
But I think It also really doesreflect on the nature of what celebrity
is or what whether you directly encountersomebody or you don't, but simply know
(15:18):
them because of how they impact you, because of their genius and the idea
of happiness. On top of that, a lot of celebrities or stars we
place on a pedestal because if wethink, oh, they have it all,
and then maybe what the exchange isthat you realize maybe your life,
as ordinary and routine as it is, has a little bit more happiness because
(15:41):
a lot of our celebrities, especiallythe women that we tribute in this,
didn't have the easiest go of itall or lives ended tragically soon. Yeah
a bathany I have to say bigprops to anyone who does a one person
show because you're it's just you,right, You're it's just all about you
(16:03):
on that stage and having to jumpfrom character to character. What's your process
inside that allows you to be ableto to manifest all these different people and
at the end of the day goon to do it again. You know
that just seems like, oh mygosh, I'm I struggle to just be
(16:26):
me, right, so tell people, oh my god, here, well,
you know, it's a nice littlebreak from yourself for a while.
That's always nice. It's a lot, I mean, for me, once
the words are back in my brain, it's it's always it's just it's intention.
It's intention, it's posture. It'sa lot of breath work for me.
(16:48):
It's a lot of Okay, nowwe're in another thing. I think
if anybody tried it and had torehearse it for many times, I think
anybody would figure it out. Likeit just you lift out something, you
get right back into something else.The voices that I'm doing might not sound
super different from each other. It'sreally just like what does this person want?
What does this person want? Where'sthis person in the world right now?
(17:10):
Okay, now I'm this other person. I think I get what you're
saying. You got specific praise,and I'm going to quote it said,
you'd imagine it would be impossible fora single singer to do justice to such
a disparate group of musical artists,not this one that was praise for you,
Bethany Thomas, and you get tosing some iconic songs come rain or
Shine Crazy, ain't nobody's business.These are spectacular songs that were signature songs
(17:36):
for all these various artists that youget to recreate, and they're not it's
not like a simple quiet ballad.I mean, you're these are belters.
These are all very passionate songs sungand performed by some very passionate performers.
So kudos to you for this.True, it's a lot of fun anything
(17:56):
about these ladies, like you know, I'm excellent band and awesome arrangements by
our music director and stuff. Andit's funny because you just really have to
do the most balls out version everytime, you know. It's like,
I know, Judy probably had alot of nights were it was not coming
out that way. And you canlisten to Patsy client live recordings and those
(18:21):
keys are much lower than the recordedversion. So it's fun to try to
play around, like what if Billyhad like a real time getting to this
place? What which is not goingto sound perfect every time? But no,
that's what you have to give them, So it is it is interesting
like just coming in and be like, well, I've got to give like
their best performance right now, eachone of the songs with the show stoppers.
(18:45):
So usually in a musical you havetwo show stoppers. Bethany sings like
twelve shows each one of us springHouse down eleven o'clock numbers. Yeah,
there's no easy, breezy little shortballad anywhere in the show. Yeah.
Well, Strange Fruit is nice andquieter, but it is heart wrenching challenge.
(19:11):
Sure. Yeah. Well. Songsfor Nobody's playing at People's Light through
May twenty first. For more information, you can go to People's Like dot
Org. Rob Linley, director andBethany Thomas, the star of Songs for
Nobodies, Thank you so much forjoining us today. Thank you for having
us, Thank you for having us. One ale over one eleven and I
(19:41):
had a stroke. I can speakodd, walk one fifty or ninety,
and I add a stroke. Thisis what high blood pressure sounds like.
You might not feel its symptoms,but the results from a stroke are far
from silent. Get back on yourtreatment plan or talk with your doctor to
create a plan that works for you. Go to lower your HB pete dot
org. I had to tell everything'schanged. Brought to you by the American
(20:03):
Stroke Association, American Medical Association,and the AD Council. As we do
once a month, every month,we have the wonderful Angelo Giampolo of gm
Polo Law and also the Philly GayLawyer blog and so many things. She's
(20:23):
an activist and someone is my goto person for talking about issues related to
the LGBTQIA plus community, but alsothe conversations that impact all of us.
We get lessons from these conversations thatreally do relate to all of us in
our community. So great to seeyou again, and so what's up?
(20:45):
What's new with you? You're gettingready for you your big tour right in
June. Yes, the Caravan ofFolk Maiden Voyage June first through the thirtieth
and Caravana's Books all the City's seventeenstops wonderful providing free legal aid to folks
who are in the LGBTQIA communities,particularly in rural areas where they don't have
(21:07):
access to this resource. So whatare we talking about today? We are
talking about book banning, the wonderfuljoy of burning the First Amendment as we
know, it is running rampant allover the country. The American Library Association
just came out with a study thatbook banning is up forty one percent year
(21:30):
after year, so specifically the lasttwo years twenty twenty two and now just
a few months into twenty twenty three. So in Pennsylvania in particular is the
state with the third most banned booksin the country, only behind Texas and
Florida. So we have over fourhundred and fifty titles works books banned right
(21:53):
here in Pennsylvania. So it's rampantall over the country, but definitely increasing
in free WINC data day. There'salso been some pushback. I know that
in some locations they've had students who'vecome out and protested against the banning of
books. Now, the banning ofbooks has wider implications. Certainly they have
(22:15):
been targeting books that reflect the experiencesof folks in the lgbtqia communities. But
this book banning has a wide netthat it's impacting, right, absolutely,
protagonists of color LGBTQ folks, butpredominantly those main segments are the ones most
(22:37):
impacted. But you mentioned students andtheir own uprising, if you will,
have pushed back. So every yearfor the last fifty some o years,
there's actually a week that celebrates bannedbooks. So in schools they've always brought
attention and highlighted the fact that they'reare banned books in the United States,
(23:03):
and there'd be a whole week wherewe're gonna highlight banned book Week. And
here in Pennsylvania in Bucks County,two districts have banned Banned Book Week.
So the week in which they talkabout banned books is now banned banned banned
(23:23):
book Week. Now kids are students, grassroots organizers are doing gorilla book banned
book giveaways. Okay, so inthe libraries, they've been told that they're
not allowed to have public libraries,specifically that they're not allowed to have these
these banned book titles, so theyhave to take them off the shelves.
(23:45):
So instead of taking them off theshelves and doing nothing, they're doing gorilla
giveaway of the banned books. Soboth folks in public libraries as well as
kids in high schools everywhere definitely pushingback to the extent that they can leave.
It's fast scinating to me. Oneof my I'm a big science fiction
aficionado, and one of my favoritebooks is Ray Bradberry's Fahrenheit four or five
(24:07):
one, which is a science fictionstory about a future in which books are
not only banned, but they areburned and the firefighters are not putting out
fires, but they specifically are thereto burn books. And it's about the
freedom of expression. And at thetime that I read the story, it
(24:30):
seemed fairly remote to me because Iwas probably in middle school or junior high
school. But now the reality ofthat is so in our face and so
disturbing that this science fiction future,this dystopian future, is upon us now
right. I mean Margaret Atwood's handmadetale that wasn't meant to be reality in
(24:52):
any way. Last year she createda copy of the book that is indestructible,
unable to be burned, and there'sa video of her taking a flamethrower
to it and trying to burn thisbook. And so Sotheby's put up for
auction an indestructible, unburnable version ofthat book that she created for this exact
(25:15):
purpose. I have chills just eventhinking about the reality of where we are
and the fact that right here inour own backyard, Bucks County, right
is the center of an ACLU lawsuitof one of the strictest book banning districts
schools in the country. York Pennsylvaniais responsible for four hundred and forty one
(25:40):
of the four hundred and fifty ninebands here in Pennsylvania alone in Central York.
I mean, and what does thatmean for those kids? Right?
And any of the teachers who aretalking about the books and getting fired.
And a lot of folks ask me, ask me, what can we do?
Right? If this is the legalities, If I can be fired,
if my kids can't get these booksthat's pool or even in the public you
(26:00):
know, free Library of Philadelphia,then you know what can we do?
And I tell them buy books fromthe list of look up most banned books.
There's a great LGBTQ one that Ibuy all of my adoption clients called
Tango Makes Three about two gay penguinsfrom the San Diego Zoo that tried to
(26:23):
have a baby. And the onegay penguin would bring a rock to the
other that looked like an egg tothe other gay penguin who sit on it,
and they try to hatch an eggand mimic everyone else who was sitting
on eggs, and he would hatchand the zoologists started noticing what they were
doing, and they're like, ohmy god, they're trying to create a
family like everyone else. And theonly way that they know how and so
(26:45):
one day the zoologists took the rockand replaced it with an egg real quick,
without the penguin seeing. So thenhe sat on the real egg and
hatched, and they thought they madea family, and they were so happy.
And these zoologists just wrote a reallycute book about it, and it
became one of the top band booksin the country. And they're like,
(27:06):
we didn't we didn't do this.We're not gay, we didn't do this.
From an advocacy standpoint, this isa real story of two gay penguins
in the San Diego Zoo and Igive it to all my adoption clients.
But Gender Queer by my Kobab BigOne, All Boys Aren't Blue, The
Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison to yourpoint about rape incests, real things that
(27:27):
a lot of women deal with,and Flamer about LGBTQIA content and coming of
age. There's a new podcast thatjust started up about a month or so
ago out in the West Coast abouta guy who talks about books that saved
his life, the very few bookswhere he felt normalized. Right, And
(27:47):
so these books are not about spreadingan agenda or any propaganda. It's about
normalizing folks who don't see themselves inother books, and truly that helped save
lives. So if you're wondering whatyou can do, google most banned books,
buy them, share them, takepart in some of these gorilla giveaways.
(28:08):
If you're involved in your even ifyou're not involved, if you're especially
if you're not involved in your school, district and pta you know involvement,
become so and have a voice forthese band books. So very quickly,
if people want to know more aboutyour Caravan of Hope, about Gmpolo Law
and about Philly Gay Lawyer, yourblog tell us more. Absolutely so,
(28:32):
Caravan of Hope, just go toCaravan of Fope dot LGBT and learn more
about our itinerary there and form mylaw firm. Go to Jampolo Law dot
com or just google Philly Gay Lawyerand I'll pop up fantastic Angelo dmpolo who
is the owner, CEO and principleof Dmpolo Law and one of my favorite
(28:52):
people out there giving us her pointof view and sharing with us how LGBTQIA
issues are all of our issues,and I thank you for that. Thank
you rin as always for giving aplatform for these issues and to your point.
You know, lgbt QIA issues areall of our issues right. These
books are helpful and beneficial to everyonewho reads them, even if it's not
(29:15):
you seeing yourself in the book,it's you seeing an experience that is not
your own. For you to expandyour consciousness around other people's experience, and
that's truly what makes us well round. I love that. Thank you.
You could listen to all of today'sinterviews by going to our station website and
typing in keyword Community. You canalso listen on the iHeartRadio app key Words
(29:37):
Philadelphia Community Podcast. Follow me onTwitter and Instagram at Lorraine Ballard. I'm
Lorraine Ballard Morrow, and I standfor service to our community and media that
empowers. What will you stand for? You've been listening to what's going on
ed, Thank you. I I
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