Lynn King is one of the First Ladies of Kansas City Theatre. Lynn is a native of Kansas City Kansas and has been performing for Kansas City Audiences for over 30 years. She received her MFA in Acting from the University of Missouri, Kansas City and has regional and national credits in theatre, commercials, and film. During her career as a theatre instructor, she directed over thirty productions. Lynn is one of the original members of the KC Melting Pot Collective, appearing in their first-ever production of Old School Ghetto Gospel, in 2013. Her next appearance on the KCMPT stage will be in Lewis Morrow's Begetters, beginning May 12, 2022. KC Melting Pot Theatre is privileged to have Lynn return to directing as one of the all female directors for the 2021/2022 season. She will bring to the stage Barbecue, by Robert O'Hara. She would like to thank Linda, Harvey, and Nicole with special thanks to Dennis and my stage management team.

Ebonee was born and raised in KCMO and earned her BA in Theatre from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She has appeared in Pass Over (OCTA), 2121 (KCMPT), and the stage readings of Pass Over, Flo, and The Journey (WCA). When not performing, Ebonee works on crew for shows with her last being the Production Assistant for A Raisin in the Sun (KCMPT). She joined the KCMPT family in 2015 and still works as the Administrative Assistant for KCMPT and Just Off Broadway Theatre, a position she’s held since 2017.

SyKnese Fields is a spoken word artist and actress from Kansas City, Kansas. She was first introduced to theater at Tennessee State University. She has since acted in commercials and community plays, including Tribulation Christmas, I Am The Gift, and The Healer. She began working with KCMPT in early 2020 and recently was seen in Two Trains Running.

Doug Schroeder is a Kansas native. Barbecue is his fourth design for KCMPT. Schroeder received a B.F.A. in technical theater from Emporia State University. In addition to working as the technical director for KCMPT, Doug also is the production manager for the Kansas City Women’s Chorus. He would like to thank his partner Chris Palmer for his assistance with set construction and Linda, Harvey, Nicole and Lewis for the opportunity to work on this new play.

Warren Deckert (Lighting Designer) Warren has directed or designed the lighting or sets for over 200 productions. Kansas City directing credits include Bernice At Bay/The Butterfly Effect, Gidion’s Knot and Any Questions? (KC Fringe Festival), Waiting To Be Invited, The Taste Test and The Ironing Man (KC Melting Pot Theatre). He is an assistant house manager for Kansas City Repertory Theatre and the technical director for Just Off Broadway Theatre.

Melonnie Walker is a theatre historian, educator, and alum of UMKC’s Master of Arts program in Theatre History.  She is the Director of Education and Community Outreach for KC Melting Pot Theatre and has served as the resident research and production dramaturg for three seasons so far. She is an advisory board member of the August Wilson Society and Regional VP for the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. Melonnie is grateful for her theatre family here at KCMPT and she is inspired to do the work that preserves and uplifts black theatre history for future generations.