Sci-Fi Comedy REX DEXTER OF MARS Will Premiere At KC Fringe

A high-flying sci-fi comedy will make its world premiere at the 2018 KC Fringe Festival, July 19-29. Inspired by a forgotten comic book character created in 1939, "Rex Dexter of Mars" is an epic misadventure in time and space, filled with exploding planets, sinister alien bad guys, killer robots and ray gun-slinging heroes. Written by Darrell Brogdon, the play will be presented in the form of a 1930s radio serial, with live sound effects and actors performing multiple roles, at City Stage/Union Station.

The brainchild of cartoonist Dick Briefer, Rex Dexter inhabited the back pages of Mystery Men Comics for two dozen issues from 1939 to 1941. The first human born on the planet Mars, Rex returned to Earth in the first issue and was thrust into a series of amazing adventures battling extraterrestrial menaces and planetary disasters. The character's last appearance was in the summer of 1941.

For this Fringe Festival "re-imagination", Rex Dexter and his Martian girlfriend Cynda join forces with a cocky robot and a sentient jellyfish to save the Earth from the runaway planet Tarsis. Against all odds, Rex and his pals have to prevent the evil scientist Boris Thorax's plan to destroy the Earth and become ruler of the galaxy.

Shows are scheduled at the following days/times at City Stage:
Saturday, July 21 - 10:30pm
Sunday, July 22 - 3:00pm
Thursday, July 26 - 9:00pm
Friday, July 27 - 7:30pm
Saturday, July 28 - 6:00pm

Tickets are $10.00 with a Fringe button, and will go on sale July 2. Fringe buttons and tickets are $5.00 and will be available at City Stage 30 minutes prior to each performance or in advance at kcfringe.org.

The KC Fringe Festival is an 11-day explosion of unjuried, uncensored performance and visual arts, with performers and creators from all over - local, national and international. Fringe Festival KC is the biggest celebration of arts and culture in the Kansas City metropolitan region.

"Rex Dexter of Mars" is being presented by Right Between the Ears Productions. It's the first project to be staged by the award-winning comedy troupe since the Right Between the Ears sketch comedy show rang down its final curtain in 2017. RBTE creator Darrell Brogdon directs this new play, with cast members including Michael Quentin Foster, Brie Henderson, David Martin and Jason Miller. Live sound effects will be performed onstage by Mary Ellen Kriegh.

Right Between the Ears has been producing comedy radio programming since 1985. The company has received numerous awards for excellence, including four Gold Medals for Best Comedy Show at the New York Festivals and four Gold Program Awards from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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