Mix up some Carson, Letterman and DeGeneres, add a pinch of Child and cook it up onstage in Langley.
That’s the recipe for “Kitsch ’N Bitch,” a new series hosted by local celebrity Sue Frause that will kickoff the new season at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Patrons who arrive at 6 p.m. will be treated to a season launch party before the show with hors d’oeuvre and wine.
“Kitsch ’N Bitch” takes the talk show format in which Frause invites guests onstage to talk about cooking. This evening’s episode is titled “Directors Who Cook” and welcomes local theater and film directors Vito Zingarelli, Richard Evans and Andrew Grenier. Zingarelli will demonstrate the fine Italian art of making homemade pasta, while Frause shakes up a habanero martini.
“It’s not about cooking so much as it is for people who like food and the people who are behind the food,” Frause said.
“What is it about theater and chefs and cooking?”
All three directors are excellent cooks and Evans has even written his own cookbook, she said.
WICA’s executive director Stacie Burgua said the idea started to sizzle when the staff was brainstorming mid-week programs for the arts center.
“Food seems to be a topic of high interest these days,” Burgua said, “but we weren’t interested in a ‘how to’ or a food presentation approach. We were looking for variety and humor. It’s hard to think of humor and not think of Sue, so Kitsch ’N Bitch was launched.”
The plan for the series includes monthly installments such as “Carnage Cooking” in October with restaurateurs Neil Colburn of Neil’s Clover Patch and Shirley Wilson of Shirley’s Kitchen performing a hamburger cook-off.
Continuing the fun in the months to follow will be “Turkey Talk,” “Big, Sweet Holidays,” “Seattle Bites,” “Girls Who Dish,” “Slocals,” “The Yolks on You,” “Let’s Do Brunch” and “The Full Monty BBQ.”
Each evening will feature a signature cocktail whipped up onstage by Frause to follow each episode’s theme, such as a Bloody Mary for Carnage Cooking.
Kitsch ’N Bitch also includes its very own house band, Deja Blooze. In fact, the 90-minute episodes will follow closely the formats of popular talk shows, opening with a monologue, chatting with a gaggle of guests and inviting a lucky member of the audience or two onstage to taste what’s cookin’.
“This first one is a total dress rehearsal in which we’ll just be flying by the seat of our aprons,” Frause said. “But this is how I like to do it.”
Frause said she and her husband Bob — whom she sometimes calls “Farmer Bob” due to his agility in the garden and in the kitchen — watch several television cooking shows.
“We don’t generally like reality shows, but we watch ‘MasterChef’ and Anthony Bourdain,” she said.
The former is a competitive cooking reality show, open to amateur and home chefs co-hosted by the ubiquitous TV cooking personality Gordon Ramsay, and the latter follows the often grumpy and sharp-tongued traveling chef around the world of cuisine in a show called “No Reservations.”
“You can learn so much,” Frause said of these fly-on-the-wall food shows.
“My husband incorporates this stuff in the kitchen. It’s educational, but also entertaining. It has all the elements of theater,” she added.
Beyond her interest in cooking shows and what Farmer Bob might be making for dinner, Frause is a good choice for the South End’s first Johnny/Julia personality.
Besides being a popular emcee for charity events on the island, Frause is an avid travel writer, journalist and photographer. Previously, she wrote a column for the South Whidbey Record and currently is the author of several blogs, including “Whidbey Island Life” for the Seattle P-I and “Closet Canuck,” about all things Canadian. She can also be heard on KSER 90.7 FM during “Around the World Travel Radio” on Monday afternoons.
While Frause adds talk show host to her resume, she’ll get a break halfway through the show with “commercial breaks” featuring local actors from Matthew Gregory’s “Our Gracious Drawing Room” web series. Additionally, Gregory will film each episode of “Kitsch ’N Bitch” and post them on YouTube.
Frause may dish the dirt with some of her guests, and might even grill them for more than the inside scoop on food, all with an appetite for a bit of local banter.
“It all lends itself to a fun evening and, of course, it’s not going to be serious,” Frause said.
Ticket prices range from $10 to $12 and are available by calling 221-8268 or 800-638-7631.
Learn more about Wednesdays @ WICA and Kitsch ’N Bitch at www.WICAonline.com.
WICA highlights of the 2011-12 season
WEDNESDAYS @ WICA features mid-week entertainment at super-low ticket prices with a variety of lectures and workshops throughout the season.
Short Story Smash gives local writers the chance to have their stories read in public for glory, fame and prizes. Chris Spencer is accepting “100 words exactly” stories and will host the Smash on Sept. 14 and March 14. Submissions may be emailed to cspencer@whidbey.com; submission deadlines today and March 7.
The Literary Series continues with partner Hedgebrook bringing together writers and book-lovers. Don’t miss the chance to hear intimate conversations with best-selling Hedgebrook authors and staged readings of their work by local actors. (Oct. 25, Jan. 25 and March 25)
Seattle Stages brings performances and workshops by three of Seattle’s best educational theatres: Living Voices, Seattle Shakespeare Co. and Book-It Repertory Theatre. Local performers are invited to participate in world-class theatrical education taught by the best available teachers in the region. Families will enjoy entertaining and educational performances at a low ticket price. (Jan. 20-22)
A Night at the Oscars invites the community to watch the Academy Awards at WICA and join in the excitement as “The Clydes” are rolled-out to award Whidbey’s best actor and actress, and best supporting actor and actress. All proceeds to benefit the WICA annual fund. (Feb. 26)
“Easter Catechism” celebrates the Easter season with “Sister” as she answers time worn questions such as “Why isn’t Easter on the same day every year like Christmas?” and “Will my bunny go to heaven?” Part pageant, and (w)holy hysterical, this latest of the sinfully funny “Late Nite Catechism” series unearths the origins of Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter baskets, Easter bonnets and, of course, those yummy Easter Peeps. Bring the whole family, don your bonnet and join Sister for this new seasonal treat. (April 17 – 19)
For the Birds is a day devoted to birding on Whidbey Island, with lectures, workshops and local vendors featuring our feathered friends. BirdNote, a popular radio series will air live at WICA thanks to islander and executive producer Chris Peterson and featuring Nancy Rumbel of Tingstad and Rumbel. (March 10)
The Vietnam Era Project revisits the era that changed America. The late 1960s had an impact on American politics, social mores and entertainment. This show looks back and examines an era’s effect on current issues.
“Frost/Nixon,” Peter Morgan’s dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon is directed by Richard Evans. (June 8-23)
“I Only Smoke in War Zones,” True stories from the battlefield both at home and abroad is written by comedian Jennifer Rawlings. This not-so-typical mother of five has been traveling to war zones for more than a decade to entertain American troops. Rawlings tells an unforgettable journey of laughter and tears as she weaves together stories about family and humanity. (Nov. 18).
Visit www.WICAonline.com to find out more about the new season.
