When Paula Killen left Chicago seeking fame, fortune and enlightenment in Los Angeles back in 1996, she had a very good chance at a television show.
Her late night club hit, “Music Kills a Memory,” had interested one of those quality premium cable networks, and things were definitely looking up.
But then the show’s producer figured out that one of the cast members — Honey West — wasn’t all she appeared to be. Or, perhaps more precisely, West was a heck of a lot more than it appeared.
“He just got confused,”‘ says Killen. “Then he thought it wasn’t just Honey but that all of us were men. He was doing this thing for a women’s showcase, and then he said we had to get rid of Honey or do a whole other show.”
There was no time for that, and Killen, of course, didn’t get rid of West.
“Listen, she was the best woman for the job,” she explains. “She was awesome to work with, she has an awesome voice — what’s not to like? I’m still hoping Honey will make a guest appearance at this show.”
She means “Big Goddess Pow Wow 9: Big Goddess Knocked Up,” starring a very pregnant Killen, plus cohorts Lisa Buscani, Donna Blue Lachman, Jenny Magnus, Brigid Murphy, Cin Salach and Ten Tongues, RENO, Cheryl Trykv, Marcia Wilkie and La Vie Ennui, and which features Karol Kent. The show’s at 8 p.m. Saturday, part of the Prop Thtr’s “New Play 2000” series during the National Plays Festival. It’s at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.; tickets are $20. Call 773-549-0203.
Kent, who has been a part of “Music Kills a Memory” since its inception back in the early ’90s, is the one who told the story about Killen and West, how Killen refused to sell out their friend.
When asked about it, Killen shrugs, tells it again like it’s nothing. And yet — God knows — there, certainly, went an opportunity of considerable proportions.
“Let’s talk about these other incredible women,” she says, going down the show’s guest list. “Marcia — she’s been writing for the `Donny & Marie Show.’ I also produced a solo show of hers here at The Mint Club. I did a show with RENO there too. She’s been out here, working on some shows for pilot season. She has a new show too, called `Citizen RENO.’ “
Killen’s not working off a press release, but off the top of her head. These are all her buddies, women she’s known for at least a decade, women she’s worked with, loved and fought with.
About half the lineup are women like Killen, who left Chicago looking for the yellow brick road.
“And Lisa Buscani,” she goes on, “she’s been doing that nun show … `Late Night Catechism.’ She’s coming in from the Detroit run. She’s amazing in that.”
The other half are the sturdy locals: Lachman, whose show on Peggy Guggenheim received kudos last year; Trykv, who continues to work as a writer, still appearing now and then on “This American Life”; Magnus, who spent a good chunk of last year in Germany and is going through one of her more fertile creative periods; Murphy, off making movies; the constant Kent, always popping up in revues around town; and Salach, whose stripped-down poetry music group, Ten Tongues, is like a relaxed and assured Loofah Method.
Killen herself has been busy. “I’ve been writing,” she says. “This season, I’m pitching three different TV shows.”
She’s also signed up as a resident member of the Zoo District Theater, an ensemble with a few Chicago connections.
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Mostly, however, Killen’s dealing with her pregnancy. Chicagoans may have seen her briefly on the “Donny & Marie Show” a couple of months ago, prancing around during a segment on makeovers. Even then she looked like she was getting ready to drop the kid on the air.
“I’m not due until mid-August,” she says with a laugh. “So I’m just coming in for a few days. My doctor says it’s okay to fly. I still don’t know if it’s a boy or girl.”
That’s deliberate, although she and her boyfriend — the baby’s dad — do have a few names picked out.
“But, you know, you’ve got to wait to meet the kid to see what fits,” she said.
For all we know, it could be a goddess-let.
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Divine’s “Independence Day 2000” is a multicultural marvel: two floors of bhangra/hip-hop, one floor of house/dance/Euro rhythms, one floor of salsa and merengue.
Spinning will be DJ Raja, DJ Banti and DJ Nirav. It’s all from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday at Club 720, 720 N. Wells St. That unfortunate upscale dress code will be enforced. For more, write [email protected] or call 312-540-6733.