Home Cooked Heroes

Commissioned by Milwaukee Opera Theatre
Text by Brit Nicole
Music by Ms. Lotus Fankh

Home Cooked Heroes is a spoken-word opera with text by Brit Nicole and music by Ms. Lotus Fankh. Together, with staff and volunteers from Milwaukee’s Tricklebee Café, they explore what it means to operate a pay-what-you-can restaurant from the center of a food desert, revealing how simple acts of generosity can transform a neglected building into a thriving hive of connection and community.

 
Photo: Danielle Thralow

Episode 3: Sustenance

Heroes

Premiered October 1, 2021

 

Cast

Julio Nieves
Sentaces Townsend
Debonne
Uyen Vo

with guest artist Kellen “Klassik” Abston

Creative Team

Text by Brit Nicole
Music by Ms. Lotus Fankh
Director & Videographer: Samer Ghani
Assistant Videographer: Andrew Kosmalski

Tricklebee Founders: David and Christie Melby-Gibbons

Artwork by Julio Nieves

Brit NicoleShe/HerBrit Nicole is a spoken word artist, community healer, performer, musician, and facilitator based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her first feature performance was in August 2013 at Brewing Grounds for Change. That same year, Brit co-founded PENtastic, one of the longest-running open mics in her hometown. Since then, Brit has taken her talents to Poetry Unplugged, Middle Earth MKE, Imaginary Heroes events, churches, Voltage! Teen Slam, Br(OK)en Genius, and many more. When she is not performing, you can catch Brit hosting an open mic, such as Lyrical Sanctuary, or other community gatherings, such as a game night or writing workshop. She works hard to center reflection, healing, and creativity in all she does, no matter the activity or age group it serves.

Brit Nicole

She/Her

Brit Nicole is a spoken word artist, community healer, performer, musician, and facilitator based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her first feature performance was in August 2013 at Brewing Grounds for Change. That same year, Brit co-founded PENtastic, one of the longest-running open mics in her hometown. Since then, Brit has taken her talents to Poetry Unplugged, Middle Earth MKE, Imaginary Heroes events, churches, Voltage! Teen Slam, Br(OK)en Genius, and many more. When she is not performing, you can catch Brit hosting an open mic, such as Lyrical Sanctuary, or other community gatherings, such as a game night or writing workshop. She works hard to center reflection, healing, and creativity in all she does, no matter the activity or age group it serves.

Julio Nieves

He/Him

Julio Nieves is an illustrator, painter, and comic book writer. He works as the Real Food Promoter at Tricklebee Cafe, which includes an array of tasks ranging from dishwashing to waiting on customers.

Sentaces TownsendShe/HerSentaces Townsend is a singer/songwriter, beat-maker, and fashionista. She works as the custodian at Tricklebee Cafe. She is mother to several rats, babysitter for her niece, and enjoys listening to a variety of music.

Sentaces Townsend

She/Her

Sentaces Townsend is a singer/songwriter, beat-maker, and fashionista. She works as the custodian at Tricklebee Cafe. She is mother to several rats, babysitter for her niece, and enjoys listening to a variety of music.

Ms. Lotus Fankh

She/Her

A name that honors the symbolic rebirth of a lotus, the ankh a symbol for Life, and the  “F” for the Funk. Put those together and you get a glimpse into the ideals Ms. Lotus  Fankh holds dear. A WAMI nominated artist and the creator of ‘No Funerals’ (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's #1 Single of 2020), her artistic vision has also gained her  recognition on the international platform AFROPUNK.COM (for her release of the  'Better Than This' music video). 

A singer, songwriter, performance artist, and soulstress, her sound is inspired by Soul,  Funk, Jazz, and Rock. As a performer she expresses personal stories through guitar,  loop station, violin, original songs, and her sultry voice. As a songwriter Lotus uses  lyrics to address the essence of lived experiences creating narratives that speak the  language of the heart. As an artist she is Ms. Lotus Fankh (say it like Funk).

Debonne

She/Her

Debonne is a fourth-grader who enjoys ballet, drawing, reading adventurous stories, swimming outdoors, and playing with her two younger siblings. She is a regular volunteer at Tricklebee Cafe.

Christie Melby-GibbonsShe/HerRev. Christie Melby-Gibbons is the executive director of Tricklebee Café, Milwaukee's  first pay-what-you-can community cafe, which is a ministry of the Moravian Church in  America and a member of One World Everybody Eats. Her undergraduate work was in  Russian Language & Area Studies, as well as an approved self-designed major: Nature  Theology, considering questions at the intersection of theological and environmental studies, including recovering a valuation of nature and a sense of responsible stewardship through spiritual reflection. She has been an ordained minister in the Moravian Church since 2009.

Christie Melby-Gibbons

She/Her

Rev. Christie Melby-Gibbons is the executive director of Tricklebee Café, Milwaukee's  first pay-what-you-can community cafe, which is a ministry of the Moravian Church in  America and a member of One World Everybody Eats. Her undergraduate work was in  Russian Language & Area Studies, as well as an approved self-designed major: Nature  

Theology, considering questions at the intersection of theological and environmental studies, including recovering a valuation of nature and a sense of responsible stewardship through spiritual reflection. She has been an ordained minister in the Moravian Church since 2009.

Kellen “Klassik” Abston

He/Him

Multi-instrumentalist producer and performer, Klassik, is as dexterous a rapper as he is an impassioned and soulful singer, intertwined with his own unique, personal and unbridled storytelling. At the age of 10, he began studying saxophone with the Milwaukee jazz legend Berkeley Fudge, whose teachings provided the musical foundation that informs his work to this day. Klassik’s development continued through years of public arts schools, a (very) brief collegiate trip, and throughout all of this, an evolution from jazz saxophonist to producer, emcee, singer and all-around entertainer. His debut EP, DEATH OF A BEATMAKER (2010), established him within the local scene, and his subsequent full-length, IN THE MAKING (2012), introduced him to a national audience. His most recent album (QUIET, 2019) was named the #1 album of 2019 by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and garnered awards at the 2019 Radio Milwaukee Music Awards. His continued artistic output the following year earned him the prestigious honor of being named the City of Milwaukee’s Mildred L. Harpole Artist of the Year. A true class act, Klassik works to stir the souls of listeners into action with empathy, passion, and purpose through his own self-reflective sonic art.

Samer GhaniHe/Him2021 Dear MKE Award winning videographer Samer Ghani is a first generation  Palestinian American, born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Raised in a single  mother home and taught through Milwaukee Public Schools, Samer’s first encounter  with art was with his time spent at Wedgewood Academy (formerly Bell Middle School),  where he played violin and won both National and International awards with his  orchestra class. In high school, Samer’s senior art gallery of photography was highlighted in OnMilwaukee (2011), furthering his future career as an artist in the  Milwaukee community. Samer’s time as an artist has bled into the Milwaukee community and beyond, bringing  community initiatives to life with partners like The City of Milwaukee, Visit Milwaukee,  Imagine MKE, Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Light the Hoan,  Vivent Health, Jigsaw, Hason Dodge, Google Arts & Culture, and more, as well as  highlighting some of Milwaukee’s best artists in a number of astonishing venues across  the city and nation wide.

Samer Ghani

He/Him

2021 Dear MKE Award winning videographer Samer Ghani is a first generation  Palestinian American, born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Raised in a single  mother home and taught through Milwaukee Public Schools, Samer’s first encounter  with art was with his time spent at Wedgewood Academy (formerly Bell Middle School),  where he played violin and won both National and International awards with his  orchestra class. In high school, Samer’s senior art gallery of photography was highlighted in OnMilwaukee (2011), furthering his future career as an artist in the  Milwaukee community. 

Samer’s time as an artist has bled into the Milwaukee community and beyond, bringing  community initiatives to life with partners like The City of Milwaukee, Visit Milwaukee,  Imagine MKE, Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Light the Hoan,  Vivent Health, Jigsaw, Hason Dodge, Google Arts & Culture, and more, as well as  highlighting some of Milwaukee’s best artists in a number of astonishing venues across  the city and nation wide.

Andrew KosmalskiHe/HimAndrew Kosmalski is a Milwaukee native. His love of photography was handed down to him by his father, as well as his 35mm Nikon. Recently he’s taking his passion and applied it to commercial work. He still finds time to capture the unnoticed and candid moments which bring inspiration and new life on professional projects.

Andrew Kosmalski

He/Him

Andrew Kosmalski is a Milwaukee native. His love of photography was handed down to him by his father, as well as his 35mm Nikon. Recently he’s taking his passion and applied it to commercial work. He still finds time to capture the unnoticed and candid moments which bring inspiration and new life on professional projects.

David Melby-GibbonsHe/HimDavid Melby-Gibbons is a musician and songwriter based in Milwaukee. His undergraduate work was in Philosophy & Religion. His graduate studies centered on Arts and Transformation. He is an ongoing volunteer at Tricklebee…

David Melby-Gibbons

He/Him

David Melby-Gibbons is a musician and songwriter based in Milwaukee. His undergraduate work was in Philosophy & Religion. His graduate studies centered on Arts and Transformation. He is an ongoing volunteer at Tricklebee Cafe, and was part of the visioning team.

Origin Story

The DOC’s Matt Boresi talks with the team behind the creation of “Home Cooked Heroes”.

 
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