The Kate

From the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, it's The Kate.

Hi, I'm Megan Mullally.

Hello, I'm Stephanie Hunt.

And we're Nancy and Beth.

Yeah.

Please, Mr. Jailer, won't you let my man go free?

(Megan) Everybody just knows me as an actress, mostly from Will & Grace, which is great.

But I've actually done three Broadway musicals and a ton of other concert singing and pretty legit singing and dancing and performing.

(Stephanie) We love music and that's one of the aspects of our friendship that has manifested into this band because we just realized that we loved the same songs and loved dancing and then loved singing and loved performing, and so then it was like, well, let's do that while we hang out.

It started out as Stephanie playing ukulele and us singing folk songs and it's turned into like next stop Vegas.

I'm 30 years older than Stephanie which is an interesting element of the band.

It kind of shows you that, you know, you can have a great friendship and have complete trust with someone at any age.

Must have my walking stick (Megan) We've called it like punk vaudeville because in the performance of the songs it's pretty like, "Show Biz!"

exclamation point.

But then in between songs- We're not putting on airs.

-No, there's Mm mm.

No, we just let what happens fly Yeah.

And that's more fun.

I used to smoke, drink, and dance the hoochie-coo I used to smoke and drink Smoke and drink and dance the hoochie-coo (Megan) So basically what we do is we just get together as often as we can and, you know, we get a group of songs together that we're breaking out over.

And then Stephanie tapes it on her phone and I go into my psychic trance and I come up with the choreography.

So there are a couple things that I dreamed.

Right.

The videos are great of Megan in the trances because everything becomes so serious.

I-I-I-I-I'm a Sa-a-a-a-a-ved (Megan) It's fun, It's so fun.

We laugh a lot and we're just laughing like all the way through I mean we just kind of do what we want.

And because we're doing what we want, it's fun and because it's fun we keep doing it.

(Stephanie) And we didn't really expect it to be like a real thing.

We're always like, can you believe we're like actually.. (both laughing) I know.

We fooled 'em.

Somehow.

Yeah and then it doesn't, this doesn't seem, it seems like you guys should pull the plug on this whole thing right now.

(Cheering and applause) (Cheering and applause) One early morning as I was walking I met a woman we started talking I took her home to get a few nips but all I had was a mint julep One mint julep was the cause of it all I don't remember just how it started But all I know is we shoulda parted I stole a kiss and then another I didn't mean to take it further One mint julep was the cause of it all The lights were burning low, there in the parlor When through the kitchen door, up popped her father He said, "I saw you when you kissed my daughter Better wed her right now, or face a slaughter!"

I didn't know just what I was doing I had to marry or face ruin A mint julep, a mint julep, a mint julep, a mint julep One mint julep was the cause of it all I don't want to bore you with my troubles But from now on I'll be thinking double I'm through with flirtin' and drinkin' whiskey I got six extra children from a-getting' frisky A mint julep, a mint julep, a mint julep, a mint julep One mint julep was the cause of it all (Cheering and applause) Thank you!

Hello!

Well hello.

Hello, Old Saybrook, Right, it's Old Saybrook, it's cute here.

Ah, it is, real cute.

I like it.

Hello there.

I'm Megan Mullally, this is Stephanie Hunt.

(Audience applause) This is our band, Nancy and Beth.

We oughta get our chairs.

Oh, we already need a prop.

I forgot.

This is such a nice town, we hate to bring these old skanky Wal-Mart chairs out but...

I know.

You know, we've been on tour since April and I'm just now figuring out how to open them.

See yours is back -, see.

Oh.

I still haven't got it.

We're not real technical, it turns out.

So that first song isn't even actually a song.

It's just, it's a device we use to pick out someone in the audience who we're attracted to.

Yeah.

(Audience laughing) And then we, yeah, you know, he knows.

He knows.

And then we spend the, this next song, this, we sing this next song to that person.

Yeah.

We may not even look directly at you - Right.

- because we're shy.

We're shy.

(crowd laughing) But you'll know.

You'll feel it.

(Audience laughing) Oh, you got a fine brown frame I wonder what could be your name You look good to me cuz all I can see Is your fine brown frame Tell me how long have you been around?

Mister, when did you hit this big town?

I wanna scream cuz I never seen Such a fine brown frame Now all that I have is a broken down chair But I'd make you king on my throne Don't ya be a square, come on over here Together we would be gone Oh, ya got a fine brown frame Mister, won't you tell me your name?

You're solid with me cuz all I can see Is your fine brown frame (cheering and applause) Oh, you got a fine brown frame Mister, won't you tell me your name?

You're solid with me cuz all I can see Is your fine brown frame (Cheering and applause) Thanks, Old Saybrook.

Thank you.

Gosh.

I know.

This might be one of the least brown audiences we've ever played to.

(Audience laughing) I know.

There's a guy with a tan over there but- Yeah.

Stephanie and I have a lot in common.

We do, yeah.

We were both born in 1989.

(Audience laughter) Madam, how rude of you to laugh.

No, actually there is, there's a 30 year difference between me and Stephanie.

Yeah.

Stephanie is six.

(Audience laughter) Yeah.

She's just, she's very precocious.

I'm a quick learner.

She's in the 99th percentile for height.

(Audience laughter) She just picks up the choreography.

You know, those young brains, they're just like sponges.

Really convenient.

Crazy what music can do for age.

Do you guys like Rufus Wainwright at all?

[cheers] We are not gonna do any of his songs.

(Audience laughter) Bummer.

That was a tactical error.

They seemed like they're into Rufus.

No, we are, we are, I was lying.

We are gonna do one.

We are, for sure.

Right now as a matter of fact.

My phone's on vibrate for you Electroclash is karaoke too I try to dance Britney Spears I guess I'm getting on in years My phone's on vibrate for you God knows what all these new drugs do I guess to have no more fears But still I always end up in tears So call me, call me in the morning Call me in the night, so call me Call me anytime you like My phone's on vi-i-i-i-i-brate For you, for you (Cheering and applause) This is a cutie.

It's only like a minute long if you want to time it on your timepiece-feel free.

I gotta feeling called the blues, Lord Since my baby said goodbye Lord, I don't know what I'll do All I do is sit and si-i-igh That last long day she said goodbye Well Lord I thought I would die She do me, she do you she's got that kinda lovin Lord I love to hear her when she calls me sweet da-a-addy Such a beautiful dream I hate to think it's all over I lost my heart it seems Well I've grown so used to you somehow Well, I'm nobody's sugar daddy now And I'm lonesome I got the lovesick blues And I'm lonesome I got the lovesick blues (Cheering and applause) I was supposed to go like that, too but.. you know... What are you gonna do?

Nobody's perfect.

No.

People like mistakes.

It's only human.

We'll make a lot of 'em.

Yeah, it's fine.

We'll be extra-super human.

Yeah.

Um, well.

What's up?

I can tell from this crowd...

Uh huh?

(Undecipherable whispering) Oh?

Can you tell?

Yeah.

Everybody loves a lover.

They do.

You and you and you and you.

Yeah.

This is an amorous group.

(Audience laughter) Alright.

Well, we're gonna do a little song that will illustrate your roiling emotions for you.

Yeah.

What you already know.

Let's scoot back so that we're actually in some light.

Everybody loves a lover I'm a lover, everybody loves me Anyhow, that's how I feel Wow!

I feel just like a Pollyanna I should worry, not for nothin' Everybody loves me, yes they do And I love everybody Since I fell in love with you Who's the most popular personality I can't help but thinkin' it's no one else but me Gee, I feel just about ten feet tall, havin' a ball Guess you might call me a Pollyanna Everybody loves a lover I'm a lover, everybody loves me Anyhow, that's how I feel Wow!

I feel just like a Pollyanna I should worry, not for nothin' Everybody loves me, yes they do!

And I love everybody Since I fell in love with fell in love with fell in love with you (Just like a Pollyanna Oo-oo-ooh) (Cheering and applause) Well, we're gonna do a little three-part harmony now with, well, four counting our beautiful Datri.

Y'all know Joni Mitchell's Blue ?

(Audience cheers and applause) It's good, right?

It's a really good song.

So we're gonna do that song, Blue , the actual song, and Datri Bean will be accompanying us on piano, (Audience applause) and Petra Haden will be singing three-part with us.

(Audience applause) We're really lucky to have either of them.

That's why we keep them over here in the corner, cuz we don't want it to be too clear that they're way better than we are.

It's true.

Try to keep it quiet.

(Piano intro) Blue Songs are like tattoos You know I've been to sea before Crown and anchor me Or let me sail away Hey Blue Here is a song for you Ink on a pin Underneath the skin An empty space to fill in Well there're so many sinking Now you've got to keep thinking You can make it thru these waves Acid, booze, and ass Needles, guns, and grass lots of laughs Lots of laughs (Piano bridge) Everybody's saying that hell's the hippest way to go well I don't think so, but I'm Gonna take a look around it though Blue I love you Blue Here is a shell for you Inside you'll hear a sigh A foggy lullaby There is your song from me (Piano ends song) (Cheering and applause) (Megan) Stephanie grew up in Austin and I grew up in Oklahoma City.

(Stephanie) I grew up in a musical family and my dad had like a huge book,he still has it, of all Americana songs that he loves, and he would just play them all.

So I grew up with that in my ear constantly.

I got too, too many places to be right now And my sister plays music and then I'd always sing harmony.

She's like a harmony savant.

In Oklahoma City there is really just like one radio station that everybody listened to called WKY.

(Roy Orbison singing) (Radio announcer) That's Roy Orbison here from WKY in Oklahoma City-records on the go till 9.

(Megan) They played everything.

They played everything from Eydie Gorm and then they'd play the Stones and everything in between.

They played Frank Sinatra and the Monkees and, you know, just literally everything from super sugary pop music to really legit hardcore rock to country to blues, and I loved all of them.

I mean I loved all of them that were good.

I knew every lyric to every song and I sang them all full, full out and that's how I kind of learned to sing, singing all different styles.

So I have a dance background.

I was in a ballet company for five years.

I was this very serious ballet dancer.

I studied at New York City Ballet School and so acting came last for me.

I feel like we keep getting good ideas and like we keep upping the ante with, like, the concepts for the songs, the choreographic concepts and then just the whole vibe.

(Sound of tap dancing and audience applause) We keep like building on it.

But that's just because we're having fun and we think, okay, well we did it, We did that-we never thought we could pull that off.

Oh, now let's try this, this'll never work.

Yeah.

And then it does.

We'll just see what we can get away with.

Yeah.

(Audience applause) Oh, we gotta get our chairs.

Oh, right.

What fun.

Here they come.

We love to support the Waltons.

Yeah, we'll see what happens.

Uh oh.

No, backwards.

Oh.

No, frontwards.

Okay.

Okay, let's, yeah.

Okay, so... (Audience applause) We did those chairs.

Let's talk about these cute little band-mates real quick, shall we?

Yeah.

Um, right here we have the delicious, delightful, gluten free, vegan Petra Haden.

(Audience applause) We're really lucky to have her.

We're lucky to have everybody in our band.

And then we have here a goddess among women and men, Datri Bean.

(Audience applause) Both of these ladies have their own music that you can find on ITunes and other streaming services, both incredible.

And behind us here we have the father of both of our children Mr. Joe Berardi.

Let's bow.

(Audience applause) Yes.

We, there used to be a lot more men in the band but we've decided that Joe is playing a long game and he's just waiting until he's the only man standing.

Yeah.

What's the new name of the band?

It's ah Nashville Joe and His Sister Wives, (Audience laughter) As of yesterday.

I like it.

Right here, not only a bass player but our manager Yeah Drew Pressman.

(Audience applause) Yeah, appropriate.

And here, third time's a charm, here on guitar we have our brand spanking new, just fresh out of the wrapper guitar player, Sophia Johnson.

(Audience applause) Don't you feel my leg, don't you feel my leg 'Cos when you feel my leg, you're gonna feel my thigh And if you feel my thigh you're going to go up high So don't you feel my leg Don't you buy no rye, don't you buy no rye 'Cos if you buy some rye, you're gonna make me high And if you make me high you're gonna tell a lie So don't you buy no rye You said you'd take me out and treat me fine But I know there's something you've got on your mind If you keep drinking you're gonna get fresh And you'll wind up askin' for that fine brown flesh Don't you feel my leg, don't you feel my leg 'Cos if you feel my leg your gonna feel my thigh And if you feel my thigh you're gonna go up high So don't you feel my leg (Petra imitating trombone sounds ) Don't you feel my leg, don't you feel my leg 'Cos if you feel my leg you're gonna feel my thigh And if you feel my thigh, you're gonna go up high So don't you feel my leg (Cheering and applause) Without my walkin' stick (bah-dah-dah-dah-dah) I'd go insane (bah-dah bah-dah) Can't look my best (bah dah), I feel undressed (bah-dah) Without my cane (bah-dah bah-dah bah-da) Must have my walking stick (bah-dah-dah-dah-dah) 'Cause it may rain (bah-dah, bah-dah) And when it pours (bah-dah), Can't be outdoors (bah-dah) Without my cane (bah-dah bah-dah bah-dah) If I ever went outside without my walking stick (bop-bop-bop) It would just be something I could never explain (bop bop bop bop) The thing that makes me click (bah-dah-dah-dah) On Lover's Lane (bah-dah, bah-dah) Would go for naught (bah-dah), If I were caught (bah-dah) Without my cane (bah-dah, bah-dah, bah dah) (Petra imitating trombone sounds) Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, (Petra imitating trombone sounds) (Without my walking stick, I'd go insane) (Can't look my best) (I feel undressed without my cane) (Must have my walking stick 'cause it may rain) (When it pours can't be outdoors without my cane) (Wah-dah, bah-d ah, bah-dah) (Cheering and applause) If you were wondering if we we're going to do a gospel song next, you would be right.

They knew.

They totally knew.

Very perceptive crowd.

This is a gospel song, kind of a spiritual.

And it was written by -- Pops- Pops - -Staples Staples, yeah.

Right?

Oh.

Oh, yeah, see.

Pops Staples.

Um, yeah.

My nickname was Pops for like a day It didn't stick.

I was-- It was really -- --so bummed.

Okay, yeah.

So this is called Waiting for My Child .

Let's stand in this vicinity since there's no- the father of our children has gone offstage.

(Audience laughter) I was talking to a lady a few days ago And these are the words she said If you see my child somewhere As you journey here and there Tell him I'm waiting for my child to come home I am waiting and waiting for my child to come Waiting and waiting for my child to come If he can't come home Could he please send me a letter A letter would mean so much to me Oh my child may be somewhere On his sick bed With no one to rub his aching head Oh my child may be somewhere In some lonely jail With no one there to go his bail If I only knew what town my child was in I would be there on that early morning train For no matter what the crime Lord you know that this child is mine That's why I'll be waiting for my child to come home I am waiting and waiting for my child to come Waiting and waiting for my child to come If he can't come home Could he please send me a letter A letter would mean so much to me I am waiting, waiting, waiting Wa-aa-aa-iting (Cheering and applause) I am waiting for my child To come ho-o-o-ome (Cheering and applause) Thank you.

Thank you.

Please Mr. Jailer, won't you let my man go free?

Please Mr. Jailer, won't you let my man go free?

I know that no other one will ever do You know the answer, it's all up to you Please, Mr. Jailer, won't you let my man go free?

You put him in a death cell and then you changed your mind Then when you reprieved him, you gave him 99 Please, Mr. Jailer, won't you let my man go free?

Yeah, yeah, Mr. Jailer, won't you let my man go free?

That night in October, 1953 How could he be in Frisco, he was home with me Please, Mr. Jailer, won't you let my man go free?

Been down here so often you don't even ask my name And if you'll keep him all his life I'll be here just the same Please, won't you let my man go free?

Yeah, yeah, Mr. Jailer, won't you let my man go free?

I know that no other one will ever do You know the answer it's all up to you Please, Mr. Jailer won't you let my man go free?

Go free, go free, go free, go free (Cheering and applause) (Megan) Thank you.

(Stephanie) Thank you.

He said, "I'll love you till I die", She told him "You'll forget in time" As the years went slowly by, She still preyed upon his mind He kept her picture on his wall, Went half-crazy now and then He still loved her through it all, Hoping she'd come back again He kept some letters by his bed dated 1962 He had underlined in red every single "I love you."

I went to see him just today, Oh but I didn't see no tears All dressed up to go away, First time I'd seen him smile in years He stopped loving her today They placed a wreath upon his door And soon they'll carry him away He stopped loving her today Oh-oh-oh (Megan/Stephanie change voices to imitate elderly persons) You know, he went to see her one last time.

Aww, 'n' we all wondered if she would.

And it just, it just kept runnin' through my mind "this time he's over her for good."

He stopped loving her today They placed a wreath upon his door And soon they'll carry him away He stopped loving her today He stopped loving her today (Cheering and applause) Now we're just gonna do a little yoga.

Oh Yeah.

I swear, it's very relaxing.

Everybody assume the lotus position.

Yeah.

You should have room there in your chairs.

Yeah, it'll be easy for you.

We'll get our mats out.

Yeah, just a little pick-me-up.

Pick-me-up yoga exercises.

Yeah, so we're gonna do this song.

Yeah.

And then we're going to do two more songs.

(Audience laughter) This is what they call on PBS a little T & A.

(Audience laughter) One million tears too late Just how long did you think I'd wait I'm sorry, baby, you let my love grow cold Ohh how I suffered, how long?

It left my blues all gone I'm sorry, baby, you let my love grow cold Now that I'm free, don't come knockin' at my door Baby, can't you see Oh you just don't move me no more Oh you left me in the dark I had ice all around my heart I'm sorry, baby, you let my love grow cold Now that I'm free I don't want you knockin' at my door Baby can't you see How you just don't move me no more Oh, you left me in the dark I had ice all around my heart I'm sorry, baby, you let my love grow cold Hey, I'm sorry baby, you let my love grow cold (Cheering and applause) Well it's all your fault if I'm not sleepin' I live on dreams instead of eatin' I'm just a wreck, it's all your fault Well it's all your fault if I'm not playin' Or having fun and if I'm stayin' All by myself, well, it's all your fault When you said that we were through I tried to find somebody new But I found out it wouldn't do 'Cause I'd rather be alone than with somebody new It's all your fault when I'm the Grandma And my grandkids don't call me Grandpa I'll just tell 'em it's all your fault (instrumental break with tap dancing) (Cheering and applause) (Audience cheering) When you said that we were through I tried to find somebody new But I found out it wouldn't do 'Cause I'd rather be alone than with somebody new It's all your fault when I'm the Grandma If my grandkids don't call you Grandpa I'll just tell 'em it's all your fault I'll just tell 'em it's all your fault.

(Cheering and applause) I used to smoke I used to drink I used to smoke, drink, and dance the hoochie-coo I used to smoke and drink Smoke and drink and dance the hoochie-coo Oh yeah But now I'm standin' on this corner Praying for a-me and you Ah hah That's why I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) People let me tell you 'bout a kingdom come You know I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm gonna preach until you're deaf and dumb I'm in that soul-savin' army B eatin' on that big a-bass drum Oh yeah I used to cuss (cuss) I used to fuss (fuss) I used to cuss (cuss) fuss (fuss) And boogie all night long I used to cuss and fuss Cuss and fuss and boogie all night long Oh yeah But now I'm standin' on this corner I know a-right from a-wrong Oh yeah That's why I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) People let me tell you 'bout a kingdom come You know, I'm saved (saved) Oh saved (saved) I'm gonna preach until you're deaf and dumb I'm in that soul savin' army Beating on that big a-bass drum Whoa yeah I used to lie (lie) I used to cheat (cheat) I used to lie (lie), cheat (cheat) And step on people's feet I used to lie and cheat Lie and cheat and step on people's feet Whoa yeah But now I'm steppin' on the glory Salvation is-a my beat Oh yeah That's why I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) People let me tell you 'bout a kingdom come You know I'm saved (saved) Oh saved (saved) I'm gonna preach until you're deaf and dumb I'm in that soul savin' army Beating on that big a-bass drum Whoa yeah Now I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I'm saved (saved) I-I-I-I-I-m-a Sa-a-a-a-a-aved (Cheering and applause) (Audience rythmic clapping) (Cheering and applause) (Cheering and applause) Funding for this program was provided by Whelen Engineering Company.

Whelen is a proud sponsor of The Kate and wishes to voice its ongoing support for Connecticut Public Television, the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, and the Michael J.

Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.