Acting, Advocacy, and Kansas Beauty with Kiki Bush | Center Stage Kansan

What does it take to turn Kansas into a thriving hub for film and storytelling? Sterling native Kiki Bush left Kansas for classical drama training in England and a successful acting career in New York—but the pandemic brought her home, where she discovered something unexpected. She's now fighting to bring film tax incentives to Kansas, directing her own projects, and proving that the state's "difficult beauty" deserves to be seen on screen. From the theater across the street from her childhood home to advocating at the Kansas Capitol, Kiki's journey reveals why Kansas stories matter and what happens when we choose hope and grit over easy answers.

HIGHLIGHTS

• TikTok tree controversy sparks debate about Kansas history and landscape

• Growing up across from Sterling College Theater ignited Kiki's passion for performance

• Training at London's Guildhall School as the only American in her class

• Career highlights: playing Cordelia to Kevin Kline's King Lear at The Public Theater

• Meeting her husband Rolfe during the pandemic through online dating in Kansas

• Creating "The Game Camera" short film with a primarily female cast and crew

• Fighting for Kansas film tax incentives: 38 states have them, Kansas needs to catch up

• Why women over 40 face fewer opportunities in film—and how Kiki is changing that

• Kansas represents "difficult beauty" that requires staying power to appreciate

CHAPTERS

[0:00] TikTok Tree Controversy

[1:16] Podcast Intro and Guest Introduction

[1:57] Meet Kiki Bush

[3:30] Sterling Roots and Theater

[6:38] KU to England Drama School

[10:19] Career Highlights and New York

[14:07] Acting Calling Moment

[15:07] Pandemic Homecoming to Kansas

[18:46] Life in Saline County Now

[20:15] Fighting for Film Incentives

[22:40] Call Your Legislators

[23:00] How Film Tax Credits Work

[23:40] Keeping Kansas Creatives Home

[24:16] Making The Game Camera

[26:32] Origins of the Story

[28:44] Equity On Set

[30:27] Aging and Beauty Standards

[33:51] Why Kansas Stories Matter

[34:22] Difficult Beauty of Kansas

[40:50] Post Interview Takeaways

[41:19] Kansas Hot Takes Game

[43:10] Sunsets, Sunflowers, and Pride

[45:37] Wrap Up and Subscribe

RESOURCES

• Grow Kansas Film - Organization advocating for Kansas film tax incentives (contact for talking points to reach your legislators): https://www.growkansasfilm.com/

• Sterling College - Sterling, Kansas: https://www.sterling.edu/

• Guildhall School of Music and Drama - London, England: https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/

• Shocker Studios - Wichita, KS - https://www.wichita.edu/academics/fine_arts/digital_arts/shocker_studios.php

Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net