Horse Power
September 11 - October 6, 2024
Approx. Length: 70 Minutes
A Coterie World Premiere
in co-production with the American Royal
featuring puppets by What If Puppets
Horse Power:
Tom Bass’ American Story
Written by Michelle Tyrene Johnson
Directed by Teresa Leggard
Tom Bass, a Missourian born in slavery, became the greatest horseman of his time. Internationally known for being a horse whisperer, among his many accolades, he started the American Royal’s first horse show. In contemporary times, Natalia (“Nate”) Edmonds loves horses, especially the one her parents bought her for her birthday. As a Black teenager, she learns about and is inspired by the legacy of Tom Bass as she grapples with what modern day racism looks like. Horse Power is written by Michelle Tyrene Johnson, the award-winning playwright behind The Coterie’s Only One Day a Year, and is produced as part of the American Royal’s 125th Anniversary.
Throughout the run of the show, there are several special performances:
- Opening Night: September 13 at 7 pm
- American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreted Performance: September 28 at 2 pm
- Audio Described Performances with verbal commentary to assist patrons who are visually impaired: October 4 at 9:45 am and October 5 at 2 pm
- Sensory Friendly Performances for neurodiverse audiences featuring technical adjustments, sensory supports, house lights on and flexible audience expectations: October 4 at 9:45 am and October 5 at 2 pm
Find classroom resources and curriculum extensions at coterie.edublogs.org.
Original production designs and illustrations by the Kansas City Art Institute Illustration Department’s student staffed agency, MICRO. Horse Power design by Chaneryna Thach.
