Horse Power
September 11 - October 6, 2024
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
Featuring Amari Lewis, Joe Serrano, Ann Pittman Zárate, L. Roi Hawkins, Paulette Dawn, Terrace Wyatt, Jr. & Erik J Pratt
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.
Approx. Length: 60 Minutes
Find classroom resources and curriculum extensions at coterie.edublogs.org.
Throughout the run of the show, there are several special performances:
- Opening Night: September 13
- 6:00 p.m.: Free pre-show events featuring special equine-themed activations and a panel discussion with American Royal stakeholders
- 7:00 p.m.: Horse Power world premiere performance
- Black Affinity Performance: September 22 at 2pm for those in the Black community, especially those who have a love of horses and Kansas City history, featuring a free, short talk-back immediately following the performance
- American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreted Performance: September 28 at 2 pm
- Audio Described Performances October 4 at 9:45 am and October 5 at 2 pm with verbal commentary to assist patrons who are visually impaired
- Sensory Friendly Performances October 4 at 9:45 am and October 5 at 2 pm for neurodiverse audiences featuring technical adjustments, sensory supports, house lights on and flexible audience expectations
“… Michelle’s play … mixes the historical retelling with a present-day fictional element that helps us reflect on the relationship between past and present …”
“… We loved learning about Tom Bass through this production and his importance, not only to Kansas City, but to the horse world …”
– KCParent
Original production designs and illustrations by the Kansas City Art Institute Illustration Department’s student staffed agency, MICRO. Horse Power design by Chaneryna Thach.
