History
Incorporated in 1979
A Brief History
Judith Yeckel and Vicky Lee (pictured), two graduate students in theatre from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), founded The Coterie in 1979. The theatre is located on Level 1 of the Crown Center shops in the Hallmark complex. In its first 40 years, The Coterie has given over 13,000 performances of 285 productions on its mainstage, playing to approximately 2.2 million people. In 2017, The Coterie celebrated the milestone of serving over 100,000 students and families in a single season with its mainstage productions, acting classes, in-school workshops, and community outreach programs.
The Coterie Today
The Coterie, a professional Equity theatre, is among the top five theatres serving families and young audiences in the United States, according to TIME magazine: “groundbreaking…one of the nation’s most respected.” Travel+Leisure magazine’s top ten list of children’s theatres described The Coterie as “a theatre that resolutely refuses to talk down to its audience.” The mainstage season consists of six full productions: three for older students (junior high and high school) and adults, and three for younger audiences and families. The emphasis is often on new or recent works.
Through ingenious programming, The Coterie plays a vital role in the greater Kansas City area developing new generations of audiences for the performing arts with plays that reach a variety of age groups. In its first 40 years, The Coterie has given over 13,000 performances of 285 productions on its mainstage, playing to approximately 2.2 million people. In 2017, The Coterie celebrated the milestone of serving over 100,000 students and families in a single season with its mainstage productions, acting classes, in-school workshops, and community outreach programs.
In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, The Coterie began creating, developing, and producing new works of theatre for young audiences. This included the world premiere productions of Sheldon Harnick’s Dragons and Edward Mast’s Wolf Child: The Correction of Joseph, as well as The Very First Family, Across the Plains, Nate the Great, Gatherings in Graveyards, Oz, and numerous premieres from the Little House series. Further, The Coterie mounted the professional American premiere of Lord of the Flies in its Great Books/Banned Books season, and the first staging of the opera Green Eggs and Ham, after its concert premiere. Regional premieres have included Athol Fugard’s My Children! My Africa! and Valley Song. In 1995, The Coterie was awarded the prestigious Lila Wallace Reader’s Digest Award for its world premiere of Alicia in Wonder Tierra, a successful production involving actors in the Latino community.
In 1999, The Coterie’s world premiere commission of The Wrestling Season by Laurie Brooks went on to be produced around the country after it transferred to Kennedy Center for New Visions 2000: One Theatre World. The play received additional nationwide exposure when it was published in its entirety in American Theatre Magazine (November, 2000). Brooks has often served as playwright-in-residence at The Coterie and has premiered a number of her works here, including her original script, Afflicted: Daughters of Salem, as well as her stage adaptations of Andrew Clements’ No Talking and Terry Brooks’ The Secret of Courage.
Several of The Coterie’s premieres were developed at the Kennedy Center’s New Vision/New Voices new play festival and at NYU’s Educational Theatre Program at Provincetown Playhouse.
In 2004, The Coterie’s Lab for New Family Musicals worked with Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty to create a Theatre for Young Audiences version of Seussical adapted from Broadway. It has since become one of the most produced plays in educational theatre in United States. The Coterie’s Lab for New Family Musicals has hosted new work by musical theatre artists Stephen Schwartz (Geppetto & Son), Willie and Rob Reale (The Dinosaur Musical), Harry Connick Jr. (The Happy Elf), and other works by Ahrens and Flaherty (Twice Upon a Time and a TYA version of Once On This Island). Click here to read KCUR’s interview with Lynn Ahrens on this collaboration. More recently, The Coterie hosted Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire to fashion a new version of Shrek the Musical. Other recent musical world premieres include Madagascar – A Musical Adventure, Alice’s Wonderland, and the TYA versions of The SpongeBob Musical, Doctor Dolittle, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Each year, The Coterie’s mainstage season also includes the Young Playwrights Showcase, which features the works of teen playwrights fostered through the Young Playwrights Roundtable.
Production History
*World Premiere | **Commissioned World Premiere | ***American Premiere
2024-25
Horse Power: Tom Bass’ American Story * (co-produced with American Royal and What if Puppets)
Electric Poe 2024 * (co-produced event with Union Cemetery Historical Society)
Finding Nemo TYA (co-produced with What if Puppets)
Just Ask! * (co-produced with What if Puppets)
Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale
A Year with Frog and Toad
2023-24
Justice at War
Electric Poe 2023 * (co-produced event with Union Cemetery Historical Society)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2020-21
Electric Poe * (co-produced event with Union Cemetery Historical Society)
Mesner Puppet Theater’s The Snowy Day and other stories by Ezra Jack Keats
BRAINSTORM: The Inside Life of the Teenage Mind [The Coterie virtually presents UMKC Theatre]
Mesner Puppet Theater’s How to Snag a Sea Monster: A Terrifically Tall Tale *
Dragons Love Tacos [The Coterie presents UMKC Theatre in Crown Center Square]
2022-23
Akeelah and the Bee
Tell-Tale Electric Poe
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Only One Day a Year **
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!
Doctor Dolittle * (Theatre for Young Audiences Premiere)
2021-22
Electric Poe 2021 * (co-produced event with Union Cemetery Historical Society)
Mobile Molière * (Coterie presents UMKC Theatre)
The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences * (Theatre for Young Audiences Premiere)
Pete the Cat
Alice’s Wonderland *
2020-21
Electric Poe * (co-produced event with Union Cemetery Historical Society)
Mesner Puppet Theater’s The Snowy Day and other stories by Ezra Jack Keats
BRAINSTORM: The Inside Life of the Teenage Mind [The Coterie virtually presents UMKC Theatre]
Mesner Puppet Theater’s How to Snag a Sea Monster: A Terrifically Tall Tale *
Dragons Love Tacos [The Coterie presents UMKC Theatre in Crown Center Square]
2019-20
Rise Up
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The White Rose: We Defied Hitler
PUFFS or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
Pete the Cat [rescheduled to Spring 2022]
Disney’s The Little Mermaid [canceled – Covid]
A Kids Play About Racism * (national collaboration)
2018-19
Becoming Martin *
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Secret Soldiers: Heroines in Disguise
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure
Elephant & Piggie’s “We are in a Play!”
2017-18
We Shall Not Be Moved: The Student Sit-Ins of 1960
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Secret of Courage *
Tuck Everlasting
Project Pride 2018
Jack and the Bean Mágico!
Young Playwrights’ Festival 2018
Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium – The Musical
Disney’s Newsies
2016-17
The Nine Who Dared: Courage in Little Rock
The Presidents! (Tour)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Hana’s Suitcase
No Talking *
Project Pride 2017
Elephant and Piggie’s “We are in a Play!”
Young Playwrights’ Festival 2017
Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude
2015-16
The Miracle Worker
A Charlie Brown Christmas
And Justice for Some: The Freedom Trial of Anthony Burns [1858]
Tomás and the Library Lady
Where the Wild Things Are
Young Playwrights’ Festival 2016
Madagascar – A Musical Adventure *
A Bird of Prey (KC Fringe Festival)
2014-15
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
To Whom It May Inspire [in letters, stories & song] * (at the Coterie)
To Whom It May Inspire [in letters, stories & song] * (Tour)
Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat
Young Playwrights’ Festival 2015
A Year with Frog and Toad
I and You (KC Fringe Festival)
2013-14
Red Badge Variations **
Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker
The Wiz
Afflicted: Daughters of Salem *
Geek Mythology: I Was a Teenage Immortal ** (On the mainstage at The Coterie)
Geek Mythology: I Was a Teenage Immortal ** (Tour)
Zeus On the Loose (Tour)
Schoolhouse Rock Live!
Young Playwrights’ Festival 2014
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang * (Premiere theatre for young audiences version)
2012-13
Spring Awakening
Dear America: Across the Wide Lonesome Prairie
The Presidents (Tour)
Shrek The Musical * (Premiere theatre for young audiences version)
Number the Stars
Tell-Tale Electric Poe (see premiere, 2009)
Slashdance **
Bud Not Buddy
Young Playwrights’ Festival 2013
Lyle the Crocodile
Victoria Martin: Math Team Queen (KC Fringe Festival)
2011-12
The Outsiders
Children of the Damned Corn **
Seussical * (see 2004)
The Wrestling Season ** (see premiere 2000)
Freedom Sisters
Lucky Duck (at the Folly)
Lucky Duck (at the New Victory Theater, New York)
James and the Giant Peach
Young Playwrights’ Festival 2012
Once Upon a Mattress * (Premiere theatre for young audiences version)
All of Us (KC Fringe Festival)
2010-11
Science Fiction Triple Feature
Sorority House of the Dead **
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Bridge to Terabithia
The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza (at the Coterie)
The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza (Tour)
Ben Franklin’s Apprentice
Young Playwrights’ Festival 2011
The Wiz (Theatre for Young Audiences version)
2009-10
Tell-Tale Electric Poe **
Maul of the Dead **
Little House on the Prairie
Life on the Mississippi *
Spooky Dog: A Scooby-Doo-Like Mystery (Improvised, Plagiarized, Not for Kiddies)
Young Playwrights’ Festival 2010 *
Frindle
Lucky Duck * (Premiere Theatre for Young Audiences version)
2008-09
And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank
Night of the Living Dead
Seussical * (see premiere, 2004)
Our Town
The Breakfast Club – Live Mondays
Atypical Boy **
Roald Dahl’s The Witches
Young Playwrights’ Festival *
U: BUG: ME *
2007-08
A Star Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hole in Heaven
Night of the Living Dead
The Happy Elf **
In Spite of Thunder: The Macbeth Project
A Separate Peace
Sideways Stories From Wayside School
Young Playwrights’ Festival *
Once On This Island * (Premiere Theatre for Young Audiences version)
2006-07
With Their Eyes: The View of 9/11 from a High School at Ground Zero
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
The Giver
The Country of the Blind *
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters
Young Playwrights’ Festival *
Twice Upon a Time: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and The Emperor’s New Clothes * (Premiere double bill)
2005-06
The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 *
Stuart Little
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
The Search For Odysseus ***
Ferdinand the Bull
Young Playwrights’ Festival *
Geppetto and Son *
2004-05
The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ***
The Night Before Christmas
Selkie: Between Land and Sea *
Holes
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
Young Playwrights’ Festival *
The Dinosaur Musical *
2003-04
Gatherings In Graveyards III *
Sarah Plain And Tall
After Juliet ***
Everyday Heroes / Breath Of An American Spirit: Sacagawea ***
The B.F.G.
Young Playwrights’ Festival *
Seussical * (Premiere Theatre For Young Audiences Version)
2002-03
Frankenstein *
A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas **
Zorro
The Tangled Web ***
Schoolhouse Rock Live, Too!
Young Playwrights’ Festival *
The Hundred and One Dalmatians
2001-02
Breath of an American Spirit: Sacagawea **
Little House On The Shores Of Silver Lake **
Playing For Time
Black Butterfly, Jaguar Girl, Pinata Woman and Other Superhero Girls Like Me
The Wind in the Willows
Young Playwrights’ Festival *
Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
2000-01
Gatherings in Graveyards II *
Little House on the Prairie
Great Expectations
Glass Menagerie
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Young Playwrights’ Showcase *
A Little Princess
1999-2000
Little Tommy Parker Celebrated Colored Minstrel Show
A Little House Christmas
The Wrestling Season **
Young Playwrights’ Showcase *
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Really Rosie
Little Women
1998-99
20th Anniversary “Great Books, Banned Books Season”
To Kill A Mockingbird
Mark Twain on Mondays *
Little House Christmas in the Indian Territory **
Of Mice and Men
Young Playwrights’ Showcase *
Lord of the Flies ***
Free to Be… You and Me
The 7 Dwarfs
1997-98
The Lilies Of The Field
Evester Roper, Storyteller
Little House Christmas at Plum Creek **
A Village Fable: In the Suicide Mountains
Buffalo Hair
Young Playwrights’ Showcase*
Schoolhouse Rock Live!
Pippi Longstocking
1996-97
Beyond The Miracle
Machisma… Voices of the Past
A Little House Christmas
Whale
Young Playwrights’ Showcase *
Valley Song
The Reluctant Dragon
Lyle, Lyle, The Crocodile
1995-96
Alicia In Wonder Tierra *
Maxine Maxwell, Storyteller
Green Eggs & Ham *
Across the Plains **
The Very First Family ** (Tour)
Anne Frank and Me *
Coyote Mischief Tales **
Young Playwrights’ Showcase *
Rocky & Bullwinkle
A Wrinkle in Time **
1994-95
The Former One-On-One Basketball Champion
The Little Prince *
The Meeting (Tour)
To Be Young, Gifted & Black
Darkside Of The Moon
Young Playwrights’ Showcase *
Lyle, Lyle, the Crocodile
Mr. A’s Amazing Maze Play
Animal Fair
1993-94
My Children! My Africa!
Winnie-the-Pooh
The Pearl *
A Woman Called Truth (Tour)
The Hobbit **
The Very First Family **
Young Playwrights’ Showcase *
Oz **
1992-93
The Meeting
Winnie-the-Pooh
Oliver Twist *
Wolf Child **
Blazing The Outback *
Bunnicula
Dinosaurus
Anne Of Green Gables
1991-92
A Woman Called Truth
Winnie-The-Pooh
Dennis, The Musical
Red Badge of Courage
Most Valuable Player
Mr. Racoon & His Friends **
Neverland **
The Red Sneaks
1990-91
Doors
Winnie-The-Pooh
We, The People (Tour)
Amber Waves
Amelia Lives
Dinosaurus
Charlotte’s Web
The Secret Garden
1989-90
Great Expectations
Winnie-the-Pooh
Laughing Matters (Tour)
Animal Farm
Most Valuable Player
The Ugly Duckling
Laughter in the Rafters
Nate The Great *
1988-89
Gatherings from the Graveyard *
Pooh!
The Odyssey
Takunda
Dirty Beasts *
Laugh-A-Lot
Ransom Of Red Chief
1987-88
Slapstick! *
The Best of Pooh
Laughing Matters
Dragons *
We, The People *
The Wind In The Willows
Pinocchio
Triple Play
1986-87
Fiddlin’ Around *
Pooh
Monkey & The Golden Sunrise
The Diary Of Anne Frank
Circus Home
The Jungle Book
Three For All
1985-86
Kid’s Ink *
The World Of Pooh
Kid’s Ink * (Tour)
Huck Finn
To Kill A Mockingbird
Charlotte’s Web
Beauty & The Beast
Laughing Matters
1984-85
Chalkboard Secrets *
Pooh!
Merlin
Tommyknockers
Charlotte’s Web
1983-84
Zounds, A Phonic! *
Hums Poems Of Pooh
Monkey, Monkey
Rotten Apples *
The Miracle Worker
1982-83
Step On A Crack
House at Pooh Corner
Phantasmagoria *
Harbledown! *
1981-82
Hurdles *
Winnie-the-Pooh
Act Your Age *
Me, Myself & I *
1980-81
Mugnog
The Velveteen Rabbit
Many Moons
Finders Keepers *
1980
Onions in the Ice Cream *
Butterfly Ball *
1979
Incorporation year
Homemade Magic *
1978
Hums & Poems Of Pooh *
