JEFF CHURCH Producing Artistic Director JOETTE PELSTER Executive Director

Level 1, Crown Centerthecoterie.org

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 -JANUARY 2, 2022

JEFF CHURCH Producing Artistic Director JOETTE PELSTER Executive Director

presents NickelodeonTM

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL Based on the Series by Stephen Hillenburg

Book by Kyle JarrowOriginal Songs by

Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe &

The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A,Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco,

Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I.And Songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny & Andy Paley

Additional Lyrics by Jonathan CoultonAdditional Music by Tom Kitt

Musical Production Conceived by Tina Landau Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants, and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

THE COMPANYSpongeBob SquarePants …............................................................................................... Tyler FromsonPatrick Star ........................................................................................................................ Nik WhitcombSandy Cheeks ........................................................................................................................ Amari LewisSquidward Q. Tentacles ................................................................................................... Noah Lindquist*Mr. Krabs/Sea Anemone Tap Ensemble .............................................................................. Chris OwensPlankton ................................................................................................................................ Bob WearingKaren/Sea Anemone Tap Ensemble ......................................................................... Maggie HutchisonMrs. Puff/Perch/Ensemble ................................................................................................... Enjoli GavinMayor/Sea Anemone Tap Ensemble ............................................................................. MaryAnn Traxler Foley Artist ............................................................................................................................ Ava WoleskySandy/Karen/Squidward/FoleyArtist COVER ................................................................... Katie PautlerPatrick/Plankton/Krabs COVER............................................................................................. Carson TateSpongeBob/Mayor/Mrs. Puff/Perch/Foley Artist COVER ............................................. Natalee Merola

ARTISTIC AND PRODUCTION COMPANY Directors ........................................................................................................... Jeff Church+, Zach FaustMusic Directors ............................................................................. Anthony Edwards+, Delano MendozaResident Choreographer ...................................................................................................... Marc Wayne+Resident Lighting Designer ......................................................................................... Jarrett Bertoncin+Resident Sound Designer..................................................................................................... David Kiehl+Resident Costume Designer...................................................................Georgianna Londré Buchanan+Scenic Designer ..................................................................................................................... Kelli HarrodCoterie Resident Technical Director ....................................................................... Scott “Rex” Hobart+ Stage Manager ............................................................................................. Mackenzie Goodwin Tran*Properties, Set Dressing ....................................................................................................... Eric PalmquistProduction Assistant/Covid Safety Manager ......................................................................... Venus IriasHouse Managers .............................................................................. Matthew Briggs, Meredith Wolfe,

Dani Stine, Olivia Hays

* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

+ Denotes Coterie resident artist

SPECIAL THANKSAmy Rose Marsh & Concord Theatricals

Financial assistance for this project has been generously provided by National Edowment for the Arts, Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC Fund, and Theater League

The Coterie is a 501(c)3 nonprofit professional theatre, and a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and Theatre for Young Audiences/USA: The US chapter of ASSITEJ, the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People. The SpongeBob Musical is a professional production employing members of Actors’ Equity Association, founded in 1913, representing more than 50,000 professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL is presented by arrangement with

Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com Performance & rehearsal musical tracks provided by Right On Cue Services ( www.RightOnCueServices.com)

© 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants

and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Created by Stephen Hillenburg.

The video taping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

MUSICAL NUMBERS

“Prologue”.........................................................................................................The French Narrator

“Bikini Bottom Day” ..................................................................................................... The Town (by Jonathan Coulton)

“Bikini Bottom Day (Reprise)” ................................................................................... SpongeBob (by Jonathan Coulton)

“No Control” ........... Perch Perkins, Plankton, Sandy, Patrick, Squidward, SpongeBob, The Town (by David Bowie and Brian Eno)

“BFF” ..................................................................................................................SpongeBob, Patrick (by Plain White T’s)

“When the Going Gets Tough” ........................................................ Plankton, Karen, The Town(by T.I.)

“(Just A) Simple Sponge” ..................................................... SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs, Ensemble(by Panic! At the Disco)

“Hero Is My Middle Name” ............................................................... SpongeBob, Sandy, Patrick (by Cindy Lauper and Rob Hyman)

“Chop To The Top” .............................................................................................. Sandy, SpongeBob (by Lady A)

“I’m Not A Loser” ................................................................................... Squidward, Sea Anemones (by They Might Be Giants)

“I Guess I Miss You” ........................................................................................ Patrick, SpongeBob (by John Legend)

“Best Day Ever” ........................................................................................... SpongeBob, The Town (by Andy Paley and Tom Kenny)

Finale: Bikini Bottom Reprise ......... SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Krabs, Squidward, The Town (by Jonathan Coulton)

“SpongeBob Theme Song” .......................................................................................................... All(by Derek Drymon, Mark Harrison, Stephen Hillenburg, and Blaise Smith)

YOU ARE ON TRADITIONALLAND

USDAC.us/nativeland

#HonorNativeLand

Artwork by Bryan D. Parker

(Muscogee Creek/Choctaw/White Mountain Apache)

We respectfully acknowledge that we are on the traditional, ancestral lands of the Osage Nation.YOU ARE ON TRADITIONAL

LANDUSDAC.us/nativeland

#HonorNativeLand

Artwork by Bryan D. Parker

(Muscogee Creek/Choctaw/White Mountain Apache)

WHAT GOT YOU INTO THEATRE?...and other thoughts and biographical notes

from the cast, designers, and production team

Tyler Fromson (SpongeBob SquarePants) was a long time theatre audience member as a child when his Grandma would take him to shows at Starlight and The Coterie. He is excited to perform in the title

role of SpongeBob after having seen the Broadway production! This is also Tyler’s first production with The Coterie. Recent credits include Rocky Horror Show with Padgett Productions, Hair: Then & Now at Musical Theater Heritage, Godspell at Starlight Theatre and the North American tour of Friends The Musical Parody. He has also performed with Royal Caribbean as a Featured Singer and in Saturday Night Fever. When not performing he spends a lot of his time writing music. Listen to Breon Bay on Spotify to hear his work! (@t_from on Instagram)

Nik Whitcomb (Patrick Star) is thrilled to be making his Coterie and KC theatre debut in The SpongeBob Musical! He is excited to return to the stage after spending the last four years as a casting

director for theatre, television, and film in Chicago. Nik took his first theatre class at age six and The Coterie’s own Education Director, Amanda Kibler, was one of his first teachers! Nik is also the host of an online talk show called THE COME UP, a Core Ensemble Member with The Performing Arts Collective at The Union for Contemporary Art, an Associate Member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Union, and was named a “Theatre Worker You Should Know” by American

Theatre Magazine. You will see more of Nik when he returns to The Coterie as Director/Choreographer for Alice’s Wonderland this Summer! Off-Broadway: No Name In The

Street (Riant Theatre Company). Regional: A Christmas Carol (Guthrie Theater), Ghost the Musical (Old Log Theatre), The Nutcracker (Mudlark Theatre), Sister Act (Quincy Theatre), Songs For A New World (Dominican Performing Arts Center), Caroline, Or Change (Omaha Playhouse; Omaha Entertainment & Arts Award) and others. Film/TV: I Used To Go Here (Available on Amazon & AppleTV) and Station Eleven (Premiering this Winter on HBO Max). www.NikWhitcomb.com

Amari Lewis (Sandy Cheeks) got into theatre by having lots of energy and not knowing what to do with it, so her mom signed her up for a performing arts camp at the age of 7 and has been performing ever since. She is a

veteran kids ensemble member of 10+ years with The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, placed top 10 or higher in three of the biggest competitive acting competitions throughout high school, and won the Starlight Vincent Legacy Scholarship when she was eleven. This is Amari’s first production with The Coterie after having recently been in Les Misérables with Stage Right Performing Arts, Gleesical with Faust Theatre at Fringe Festival 2019, and Hairspray at Starlight Theatre. Amari is excited for this production as SpongeBob SquarePants was a staple cartoon in her household, with it being one of her dad’s favorite shows.

Noah Lindquist (Squidward Q. Tentacles) became fascinated by live theatre while seeing his parents in community theatre productions, and sitting in on several rehearsals. Noah joins us on The Coterie stage

for the first time after having been seen in the co-production of Newsies with the Jewish Community Center. Other

recent performances include: Godspell with Starlight Theatre, Fun Home at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and Ragtime at Musical Theater Heritage. He received his Bachelor of Music from Kansas State University. Noah is the creator of the viral Beauty and The Beast parody “Wear A Mask”.

Chris Owen (Mr. Krabs/Sea Anemone Tap Ensemble) saw a production of Jekyll and Hyde that his brother was in, and was immediately enamored with everything he saw. He quit all the sports he participated

in and dove into theatre. Chris is excited to join The Coterie for the first time in this production, especially after being a huge fan of SpongeBob SquarePants as a child. This world and the characters helped him through some of the most formative years of his life. Recent productions include Annie at The White Theater at The J, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at New Theatre & Restaurant, and Black Patent Leather Shoes at The Chestnut Fine Arts Center. When not performing, Chris enjoys video games, movies, and guitar/bass guitar on his off time to wind down and relax.

Bob Wearing (Plankton) got jealous when his older brother was auditioning for a production of To Kill A Mockingbird. He auditioned as well, and his brother went on to play Jim while he did not get a call back. This

is Bob’s first production with The Coterie, after having been seen in Forever Plaid

at Musical Theater Heritage, and Black Patent Leather Shoes and Down By The Riverside with Chestnut Fine Arts. In his spare time, Bob can be found playing Dungeons and Dragons and getting his heart broken by his favorite sports teams. He would not be where he is today without his family. All the love in the world to Betsy, Ben, James, and Chris.

Maggie Hutchison (Karen/Sea Anemone Tap Ensemble) was inspired by theatre her entire childhood. Her family would play dress-up, watch musicals, and listen to cast recordings of shows. Maggie joins

us on our mainstage for the first time. She took acting classes with The Coterie as a child, and her brother was a part of Updog’s Special Friends, The Coterie’s improv troupe. Recent performances of hers include playing lead roles in: Proof with Actors Bridge Ensemble along with Thoroughly Modern Millie and Side Show at Belmont University where she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre. Currently based out of Nashville, Maggie enjoys her rescue cat Seaka, and making really good guacamole.

Enjoli Gavin (Mrs. Puff/Perch Perkins/Ensemble) couldn’t be more elated to join the cast for the World Premiere of The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences and return

to The Coterie Theatre where her professional theatre career

COTERIE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Joette Pelster • PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Jeff Church

BUSINESS & BOX OFFICE MANAGER Jolie SpatzMARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR David Golston • EDUCATION DIRECTOR Amanda Kibler

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Scott Hobart • PROJECT COORDINATOR Annette Filippi MARKETING ASSISTANT Haley Kane

BOX OFFICE ASSISTANTS Meredith Wolfe, Teisha Bankston, Jordan Rice & Kaitlin Nelke

BOX OFFICE 816.474.6552 • www.thecoterie.org

began ten years ago! The last time you saw her, she was movin it-movin it in Madagascar: A Musical Adventure as Gloria (world premiere)! Enjoli was most recently seen at The Living

Room as Mrs. Claus in Milking Christmas, New Theatre in You Can’t Take it With You along side Jim O’Heir (NBC’s Parks and Recreation) and Hairspray. Other local credits include Down in Mississippi (The Living Room), Informed Consent (Unicorn Theatre), Ragtime; Queenie in Show Boat; Bloody Mary in South Pacific (Musical Theater Heritage), The Wiz; Bud, Not Buddy; Shrek The Musical (world premiere); Once Upon A Mattress; James and The Giant Peach; and Seussical at The Coterie. She also worked on her first short film, Endowed, directed by KC’s own, Tosin Morohunfola (Run The World). Enjoli holds a BFA in Theatre from Stephens College.

MaryAnn Traxler (Mayor/Sea Anemone Tap Ensemble) would get audition notices from her grandmother when she looked in the newspaper. They would sit together at the piano and sing show tunes. This is MaryAnn’s first

production with The Coterie. Her recent work includes performing as a singer/dancer for Carnival Cruise Line, Hershey Park and RWS Entertainment Group. In her free time, MaryAnn enjoys traveling, hiking moutains, and is constantly searching for the best cup of coffee.

Ava Wolesky (Foley Artist) is a senior at Liberty North High School. Ava is thrilled to return to The Coterie stage, having previously appeared as Frieda in The Coterie Theatre’s production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Ava

was fortunate to win Starlight Theatre Blue Star Awards in 2020 and 2021, and to advance to the 2021 finals of the Jimmy Awards (National High School Musical Theatre Awards). In addition to theatre, Ava is passionate about cooking,

movie scores, and her three Siberian Huskies. Ava is part of The Coterie’s Acting and Comedy Master programs, as well as The Coterie’s Young Playwrights’ Roundtable. Previous roles include Justine Case in A Killer Party, Charlotte in Cinderella, Jovie in Elf the Musical, and Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical.

Katie Pautler (Sandy/Karen/Squidward/Foley COVER) auditioned for a show in high school after her mother practically dragged her because she was nervous and wanted to skip it. She said, “I know you can

do it, so just take a deep breath and go for it.” The rest is history. Listen to your moms! This is Katie’s debut with The Coterie and she is so excited because she always wanted to be involved with our productions and now it is finally happening. Recent credits include: Pappa Pia and How the West Was Really Won with The Great American Melodrama, along with Late Night Cabaret at Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Carson Tate (Patrick/Plankton/Krabs COVER) found theatre through his love of music. It gave him more opportunities to perform as he loves to play the piano and the guitar. This is Carsons first production with

The Coterie and is excited to join us as he was a fan of SpongeBob SquarePants as a kid. He even had a “SpongeBob-themed” room with his brother. Recent performances include: Company with The Barn Players, Curtains at The Theatre in the Park, and Carousel with Musical Theater Heritage.

Natalee Merola (SpongeBob/Mayor/Puff/Perch/Foley Artist COVER) was put into theatre camps as a kid after spending

a lot of time dancing and singing by the fireplace. Natalee joins us again on the stage after having spent her childhood taking Coterie classes, and becoming a Coterie Acting Master Class student. She made her Coterie debut as one of

the three little pigs in Shrek The Musical. Recent performances include: Company with The Barn Players, Annie at The White Theatre at The J, and Urinetown at Musical Theater Heritage. In her free time she enjoys roller skating, weightlifting, and her acrylic pour art business (@merlo_artistry on Instagram).

Jeff Church (Co-Director) started a children’s theatre in his hometown (La Junta, CO) at age 15 because there were no theatre opportunities for kids in town. He operated it for 15 summers (all through his years at Colorado College, and while he was Playwright-in-Residence at the Kennedy Center). He then joined The Coterie as Producing Artistic Director in 1990. Leading the theater to a national presence, highlights for Jeff have included producing The Coterie’s Great Books/Banned Books season, which included a premiere of The Lord of the Flies. He created The Coterie’s Lab for New Family Musicals working with Broadway creative teams - the productions which premiere here are picked up by theaters all over the U.S. Jeff has been a board member of TCG Theatre Communications Group and was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. He is adjunct instructor of text analysis at UMKC.

Zach Faust (Co-Director/French Narrator) fell in love with theatre after performing in a production of Stone Soup in the first grade. Zach made his Coterie debut in Hana’s Suitcase and was also seen in No Talking, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, and A Charlie Brown Christmas (2019). Now he is excited to make his Coterie directorial debut with The SpongeBob Musical! His local performing credits include Biloxi Blues at New Theatre & Restaurant and Who’s Your Baghdaddy? at Unicorn Theatre. Directing credits include Addams Family at The Theatre in the Park, Spelling Bee at The White Theatre at The J, and Heathers at Faust Theatre. He is the founder and artistic director of Faust Theatre and a member of AEA.IG: zach_faust

Anthony Edwards (Co-Music Director) was a young accomplished pianist who had won many national awards, when a local theatre company in Bells, TN, needed a pianist and conductor for Annie Get Your Gun. “I said ‘yes’ and conducted and played my first show when I was 14 years old.” Anthony returns to The Coterie after serving as music director for Elephant & Piggie, Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium - The Musical, Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, Madagascar: A Musical Adventure, A Year with Frog and Toad, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Wiz, Lyle the Crocodile, Shrek the Musical, Spring Awakening, Once Upon a Mattress, and Lucky Duck. Nationally, Anthony has been the music director for theaters across the country including the Denver Center for the Performing Arts where he performed for four years in Always... Patsy Cline. Currently, Anthony is the resident music director for The Coterie, Unicorn Theatre, Starlight Theatre, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, and Eventology. He is an adjunct faculty member at UMKC and is proud to be an endorsed Kurzweil artist. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, and graduate studies in piano performance from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. Anthony proudly serves as the on the Board of Directors as Secretary for the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

Delano Mendoza (Co-Music Director) in middle school, was encouraged by the communications teacher to audition for the school play. He did, made it, and fell in love! Later, he took a 6 year hiatus following high school, and reignited his passion in 2014 after moving to Kansas City and auditioning for a local theatre company. Delano has never looked back! He returns to The Coterie behind the scenes after having been involved with The Coterie’s outreach programs such as Project Daylight, the Dramatic STD/HIV Project, and as a Teaching Artist. You can look forward to more of his work later this season as the musical director for Alice’s Wonderland. Recent productions include: Bomb-itty of Errors at Fishtank Theatre, Starlight Gala at Starlight Theatre, and Mamma Mia with

Padgett Productions. When not involved in a production, Delano enjoys baking, playing the violin, and photography.

Marc Wayne (Resident Choreographer) started dancing

when he was 15 years old when his high school theatre department needed dancers for their winter musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Marc’s choreography has been featured on The Coterie’s stage in A Charlie Brown Christmas, Shrek the Musical and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Recent choreography includes Chicago, Hairspray, Big Fish, and Catch Me If You Can: The Musical. He has also appeared in Underground with Störling Dance Theater and On Cyprus Avenue at Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company. Marc has seven children.

Mackenzie Goodwin Tran(Stage Manager) met the theatre through her parents, where she became an avid theatre goer. They both always worked in theatre, and her mom now teaches and directs theatre at a high school. Mackenzie returnes to The Coterie after having worked on The Cat in the Hat back in 2015. Recent credits include director of Role Play with Kansas City Public Theatre, stage manager for Shows for Days at Fishtank Theatre at the BlackBox, and as co-curator of The Buffalo Room with her husband Vi Tran.

Scott “Rex” Hobart (Resident Technical Director) was introduced to theatre as a child thanks to his mother who took him and his sister to plays. As a kid, Scott enjoyed creating haunted houses and building skateboard ramps. He studied visual art at the Kansas City Art Institute and completed his undergraduate degree in American Cultural Studies at UMKC. In addition to his technical direction for The Coterie, he made his theatrical acting and composing debut in The Coterie’s Night of the Living Dead (2007 and 2008), and he also composed, designed set, and performed in Tell-Tale Electric Poe. Living in Kansas City with his wife, Paula, and sons, Sam and Avery, Scott also writes and performs country and rock with his bands “Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys” and “Giant’s Chair”, respectively.

Kelli Harrod (Set Designer) knew shealways wanted to be an artist and painter,after seeing her first theatre production -she immediately wanted to know who hadpainted the set and how she could do it,as well. This is Kelli’s third time designingwith The Coterie, after working as propsdesigner for Elephant and Piggie’s “WeAre In a Play!” and set designer for SecretSoldiers: Heroines in Disguise and Puffs. Recently, she worked as the scenic designer for Pipeline at Unicorn Theatre, Rocky Horror Show with Padgett Productions, and Something Rotten at The White Theatre at the J.

Jarrett Bertoncin (Resident Lighting Designer) worked backstage on his high school’s theatre productions, where his passion for designing sets and lights began. His most recent shows at The Coterie include Dragons Love Tacos, Electric Poe, Puffs, Rise Up: The Struggle of the Freedom Riders, Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Becoming Martin, Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium - The Musical, Jack and the Bean Mágico!, Tuck Everlasting, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (2016, 2018), and The Nine Who Dared: Courage in Little Rock. Other recent credits include serving as lighting designer on The Coterie’s co-production of Disney’s Newsies at The J, Te Ata for the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian, and as scenic designer for It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play for Oklahoma City University’s School of Theatre. For more designs visit www.jsbdesigns.org.

Georgianna Londré Buchanan (Resident Costume Designer) has been in the audience for live theatre for as long as she can remember, and always noticed how costumes collaborated in the production. Her most recent designs at The Coterie were for Dragons Love Tacos, Electric Poe (2020), Puffs, Rise Up: The Struggle of the Freedom Riders, Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Becoming Martin, Tuck Everlasting, A Charlie Brown Christmas (2015, 2017, 2019), We Shall Not Be Moved: The Student Sit-Ins of 1960, Garfield: The Musical With Cattitude, Elephant and Piggie’s

“We Are In A Play!”, No Talking, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, and The Nine Who Dared: Courage in Little Rock. Other recent design credits include An Iliad and When I Come to Die at Kansas City Repertory Theatre and The Effect at Unicorn Theatre. She has also designed for Late Night Theatre, New Theatre & Restaurant, Quality Hill Playhouse, The Living Room, Actor’s Theatre Kansas City, and Mesner Puppet Theater. Georgianna is married to actor Martin Buchanan, and they have a son, Felix.

David Kiehl (Resident Sound Designer) thanks his family for piquing his interest in theatre by being raised to value the arts in all forms and for supporting him. David has designed over one hundred Coterie productions during the past twenty years including, most recently, Puffs, Rise Up, Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Becoming Martin, Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium - The Musical, Jack and the Bean Mágico!, Tuck Everlasting, A Charlie Brown Christmas (2017, 2019), and We Shall Not Be Moved: The Student Sit-Ins of 1960. Other local productions include: Tomorrow, Inshallah, The Grave, and Milking Christmas at The Living Room Theatre; Hir, Informed Consent and Project Dawn at Unicorn Theatre.

Venus Irias (Production Assistant)found her love of theatre as an audience member. She grew up in a family full of actors and followed in their footsteps. She has been in countless productions from high school to college. Venus plans to pursue an acting career after she graduates university.

Joette Pelster (Executive Director)remembers being in a play at the age of six with her mother and sister in western Nebraska. She doesn’t remember the name of the play, but loved the world backstage. Joette’s journey into theatre was long; she graduated with an undergraduate degree in political science from Creighton University, only to realize three years later that she had to get into theatre. She spent six months, while working as a research analyst at the Nebraska Legislature, reading 100 plays to catch up before completing two years of graduate work at the University of Nebraska’s Theatre Arts program. Prior to joining The Coterie in 1993, Joette was the first executive director of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey and marketing director for the Folly Theater. While on a

brief sabbatical from The Coterie, she also assisted in the opening of the Gem Theater. She is an advisory board member of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey.

The Coterie Theatre Designated by TIME magazine in the top three theaters for young audiences in Nov. 2004 (“groundbreaking...one of the nation’s most respected”), The Coterie, located in Kansas City, Missouri, has been at the forefront of commissioning new works or adaptations that contribute to the field of theatre for young audiences. More than 50 world or American premieres for all ages have been produced by The Coterie over the last 30 years, during Artistic Director Jeff Church’s tenure,

including hosting multiple major Broadway composers and lyricists to shape quality musicals for youth and families. The Coterie is interested in intergenerational conversation, and consistently includes teen programming in its season and outreach efforts. The Coterie’s community programming redefines traditional notions of work for young audiences with its unique dramatic writing programs, teen LGBTQ work, as well as its AIDS/STD education/prevention program, free of charge to 8,000 teens per year, overseen by Executive Director Joette Pelster and a dedicated staff. All these components serve an average of 80,000 per year through over 350 performances. The Coterie Theatre School has locations throughout greater Kansas City.

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CONTRIBUTORS The Coterie wishes to express its deepest appreciation to the many corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individuals for their generous support. Our list of donors has grown extensively over the past year, so we are currently updating and revamping our list of contributors to include all the generous people who have supported The Coterie. Our updated list will be available here December 1, 2021.

John AisenbreyBruce Allen Lydia ButlerMartha CriderDon DagenaisOlivia DorseyCathy Doyal

Jeff Elliott Mike EnosBarbara Fay Laura HallJohyne HamraBob IndermanSusan Johnson

Marianne KilroyBarbara LandesJeanne SoslandMindy StewartGreg VranicarKaren WeltnerRandy Williams

Amanda BeaverHeather FreundKara Harmon Kayden Howard Jennifer IngrahamLloyd Jackson

Nicole Jacobs-SilveyGabriela Lucas Carla NoackGreg ObornyJaleeza OwensAli Saucier

Kristina ThompsonMichael TurnerLisa Veglahn Brisa Izaguirre Wolfe

Advisory Board

2021 Board of DirectorsAndrew Van Der Laan, President Amy Graham, Vice-President

Emily Sullivan, Vice-President Sara Anthony, Secretary

Theresa Stoker, Treasurer Karen Luchinsky, Board Engagement

Lori Riddle, Member-At-Large

LIVE AT THE COTERIE IN 2022

For families with Ages 9+ February 8 - March 6, 2022

For families with Ages 5+March 29 - May 22, 2022

For families with Ages 5+ June 21 - August 7, 2022

ALL TICKETS NOW ON SALE

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A GIFT FROM THE COTERIETICKETS AND ACTING CLASSES ARE GIFTS THEY’LL REMEMBER

Giving the gift of live theatre lets them make memories that last a lifetime - and do it on their own schedule. Available in any amount, gift certificates

to The Coterie are on sale year-round and never expire.

Gift certificates are redeemable for:SHOW TICKETS SPOTLIGHT PASSES ACTING CLASSES

CLICK HEREto BUY ONLINE and PRINT AT HOME anytime!

CLASSROOM IMMERSIONS Residencies for Classrooms 1st-12th

Let us be a guest to inspire your classroom

IMMERSIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH MAY 31, 2022

PRICE PER CLASSROOM SIZED GROUP 3 TOTAL SESSIONS: $300 IN PERSON FACILITATION

(10% DISCOUNT FOR 4 OR MORE CLASSROOMS)

• Students will work with a vaccinated/masked teaching artist in your classroom to rehearse and perform a short script based on a folktale, focusing on reading fluency, intonation, flow, and expression.

• A teacher consultation will occur beforehand to best serve the needs of your class and select a multicultural folktale from our list.

• The residency will align with MO and KS English Language Arts and Theatre Arts standards.Three 50-minute sessions can be arranged to suit your schedule.

• Students will work with a vaccinated/masked teaching artist in your classroom to write and perform a short first person monologue about a “hero” (based on a historical/real figure).

• Using existing monologues as examples, students will analyze what makes a good monologue and demonstrate that understanding through their own original writing.

• A teacher consultation will occur beforehand to ensure we serve the needs of your class. • The residency will align with MO and KS English Language Arts and Theatre Arts

standards, and will offer students the option to share their work with each other.

• Choose between a recorded Coterie performance of The Masque of the Red Death or The Pit and the Pendulum. Poe professional actor R.H. Wilhoit will then join students in person as their vaccinated/masked teaching artist to explore the historical and cultural context that inspired Poe, as well as story symbolism and imagery to create lasting impact.

• Writing to composer Rex Hobart’s Electric Poe underscore as inspiration, students will create their own moody masterpiece in the form of a dramatic scene or monologue.

• A teacher consultation will occur beforehand to ensure we serve the needs of your class. • The residency will align with MO and KS English Language Arts and Theatre Arts standards,

and will offer students the option to share their work with each other. Three 50-minute sessions can be arranged to suit your schedule.

Three 50-minute sessions can be arranged to suit your schedule.

READER’S THEATRE | GRADES 1-4

HEROES | GRADES 4-8

| GRADES 8-12

CLICK HERE For more information and booking assistance

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WINTER/SPRING CLASSES 2022

Led by our staff of trained teaching artists and based on a process-based curriculum, our classes will allow students of all ages to express themselves,

occupy their imaginations, and help add structure and positivity to their week.

We are pleased to offer in-person classes this school year!

CLICK HEREFor the latest updates, information, and registration!

THE COTERIETHEATRESCHOOL

SEA MONSTER MARATHONGrades 2-4 (SPRING)

WHAT IF?Grades 4-6 (WINTER )

JUNGLE JOURNEYGrades 4-6 (SPRING)

THEATRE ARTIST’S TOOLKITGrades 5-7 ; Grades 8-12 (WINTER)

AUDITION LAB

Grades 5-7; Grades 8-12 (SPRING)

ANIMAL ADVENTURESAges 3-5 (Pre-K) (WINTER)

HERO PETSAges 3-5 (Pre-K) (SPRING)

WINTER WONDERLANDGrades K-1 (WINTER)

PETE THE CAT’S ROCKING ADVENTURESGrades K-1 (SPRING)

ROTTEN TO THE COREGrades 2-4 (WINTER)

For more than 40 years, the Coterie has been a vital part of the Kansas City community. We are dedicated to making an impact on young people and their families with professional theatre productions and educational experiences. As the #1 arts educator in Kansas City, we serve 97,000 per year. Besides our mainstage, we give over 200 free performances of our Dramatic STD/HIV Project for area schools and community groups. Our outreach programs such as Reaching The Write Minds/Young Playwrights’ Roundtable, Young Playwrights’ Festival, Sunday Coterie Storytelling at the Kansas City Public Library-Plaza Branch and theatre classes offered at four satellite locations extend our reach deep into the community.

By making a tax deductible donation, you will help keep remarkable, imaginative theatre for young audiences alive and well... and affordable. Your financial support allows the Coterie to keep ticket prices low, so many young people can enjoy the magic and artistry of live theatre. Any donation will help ensure that The Coterie is here for the next 40 years.

COTERIE PROGRAMSCoterie Stage Productions

Classroom Immersions

The Dramatic STD/HIV Project

Reaching The Write Minds

Project Daylight

CLICK HEREto DONATE NOW!