The Coterie's 40th Anniversary Season Features Plays, Musicals, Premieres, and Classics That Bring Generations Together

Nationally-recognized as one of the nation's leading producers of new works of theatre for young people and their families, The Coterie Theatre announces its 40th Anniversary Season will entertain, engage, and serve as memorable experiences that all generations of the family can share. Highlighted in the season of two plays and four musicals, selected by Producing Artistic Director, Jeff Church, will be the world premiere of a new play about a teenaged Martin Luther King Jr., by noted local screenwriter and playwright, Kevin Willmott, and a new musical inspired by music made famous by The Beatles.

"Often theaters use anniversaries to look back at what's been accomplished," Church said explaining The Coterie's different take on an anniversary season. "But, at The Coterie, we serve as an early introduction to live theatre to many of the young people in our audience and those experiences become touchstones that are shared with their friends and classmates, brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents. It inspires us to use this anniversary as not just an opportunity to look back, but as a springboard for what's coming ahead - how we'll connect to the next generation. Our mission has always been to open lines of communication between races, sexes, and generations, and this season's line-up does that well on so many levels."

Kicking off The Coterie's new season in Fall 2018, will be the world premiere of Becoming Martin, commissioned by The Coterie from Kevin Willmott. A professor of Film Studies at Kansas University, Willmott is a respected local filmmaker, screenwriter, director, and playwright who recently won the Grand Prix at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for the feature film, "BlacKkKlansman," which he co-wrote with Spike Lee. Regarding The Coterie's commission of Becoming Martin, Church explains, "We have a long history with Kevin. He's both directed and written adaptations for us, so we are especially excited about bringing his unique look at a young MLK to our multi-generational audience." Written for families with ages 11 and older, Becoming Martin shows the early life and college years of Martin Luther King, Jr., who received early admission, at age 15, to Morehouse College and was personally mentored and challenged by the college's president, Dr. Benjamin Mays. Continuing The Coterie's long-standing tradition of commissioning and/or premiering new plays, Becoming Martin will mark the 51st world premiere in its history. It will be produced in community partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City and The Black Archives of Mid-America, and will open The Coterie's 2018/2019 Season with its premiere run September 18-October 21, 2018.

"Another production for families with preteens and teenagers will be Secret Soldiers: Heroines in Disguise." Says Church, "It's an astonishing look our country's long history of women in the military, and, in particular, when they had to disguise themselves as men to serve." Based on the true accounts of four women who, for different reasons, served as men during the Civil War, Secret Soldiers is an interactive play that weaves together stories from the early suffrage movement, the formation of the first African American regiment in U.S. history, and abolitionist icon Harriet Tubman. A co-production with UMKC Theatre and intended for families with ages 10 and older, Secret Soldiers will be on stage at The Coterie, January 22- February 10, 2019.

"For families with younger ones, we've selected four fantastic musicals," says Church, "including a new musical based on the Netflix series "Beat Bugs," which features 14 songs made popular by The Beatles. There's no better way for parents and grandparents to share the music of The Beatles with their little ones than through this fun and touching story about community and friendship." After a scheduled premiere in New York in Fall 2018, The Coterie will mount its production of Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure, intended for families with ages three and older, April 16-May 19, 2019.

Next winter, The Coterie will also produce a musical adaptation of the literary classic and Newbery Honor Book, Mr. Popper's Penguins. Church elaborates, "This charming musical tale of Mr. Popper's journey across the U.S. to help his unexpected penguin colony find 'the life they were meant to lead,' teaches that what is morally and ethically right - in the end - is always the best choice." Mr. Popper's Penguins will take The Coterie stage for families with ages seven and older, February 26-March 31, 2019.

"For those families who have made it a tradition to visit The Coterie during their holiday and summer breaks, we will not disappoint," says Church, referring to The Coterie bringing back two of its most popular - and requested - productions, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical and Elephant & Piggie's "We are in a Play!" "We've heard over and over again how much parents and grandparents love these two productions, because the adults love watching their kids watch the show! Seeing them witness the wonder and magic of live theatre is as much fun as the shows themselves."

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PREMIERE
Becoming Martin
September 18 - October 21, 2018
Press / Opening Night: Friday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m.
By Kevin Willmott

This world premiere centers on the mentorship Martin Luther King, Jr., receives when he enters Morehouse College at age 15. Through debate over civil disobedience concepts, Morehouse College President, Dr. Benjamin Mays, sets young MLK on a path towards fighting for civil rights. Produced in community partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City and The Black Archives of Mid-America.

For families with AGES 12+ | Approximate running time: 75 minutes

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:
The Musical
November 6 - December 30, 2018
Press / Opening Night: Friday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Script adaptation by Robert Penola | Arrangements and orchestrations by Timothy Splain | Based on the animated television special and the stage production directed and conceived by Jeff Frank and First Stage | "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" animated television special adapted from a story by Robert L. May and the song by Johnny Marks, music and lyrics by Johnny Marks | All elements © and TM under license to Character Arts, LLC

Rudolph and his friends, Clarice, Hermey the Elf, and Yukon Cornelius learn what makes you different makes you special. As one reviewer put it, "If adorable is at the top of your Christmas list, save an afternoon or evening for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical... as rich as eggnog!"

For ALL AGES | Approximate running time: 60 minutes

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Secret Soldiers:
Heroines in Disguise
January 22 - February 10, 2019
Press / Opening Night: Friday, January 25 at 7:00 p.m.
By Wendy Lement
A co-production with UMKC Theatre

True accounts of four women who, for different reasons, served as men in the Civil War. Woven into this unique interactive play: early suffrage movement as well as the formation of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment (the first African American regiment in U.S. history) and Harriet Tubman.

For families with AGES 11+ | Approximate running time: 70 minutes

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Mr. Popper's Penguins
February 26 - March 31, 2019
Press / Opening Night: Friday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Book by Robert Kauzlaric
Music & Lyrics by George Howe
A musical of the Newbery Honor Book by Richard & Florence Atwater

Mr. and Mrs. Popper's lives take an adventurous turn when a mysterious box arrives on their doorstep with a penguin inside. Not long after, the local aquarium sends over a female penguin and soon, the Poppers are hearing the patter of 20 little feet. What starts for Mr. Popper as a giant bill for canned shrimp leads to an imaginative journey across America - one that ends in the Antarctic to place the penguin colony in a "life they were meant to lead."

For families with AGES 7+ | Approximate running time: 65 minutes

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Beat Bugs:
A Musical Adventure
April 16 - May 19, 2019
Press / Opening Night: Friday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Based on the Netflix original series "Beat Bugs"
Created by Josh Wakely | Written by Sean Cercone & David Abbinanti

Inspired by Music by Famous by The Beatles
A brand new musical featuring five young anthropomorphized insect pals who live in an overgrown suburban backyard. Using music of The Beatles to learn life lessons while having adventures, one little independent bug learns the value of friendship with "A Little Help From My Friends."

For families with AGES 3-7 | Approximate running time: 60 minutes

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Elephant and Piggie's
"We are in a Play!"
June 19 - August 5, 2019
Press / Opening Night: Friday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems
Music By Deborah Wicks La Puma

One of the most popular and beloved shows The Coterie has ever done returns to the stage! Gerald the Elephant is cautious and Piggie is not. Along with the three nutty Squirelles, these "bestus" friends might get invited to a swimmy fancy costume dancey pool party or decide to spend the day playing ping-pong in silly hats. This lively and irresistibly charming musical look at friendship has become one of the best-selling and most beloved young readers' series of the past decade.

For ALL AGES | Approximate running time: 60 minutes

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The Coterie Acts Theatre Classes
Fall Semester begins in September; Winter in January; Spring in April; Summer in June
The Coterie's acting classes strive to introduce students, age 3 through high school, to the joy and excitement of theatre while building self-esteem and confidence and refining their creativity, active listening, and concentration skills. School year classes are held at four metro locations: Midtown (at The Coterie), Lee's Summit (MCC - Longview Campus), Overland Park (Miller-Marley School of Dance and Voice), and in the Northland (MCC - Maple Woods).

2019 Project Pride
March 9 & 10, 2019
A group of LGBTQ and straight allied teens give voice to their experiences in a collection of hilarious and thought-provoking scenes that challenge assumptions and celebrate the diversity of the artists and the audience.
Intended for TEENS & ADULTS

2019 Young Playwrights' Festival
May 2019
Rich and varied theatrical writings evolve from a year-long process by our city's most gifted young playwrights who have emerged from The Coterie's Young Playwrights' Roundtable. See a collection of new works forged into an ambitious festival of script-in-hand readings staged by professional artists utilizing students from The Coterie's Master class program and professional directors.
Intended for TEENS & ADULTS

The Dramatic Health Education Project: STDs/HIV
Touring schools in the Kansas City area FREE OF CHARGE
An award-winning collaboration between The Coterie, UMKC Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing & Health Studies, and KU Medical Center School of Nursing to educate teens about the transmission and prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS. Professional actors and health professional students trained as peer educators, employ hard hitting monologues, slides, and music to present stories of HIV+ teenagers and how STDs are transmitted. Highly lauded for its balanced message, the program is followed by an intensive question and answer period.

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Tickets, Spotlight Passes, and Group Reservations for The Coterie's 2018/2019 mainstage season will be available beginning April 4th by calling The Coterie's box office at 816.474.6552 or visiting www.thecoterie.org.

Subscriptions: In lieu of season subscriptions, The Coterie offers passes which work like season tickets without committing to a set schedule. Passes range from $110.00-$150.00 and include a variety of benefits including 10 flexible tickets that can be used on a combination of shows in the 2018/2019 Season, priority seating, ticket exchanges, and other privileges.

Individual Tickets: Tickets are $12.00-$15.00 for youth under 18, students, and seniors age 60 and older, and $15.00-$19.00 for adults.

Group Pricing: The Coterie offers groups of 20 or more a special preview rate of $5.00 per person the first week of each production. After preview week, groups pay only $5.50 - $10.00 per person depending on performance date.

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