Electric Poe

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Cast

Creative Team

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. Cell phones are to be put away during the performance.

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

SPECIAL THANKS

Kansas City Art Institute for original production designs by the Illustration Department’s student staffed agency, MICRO: Electric Poe 2025 design by Cory Williamson.

The Coterie is proud to recognize funding from partners BOK Financial, Spencer Fane, and Variety KC for this production.

Additional financial assistance for The Coterie's season has been generously provided by Missouri Arts Council, Hallmark Corporate Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Mark Edelman Theater Fund, Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation, Richard J. Stern Foundation, 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. Electric Poe is a professional production employing members of Actors’ Equity Association, founded in 1913, representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.

ABOUT THE COTERIE

The Coterie Theatre provides unique theatre experiences for families and young audiences. A not-for-profit professional theatre company, The Coterie is nationally recognized for its one-of-a-kind programming that features a year-round season of live plays and musicals on the company's mainstage. Since its founding in 1979 in Kansas City, Missouri, The Coterie 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 45 years, 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 offers acting and theatre classes year-round for PreK-12th grades at multiple locations around Kansas City, including an extensive summer program of classes and performance camps. The Coterie’s community programming redefines traditional notions of work for young audiences with its unique dramatic youth writing programs (In-School Literacy Residencies and Young Playwrights Workshop), as well as two programs offered to students and schools free of charge, focusing on teen LGBTQ work (Project Pride) and preteen and teen mental health workshops (Project Daylight).

All these components serve on average over 75,000 young people and their families per year through over 350 performances. The Coterie's mission is to celebrate young people and engage diverse communities through professional theatre and education programs that foster creativity, confidence, and compassion. Donate at www.thecoterie.org.

2025 COTERIE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joe Bellinger • President
Amy Graham • Secretary
Kristina Thompson • Secretary
Theresa Stoker • Treasurer
Laura Antolak • Board Engagement Chair
Ali Saucier • Development Chair
Nicole Jacobs-Silvey • Community Engagement Chair

Sara Anthony
Angela Bedell
Richard Browne
Ava Delsemme
LaTanya Franklin
Carlos Gonzalez
Katie Hall
Jennifer Ingraham
Michael Judy
Gabriela Lucas
Greg Oborny
Ashlee Parker-Osborne
Natalie Simms-Patton
Ashley Strohm
Andrew Van Der Laan

COTERIE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

MANAGING DIRECTOR • Jonathan Thomas
PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR • Khalia Davis Philp
MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR • David Golston
DIRECTOR OF THEATRE SCHOOL • Allison Nissley
COMMUNITY PROGRAM MANAGER • Xinyue Zhang
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR • Derek Trautwein
BOX OFFICE MANAGER • Jason Coats
BOOKING COORDINATOR • Stephanie Laaker
BOX OFFICE ASSISTANT/MARKETING SPECIALIST • Tressa Lee
HOUSE MANAGERS & BOX OFFICE ASSISTANTS • Dorian Allen, Kali Coates, Ciera Loran, Ezra Martinez-Haskins, Kelsey McGee, Pam West

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

OUR CO-PRODUCER

THE HISTORY OF THE UNION CEMETERY OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Founded in 1857, Union Cemetery is the oldest public cemetery in Kansas City, MO, and is the final resting place of over 55,000 souls. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the land was originally claimed and plotted out to be the cemetery for both the town of Westport and the town of Kansas (now Kansas City). Many famous and historically significant individuals are buried in the Cemetery, without whom Kansas City would not be what it is today. Veterans from every war from the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War are also buried here, including those who fought for both sides during the Civil War. The Cemetery maintains a strong military identity, honoring those who served our country.

Union Cemetery is also a vital resource for the surrounding neighborhoods. The 27 acres are a Kansas City park meant for the enjoyment and recreation of all Kansas City residents as a refuge of natural beauty in the center of the city.

One of Kansas City’s hidden gems, Union Cemetery is the resting place of many of Kansas City’s founders. It is a place filled with rich history and stories of politicians, artists, entrepreneurs, war heroes, and every-day people making a difference within a changing society. The Historical Society is responsible for sharing these stories and caring for the memorials and grounds that celebrate some of Kansas City’s treasured lives.

The Union Cemetery Historical Society’s purpose is to preserve, protect, and promote Kansas City’s historical Union Cemetery. In this effort the Society gives tours, provides learning experiences, assists with care and beautification, aids genealogical research, promotes the cemetery to the public, and more.

By joining UCHS, you are supporting the preservation of Kansas City’s history and the community at large. Your membership donation will support various improvement projects as well as the day to day operation of the Society.

For more information visit www.uchskc.org/support.

Meet the Company

Darrington Clark*

The Actor

Darrington Clark was inspired to pursue theatre toward the end of high school by friends, but seeing TELL-TALE ELECTRIC POE at The Coterie as a child is one of his first memories of being moved by theatre! Darrington is an actor, youth educator, and creative human born and raised in Kansas City. Local credits include The Coterie in A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS as Snoopy, GARFIELD: THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE as Odie, WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED: THE STUDENT SIT-INS OF 1960 as Narrator, and DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL! as Bus Driver. Additional credits include Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Unicorn Theatre; New Theatre & Restaurant; Starlight Theatre; and Music Theater Heritage. Regional credits include Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage, Circa 21, Children’s Theater of Madison. Darrington is honored to help keep local theatre possible, present, and powerful. Find Darrington on Instagram @darringtune.

Johnny Ricker

The Musician

Johnny Ricker enjoyed landing roles in grade school, followed by playing in theater pit bands in high school, followed by a long theatre hiatus while performing as a professional musician. His interest and appreciation for theatre resumed with seeing his son, Roan Ricker, in the wonderful productions by Shakespeare in the Park, Team Shakespeare, and The Coterie. Johnny is a long time fan of The Coterie and is excited to be a first time Coterie performer. After touring, working as a musician for years, and providing support for national and international artists, this is Johnny's first theatre role as an adult. As a professional musician, Johnny performs throughout the Midwest and beyond in major festivals, and continues providing support for many national and international artists. Johnny currently performs in the Kansas City region with his sons Davis and Roan. He extends his thanks to the incredibly talented team making this show possible.

Sidonie Garrett

Director

Sidonie Garrett has always loved reading and stories. Her parents read to her from her earliest days. She began producing her own 'shows' when she was about seven, playing a song on the piano, reciting a poem she'd memorized, twirling her baton, doing a handstand or a cartwheel, and making up some skit to perform as a monologue or with a neighborhood friend as a scene. She now loves stories and storytelling as much as that young seven year old producer and performer. Sidonie is the Executive Artistic Director of the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival where she most recently directed LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST. She also directed JULIUS CAESAR, THE TEMPEST, ROMEO AND JULIET, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, and the previous five season’s productions, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE WINTER'S TALE, KING LEAR, TWELFTH NIGHT and HAMLET, all awarded Best Play in Pitch Magazine’s BEST OF KC as well as 15 other Shakespeare plays. Her experience working with new plays took her to New York City, where she directed the off-Broadway production of THANATOS. Sidonie also assistant directed the off-Broadway premiere of the interactive AUNT CHOOCH'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. At The Coterie, she directed the world premiere of ONLY ONE DAY A YEAR, IN SPITE OF THUNDER: THE MACBETH PROJECT, the U.S. premiere of AFTER JULIET, MR. A’s AMAZING MAZE PLAY, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, LITTLE HOUSE BY THE SHORES OF SILVER LAKE, OF MICE AND MEN, PLAYING FOR TIME, and co-directed THE HOBBIT. Locally at the Unicorn Theatre she directed DR. MOLOCH, MACBITCHES, THE SOUND INISDE, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, THE EFFECT, DISGRACED, HOW TO USE A KNIFE, THE WHALE, I’LL EAT YOU LAST, OTHER DESERT CITIES, THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT, TIME STANDS STILL, IN THE NEXT ROOM: THE VIBRATOR PLAY, FAITH HEALER, RISING WATER, IRON KISSES, RETREAT FROM MOSCOW, OMNIUM GATHERIUM, the world premiere of THANATOS, SUBURBIA, THE WAITING ROOM, DESERT HOLIDAY, SPINNING INTO BUTTER, SANTALAND DIARIES, and co-directed LIGHT/DAMAGE with Cynthia Levin. Sidonie directed A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and ‘NIGHT MOTHER for Kansas City Actors Theatre. Sidonie co-directed TONY & TINA’S WEDDING in Kansas City and St. Louis for Fourth Wall Productions. She directed The African Company Presents with The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, ELEEMOSYNARY and GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES at Fishtank Theatre, and script-in-hand readings including THE BEARD OF AVON and THE WOMEN with Kansas City Actors Theatre and THE TEMPEST for Johnson County Community College (JCCC)’s Performing Arts Series. Previously with Elizabeth Suh Lane of the Bach Aria Soloists she co-created and directed WOMEN OF NOTE IN WORDS AND SONG, PLAY ON! a collaboration of music and words, ONE TOUCH OF NATURE and THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS. In 2020, she co-directed and produced two streaming productions, SHAKESPEARE AT HOME and WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S CHRISTMAS CAROL in addition to two live outdoor performances of Shakespeare’s scenes, Yard Bards and ShakesFEAR! She direct a filmed version of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM for JCCC’s Performing Arts Series and Show-Me Shakespeare as well as three live events in summer 2021 in Southmoreland Park, titled Shakespearience. For HASF, she has directed collaborations with the Bach Aria Soloists, the Grammy Award-winning Kansas City Chorale, Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony, JCCC’s Performing Arts Series, Kansas City Actors Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre,, the Kansas City Museum, and many other partners. Sidonie directed five short plays for the William Inge Festival in 2025. Next up, she’ll direct a U.S. Premiere production of CASEY AND DIANA at Unicorn Theatre and The African Company Presents RICHARD III in a co-production with The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City and MACBETH in summer 2026. You can find Sidonie on Facebook @KCSHAKES Instagram @sgkcgal.

Mackenzie Goodwin Tran*

Production Stage Manager

Mackenzie Goodwin met the theatre through her parents, and she doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t constantly participating in or going to theatrical productions– including at The Coterie! Her mom is a theatre actor, director, and educator. Her dad was an acrobat and a lighting and sound technician. Mackenzie returns to The Coterie after having worked on numerous productions, including serving as production stage manager for A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD (2025), CINDERELLA: A SALSA FAIRY TALE, the world premiere of JUST ASK!, FINDING NEMO TYA, the world premiere of HORSE POWER: TOM BASS' AMERICAN STORY, ROALD DAHL'S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE, THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL, ELECTRIC POE, ALICE'S WONDERLAND, PETE THE CAT, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES, and as a production assistant and an actor in DR. SEUSS' THE CAT IN THE HAT. Other recent credits include associate director on A CHRISTMAS CAROL for Kansas City Repertory Theatre (2022, 2023, 2024); director of THE BUTCHER’S SON (Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, Winner: Most Promising New Musical), swing stage manager on NEWSIES, ELVIS: ALOHA FROM VEGAS, DREAMGIRLS, and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET for New Theatre & Restaurant; stage manager for workshops of NINA SIMONE: 4 WOMEN and 4 DIRECTIONS at Kansas City Repertory Theatre; production stage manager on THE PRICE and DOT for Kansas City Actors Theatre; SHOWS FOR DAYS for Fishtank Theatre; production assistant for MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, BLACKTOP SKY and DISTRACTED at Unicorn Theatre; and TITUS ANDRONICUS and MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE for The Living Room Theatre; lead ASM and youth coordinator at Kansas City Ballet; and safety coordinator at KC Rep. Mackenzie is the co-producing artistic director for Brother Octopus Productions at The Black Box (formerly Stuffed Buffalo Productions), former producing artistic director of Westport Center for the Arts, an intimacy director, a voice over actor, and a member of Actors' Equity Association and Stage Managers’ Association. She won a fellowship at the O’Neill Center through the Eugene O’Neill Critics’ Competition (KCACTF) and was a founding member of Omaha’s Ætherplough company as well as a member of Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab (2015/16) & Chicago Directors Lab (2018/19). She studied theatre, dance, & Latin American literature at Kansas State University. “Theatre for young audiences is the last true bastion of the avant garde.” For more about Mackenzie visit www.goodwincalling.com.

R.H. Wilhoit

Playwright

R.H. Wilhoit stumbled into theatre to spend more time with his friends who seemed to find their passion in the rehearsal room. He found that it was the exact same for him and he never looked back! R.H. once again brings the works of Edgar Allan Poe to life after critically-acclaimed performances of ELECTRIC POE in 2020, 2021, 2022, and adapting and performing ELECTRIC POE 2023 and 2024. Coterie audiences will recognize R.H. from the casts of PUFFS and A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, and many Kansas City students will recognize him as a Coterie teaching artist who facilitates the Young Playwrights Workshop and leads the Poe writing workshop Classroom Immersion touring to schools. Recently, R.H. performed in the one-person show EVERY BRILLIANT THING with Spinning Tree Theatre, NOCTURNE and MILKING CHRISTMAS with The Living Room Theatre, THE LEHMAN TRILOGY with Kansas City Actors Theatre, THE GLASS MENAGERIE with Music Theater Heritage, POOR CLAIRE with Unicorn Theatre, and THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG with New Theatre & Restaurant. R.H. received his BA in Theatre from Drury University.

Tyler Lindquist

Properties Designer

Tyler Lindquist found theatre through a combination of performing all three of the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL sound tracks for his entire family every night when he was young... and being a huge professional wrestling fan! The imagination, creativity, passion, collaboration, and love that theatre gives to people is unmatched. It allows everyone to be anyone or anything they'd want to be. How freeing is that!?!? Tyler is spookily delighted to be a part of his first Coterie production as properties designer for ELECTRIC POE! He first collaborated with The Coterie this summer as a teaching artist. Tyler holds a BFA in Acting and a Theatre Education degree from Avila University, a MFA in Acting from Savannah College of Art and Design, and a DDD (Doctorate of Dog Dads) from ChikiBoo University. Tyler wants to give his deep gratitude to Khalia, Sid, and the rest of this wonderful team for making his first experience with The Coterie unforgettable. He wants to send his love and appreciation to his family for their constant support and to Kristina, Chikis, and Bruno for being his everything! Tyler is happy to be home and making all kinds of art with the KC community. Enjoy the magic of the theatre! Visit Tyler on Instagram @theriddler911.

Mary Traylor

Costume Designer

Mary Traylor is a Kansas City designer who has been creating costumes for more than 40 years and has been the Resident Costume Designer for the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival for 28 years. Her designs for opera have appeared at The Coterie, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Washington National Opera, Michigan Opera, Calgary Opera, Minnesota Opera, and opera companies in Austin, Texas and Orlando, Florida. Locally she has created costumes for the University of Kansas opera, UMKC Conservatory Opera, New Theatre & Restaurant, Starlight Theatre, and Unicorn Theatre.

Jarrett Bertoncin

Lighting Designer

Jarrett Bertoncin 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 ELECTRIC POE (2024), ROALD DAHL'S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL (2016, 2018 and 2023), DOCTOR DOLITTLE, DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL!, ONLY ONE DAY A YEAR, A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (2017, 2019 and 2022), TELL-TALE ELECTRIC POE, AKEELAH AND THE BEE, ALICE'S WONDERLAND, PETE THE CAT, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES, 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, and THE NINE WHO DARED: COURAGE IN LITTLE ROCK, as well as LUCKY DUCK, which performed Off-Broadway at The New Victory Theater (NYC). Other recent credits include serving as lighting designer on The Coterie’s co-production of Disney’s NEWSIES at White Theatre 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. To see more of Jarrett's designs, visit www.jsbdesigns.org.

Paul Vedros

Sound Designer

Paul Vedros found his way to theatre through sound and music. Paul remembers coming to The Coterie for shows on field trips as a child, so he's excited for ELECTRIC POE to be his first show with The Coterie all these years later. Paul is a sound designer, composer, and audio engineer based out of Kansas City. He composes and designs for theatrical productions, film and video, and his work has been featured at arts conferences and festivals including the KC Fringe, the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. He earned his MFA in Theatre Sound Design at UMKC in May of 2025. Paul's future and previous productions include CASEY AND DIANA, LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST, ANNIE, DOCTOR MOLOCH, INTO THE WOODS, VINEGAR TOM, and PIRATES OF PENZANCE. Find out more about Paul online at paulvedros.com.

Derek Trautwein

Technical Director

Derek Trautwein is a Kansas City theatre artist with a wide berth of professional and educational experience. After graduating from Northwest Missouri State University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Performance, Derek received his Master of Arts Degree in Theatre History in 2012 from the University of Central Missouri (UCM). During his time at UCM, Derek began his journey as a carpenter and Technical Director to accompany his endeavors in acting, directing, and playwriting. From 2013 to 2023, Derek served as faculty amongst the Department of Theatre and Dance at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. Initially hired as the Technical Director, as he oversaw all sound, light, and scenic elements, Derek was promoted to Assistant Professor and Department Chair in 2021. Derek’s final directing spotlight at Benedictine, THE MOUSETRAP by Agatha Christie, received a Meritorious Achievement Award for Play Direction from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in 2023. Around Kansas City, Derek has worked with the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Public Theatre, KC MeltingPot Theatre, Relevance Productions, Card Table Theatre, and Stuffed Buffalo Productions. Since 2012, Derek has been an active participant in the Kansas City Fringe Festival, producing over a dozen pieces of original works written by other artists as well as his own, including DECEIT, which earned Derek the inaugural Mark Edelman Best New Play Award in 2019. Derek’s original plays have also been featured multiple times each for Kansas City Public Theatre, Olathe Civic Theatre, and the Kansas City Horror Play Festival. Lately, Derek has been bouncing around multiple spaces in the Kansas City theatre community including performing on stage in THIS RANDOM WORLD: THE MYTH OF SERENDIPITY at the Just Off Broadway Theatre and ELF THE MUSICAL with Padgett Productions as well as serving as technical director of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 at The Black Box, THE SHOOTER produced by Trish Mitchell at the Just Off Broadway Theatre, and A WRINKLE IN TIME, CINDERELLA: A SALSA FAIRY TALE, JUST ASK!, FINDING NEMO TYA, ELECTRIC POE (2024), the world premiere of HORSE POWER: TOM BASS' AMERICAN STORY, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED, and RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL (2023) at The Coterie. Moving forward, Derek seeks to create on his own terms while aiding artists of all kind to find their voices and venues.

Dorian Allen

Associate Technical Director

Dorian Allen got started in live music before eventually migrating to working in theatre. Dorian has served on The Coterie's technical team for a year now after time spent in stage management and performance work across town. Recent credits include playing guitar in FUN HOME, with Olathe Civic Theatre Association, and in BEAUTIFUL with The Barn Players; assistant stage manager for NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET with Fishtank Theatre, and stage manager for The Living Room Theatre's No Sleep November festival. When not on a ladder or covered in paint you can find Dorian serving drinks at The Black Box or seeing shows at local dives. He would like to thank his family, his dog, and Heidi Van for their continued support. Welcome to our garden!

Elijah Gorman

Assistant Stage Manager

Sally Farrand

Associate Lighting Designer

Sally Farrand got into the tech side of theatre in high school, building sets and stage managing plays. She then decided to major in Theatre in college where she started lighting design. Sally returns to The Coterie after previously serving as stage manager on ELECTRIC POE (2020), house manager on HOW TO SNAG A SEA MONSTER: A TERRIFICALLY TALL TALE in 2021, and as electrician on various productions from 2016-2024. She has also worked as co-lighting and scenic designer on BARE and scenic designer on SYLVIA for Arts Asylum, lighting designer on FAT HAM and NATIVE GARDENS for Unicorn Theatre, and properies designer on BUBBLE BOY for Spinning Tree Theatre. Sally has a BA in Theatre and Business Administration from Drury University in Springfield, MO. Find out more about Sally on Instagram @camocowz.

Khalia Davis Philp

Coterie Producing Artistic Director

Khalia Davis was eleven years old when she was cast in her first role in an original play at a theatre summer camp. At the top of the show, when she said her first line, the audience actually laughed and she knew she was hooked! For Khalia, that is the magic and beauty of live theatre: that special exchange you share with the audience, knowing that your art is the reason they are transported for a short time to new worlds, learning, and experiencing new stories. Khalia co-leads The Coterie with the managing director to bring the organization’s innovative performances and programs to the Kansas City region. She previously directed The Coterie's production of FINDING NEMO TYA. Khalia is a multidisciplinary artist and arts leader who most recently served as the Assistant Director for the Broadway-bound world premiere, THE HIPPEST TRIP: THE SOUL TRAIN MUSICAL. As the former Artistic Director of Bay Area Children’s Theatre (BACT), she led the world premieres of A KIDS PLAY ABOUT RACISM, which brought together over 40 theater producing partners, including The Coterie, and was viewed on Broadway on Demand nearly 80,000 times during its limited run then became a free resource for educators and their students; and THE IMAGINARIES: AN IMMERSIVE MUSICAL, an original new work that transformed their theater into an accessible playground created by the newly-formed BACT Writer’s Room, which was created as a direct response to the lack of opportunities for BIPOC playwrights and composers specializing in TYA projects. During the COVID pandemic when theaters were closed in the Bay Area, Khalia worked in partnership with former Executive Director of BACT, Nina Meehan, to conceive and produce various forms of theatrical digital and audio content for young audiences that activated their creativity and imaginative play, showcasing the potential for future digital and theatrical collaborations in TYA programming. Khalia directed and devised other new works like the award-nominated world premiere, SHE PERSISTED, THE MUSICAL, based on the popular children’s book by Chelsea Clinton; the Off-Broadway world premiere of an original adaptation of Maya Angelou’s I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS with New York City Children’s Theater; and the world premiere ARTHUR AND FRIENDS MAKE A MUSICAL! based on “Arthur,” the longest-running animated series on PBS with First Stage. Other prominent theaters include: A.C.T., Atlantic Theater Company’s Atlantic for Kids, New York City Children’s Theater, Disney Theatrical Group, Spellbound Theatre, and more. As a producer, Khalia has helped organizations reach hundreds of thousands of young people through interactive “edu-tainment” with the nationally known STORY PIRATES, generated new digital pre-school content with Spellbound at Home, and produced children’s media with her personal company, Kids at Heart Productions. Before assuming her role as Artistic Director of Bay Area Children’s Theater in 2020, Khalia served as the Director of Inclusion and Education with Brooklyn Children’s Theatre restructuring their children’s musical theatre programming through an anti-racism lens. Khalia is a proud board member for TYA/USA, Spellbound Theatre, and The Story Pirates. Awards include: 2019 Emerging Leader Fellowship-TYA/USA, 2019 NYCCT Leader Fellowship, and 2021 Corey Medallion Award-Children’s Theatre Foundation of America. Khalia has a BA in Theater Arts from the University of Southern California. To find out more, visit www.khaliadavis.com.

Jonathan Thomas

Coterie Managing Director

Jonathan Thomas serves as Managing Director of The Coterie Theatre, having stepped into his role managing operations after the tragic loss of Executive Director Joette Pelster. He co-leads the organization with the Producing Artistic Director Khalia Davis, working to bring The Coterie’s innovative performances and programs to the Kansas City region. Jonathan began his path as a professional opera and musical theatre performer out of college, working locally with many area performing arts organizations including the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Chorale, Simon Carrington Chamber Singers, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and New Theatre & Restaurant. After seven years building a successful insurance and financial advising agency, he moved to San Francisco to follow his passion in arts administration. Before returning to Kansas City in 2018, he served as the development manager for The Walden School for three years, where he oversaw organizational fundraising strategies and expanded alumni relations. At ArtsKC, he served as Senior Development Manager, which greatly expanded his knowledge of the Kansas City arts sector. Prior to joining The Coterie, Jonathan served as the Senior Manager for Individual Giving and Partnerships at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, combining his love for the performing arts with his passion for leadership and fund development. Jonathan received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Kansas. He continues his commitment to educating and advocating for the arts by serving on the Kansas City Chorale Board, the Johnson County Park and Recreation Artist Selection Committee, and by chairing the Theatre in the Park Advisory Council. He is a frequent guest speaker about the economic impact of the arts in Kansas City, appearing at the NAAAP Leadership Conference, Arts Day for Centurions, and at the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Jonathan is married to Gail Nakano and is a father to Sofia, a senior at Cornell University, Tristan, a senior in high school, and Cassia and Koda, two littles who haven’t decided on college plans to date.

Donors

The Coterie wishes to express its deepest appreciation to the many corporations, foundations, agencies, and individuals that so generously support The Coterie.

The following list celebrates gifts received September 1, 2024, and September 15, 2025.

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