Horse Power:

Follow Us:

Cast

Creative Team

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

TIME:
Late 1800s/early 1900s
Current time

PLACE:
Jolly Horse Stables
Campsite in Iowa (past)
Kitchen of Tom Bass (past)
Chicago World's Fair (past)

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

Joe Bellinger; Sheila DeWeese, Maggie Mohrfeld, and Trae Venerable, and the American Royal; Anna Oleson and A to Z Theatrical Supply and Service; Ethan Garber and FASTSIGNS of Lee's Summit; and Black Archives of Mid-America.

Kansas City Art Institute for original production designs by the Illustration Department’s student staffed agency, MICRO: Horse Power design by Chaneryna Thach.

Financial assistance for this project has been generously provided by Missouri Arts Council, Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, The Shubert Foundation, Hallmark Corporate Foundation, Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation, Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, Spencer Fane, Theater League, and American Royal.

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. Horse Power: Tom Bass' American Story is a professional production employing members of Actors’ Equity Association, founded in 1913, representing more than 45,000 professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.

ABOUT THE COTERIE

The Coterie Theatre provides unique theatre experiences for families and young audiences. The company 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 44 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 writing programs (In-School Literacy Residencies and Young Playwrights Roundtable), teen LGBTQ work (Project Pride), and preteen and teen mental health workshops (Project Daylight), which are offered to students and schools free of charge.

All these components serve an average over 75,000 per year through over 350 performances. As a not-for-profit professional theatre company, The Coterie seeks to educate, entertain, and challenge audiences by opening lines of communication between races, genders, and generations. Donate at www.thecoterie.org.
 

2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Theresa Stoker • President
Amy Graham • Secretary
Sara Anthony • Board Engagement Chair
Nicole Jacobs-Silvey • Community Engagement Chair
Kristina Thompson • Community Engagement Chair

Laura Antolak
Joe Bellinger
Ava Delsemme
LaTanya Franklin
Carlos Gonzalez
Katie Hall
Jennifer Ingraham
Gabriela Lucas
Greg Oborny
Ashlee Parker-Osborne
Ali Saucier
Ashley Strohm
Andrew Van Der Laan

COTERIE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

MANAGING DIRECTOR • Jonathan Thomas
PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR • Khalia Davis
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
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER • Carol Kobza
BOOKING COORDINATOR • Stephanie Laaker
BOX OFFICE ASSISTANT/MARKETING SPECIALIST • Tressa Lee
MARKETING ASSISTANT • Anna Jordan
HOUSE MANAGERS & BOX OFFICE ASSISTANTS • Dorian Allen, Kelsey McGee, Lillian Manuel, Pam West, Kali Coates

OUR CO-PRODUCERS

American Royal

A Kansas City tradition since 1899, the American Royal is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to be the nation’s leader for food and agriculture education, events, and engagement. The American Royal provides opportunities for youth and adults from around the world to engage in high-quality events and experiences, including nationally competitive livestock shows, the world’s largest barbecue competition, regional and national equine shows, youth and professional rodeos, and elementary and secondary education outreach. Support from partners, members, and volunteers help the American Royal achieve its vision of a world where food and agriculture are celebrated, and all generations are committed to its future.

What if Puppets

What iF Puppets was founded by internationally recognized puppeteer Paul Mesner as Mesner Puppet Theatre in 1987 to provide innovative storytelling that captures children’s imagination and inspires communities. In 2022, the organization rebranded to become What iF Puppets with the mission of inspiring play and cultivating connections through puppetry. Since its inception, the organization has captivated over two million people through our productions and educational programming. Audiences delight in the craftsmanship of the puppets, which range from glove puppets to marionettes, to innovative shadow and object-based puppetry. The company holds the distinction of receiving three Union Internationale de la Marionette (UNIMA-USA) Citations of Excellence. The UNIMA-USA award was created by Jim Henson to promote high-quality puppetry in the United States and is considered the ‘Academy Award” of puppetry. WiP uses humor and heart to present stories that connect to the complex social-emotional experiences of our young audience. Each year, WiP engages more than 30,000 young people and adults in the programs below:

• Puppets on Tour (local and national tour)
• Puppets in Education (Prek-2nd grade arts-integrated learning)
• Puppets in Progress  (Artist cultivation)
• Premiere Production (Annual original production)
• Professional Services (commission work)

WiP is led by a talented staff of artists, educators, and administrators:
Executive Artistic Director Amanda Kibler, Director of Puppetry Arts Mike Horner, Director of Production Erin Walley, Puppets in Progress Manager Jamie Urban, Puppet Fabricator Matt Hawkins, Puppet Apprentice Cooper Rasmussen, Operations Manager Jennifer Fenton, Director of Education Alex Espy, Education Manager Karese Kaw-uh, Arts Integration Specialists Mary Poggie and Kimberlee Stone.

Visit them on Instagram @whatifpuppets

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

Meet the Company

Amari Lewis*

Natalia

Amari Lewis was seven years old and had a bunch of energy, so her mom put her in theatre and opera camps, and she's loved performing ever since! Amari returns to the The Coterie after previously appearing as the Queen of Hearts in ALICE'S WONDERLAND, Olive Biddle in PETE THE CAT, and Sandy in THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES (TYA VERSION). Other recent credits include LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, HAIRSPRAY at Starlight Theatre, DREAMGIRLS at New Theatre & Restaurant, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Farmington Civic Theatre, and a 2014 Vincent Legacy Scholar (Starlight Theatre). Amari is a native of Kansas City, KS, and has an AA from Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Joe Serrano

Sherman Hodak

Joe Serrano has always felt like they were on stage -- whether telling stories to their friends, acting silly to make their family laugh, or competing in middle school oratorical contests -- but when they finally hit the actual stage, they knew they were home. Joe is thrilled to make their Coterie debut in HORSE POWER! Other recent credits include Kansas City: THAT DAY IN TUCSON... at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, IN THE HEIGHTS as a guest artist at Kansas City Kansas Community College, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at New Theatre & Restaurant, GUYS AND DOLLS at Music Theater Heritage; New York City: ST. PATRICK'S DAY with Times Square Arts Center and PHANTOM LUCK with Theater for the New City; Regional: DOUBT with Little Theatre of the Rockies (Chicago); Touring: HOW I BECAME A PIRATE with Omaha Theater Company and AMELIA EARHART with Seem To Be Players; Film: "Big Break" for In the Can and "AIR: The Musical" for Through a Glass; and TV: "Succession" on HBO and "Billions" on Showtime. Joe received a BA in Musical Theatre from University of Northern Colorado and an AA in Theatre Performance from Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Ann Pittman Zárate

Rita Hunter, Puppeteer

Ann Pittman Zárate began performing at the historic Missouri Theater in St. Joseph, MO as a small child. Ann makes her Coterie stage -- and Kansas City -- debut in HORSE POWER! She performs in all musicals and plays, but especially loves new scripts! In fact, she first met HORSE POWER playwright, Michelle Tyrene Johnson, at a playwright’s retreat Ann hosted in Colorado. Ann's favorite opportunities include playing Roberta in THE ROBERTASSEY and Ruby in THE SECRETARY both at 7 Devils New Play Foundry, and AFTER THE FAIR with Mainstreet Musicals. Ann was co-founder and Artistic Director of the National Winter Playwrights Retreat and The American Playbook podcast. Favorite performances include Daisy Hilton in SIDE SHOW at Trinity Street Players, which won a B. Iden Payne Award; Eva Peron in EVITA at Georgetown Palace Theatre, winner of an Applause Award; Mrs. Van Buren in INTIMATE APPAREL at The University of Texas at Austin; and Winnie in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN at Creede Repertory Theatre. Fun fact! Ann has been cast as Eve, Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and Judas in THE DIARIES OF ADAM AND EVE, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, and GODSPELL, respectfully. Ann studied vocal performance with Betty Buckley and Lucid Body with Fay Simpson. While considering Austin, TX, her hometown, Ann was actually born in St. Joseph, MO, and is now a new resident of Kansas City. She is also the mom of a precocious six-year-old with perfect pitch.

L. Roi Hawkins*

Tom Bass

L. Roi Hawkins found his way to theatre when a girlfriend took him to an audition after school and by the end of the process, he was hooked on being on stage. L. Roi previously appeared at The Coterie in the world premiere ONLY ONE DAY A YEAR, THE ODYSSEY, and TAKUNDA. Other recent productions include SKELETON CREW at Kansas City Actors Theater, CHICKEN LITTLE at Theater for Young America, CLYDE'S and TONI STONE at Unicorn Theatre, OF MICE AND MEN and as an understudy in THE ROYALE at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and the one man show, HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED, for The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City. L. Roi is originally from Kansas City, KS, and is a graduate of Wyandotte High School and University of Kansas.

Paulette Dawn

Angie Bass

Paulette Dawn remembers her first live stage show for the feeling she got while being able to live vicariously, if only for a moment, through the characters on stage. It became her way of escaping childhood trauma. Paulette is excited to join The Coterie with her company debut in HORSE POWER. She recently performed as understudy for Aunt Sarah in both Milwaukee Repertory Theater's tour and Kansas City Repertory Theatre's production of NINA SIMONE: FOUR WOMEN. She has done several shows with The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, most recently performing as Aunt Bev Jenkins in CHICKEN AND BISCUITS, Anna in ANGRY, RAUCOUS AND SHAMEFULLY GORGEOUS; Polk in the reading of GOD'S SIB; The Woman in BLUES IN THE NIGHT; and Aunt Elm in THE WIZ. She has also worked with Westport Center for the Arts, appearing as Ida B. Wells in ONLY THE WOUNDS AND WEAPONS HAVE CHANGED and Reverand Carmenita Turner in BOTTLE OF FIRE. Paulette started her acting career with Jackie Dubois in the Sarita Lynn Ministries production of REFLECTIONS 1, 2 & 3. She has done voice overs and company commercials here in Kansas City. Paulette wants to thank her husband, Kenneth, and their daughter, Madyson, for always supporting her passions. She is grateful every day that God grants her the ability to live her dream. Find out more about Paulette on Facebook @PauletteDawnActor.

Terrace Wyatt, Jr.

Inman Bass, Puppeteer

Terrace Wyatt, Jr. discovered his love of the arts from watching TV in the comfort of his living room as a child; acting out his favorite movies, cartoons, and Michael Jackson. He began applying his ADHD to the world of theatre at Starlight Theatre, and the marathon started there. Terrace returns to The Coterie stage after recently appearing as Luke in THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL. Iconic for his role as Snoopy in A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (2022), and this past summer as the male cover for CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE. Terrace received his B.A. in Theatre at William Jewell College in 2020 and has been working non-stop since. KC credits include THE GRAPES OF WRATH with The Arts Asylum, BOXED with Whim Productions, IS GOD IS with KC MeltingPot Theatre, DREAMGIRLS with New Theatre & Restaurant, PETER PAN AND WENDY with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, A RAISIN IN THE SUN with The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, SMART PEOPLE with Kansas City Actors Theatre, TONI STONE with Unicorn Theatre, and many more. Terrace was named “Artist to Watch” by KC Studio Magazine leading up to the KC Fringe debut of his play, TERRACE WYATT, JR’S: BLACK MAN, MISSOURI, and introducing his production company Terrace Studios. Currently, he is developing a new play written by Phillip Dixon - a local Kansas City filmmaker for BrothaAbe Films. Terrace sends love to his mother, his family, friends, and God for putting him on the path to be the best every day. To find out more about Terrace Studios visit @terr.studios on Instagram or Terr. Studios on Facebook.

Erik J Pratt

Caleb McCall, Puppeteer

Erik J Pratt was eleven-years-old when he went on vacation to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, during the week of The Calgary Stampede -- one of the largest rodeos in the world. As part of the festivities, there was a busking festival, which is a type of street theatre where individuals or groups perform an amazing variety of shows for people on the street. There are no tickets or seats or invitations, just crowds gathering around the acts that are interesting or cool, including jugglers, magicians, musicians, clowns, living statues, acrobats, actors, and even things too weird to describe. It was the first time Erik had the opportunity to see so many different performers and stories in one place and he was blown away, thinking, "What a cool job! I want to do that!" Now, one of his absolute favorite things about working in theatre is the chance to learn new things! Erik makes his Coterie debut in HORSE POWER. Other recent credits include playing Froggy LeSueur in THE FOREIGNER for Firefly Dinner Theater; Allen/Tobias in A HOUSE WITH NO WALLS for Emerson Theater Collaborative; VP Bellona in the film "Shades of War," directed by Aaron Greer; and Joe in the radio drama/podcast, "Gadsden," for Aaron Bohn Productions. As the owner of Drops Unlimited Entertainment, a live circus entertainment company based in Kansas City, Erik has performed as a juggler, clown, stilt-walker, and balloon artist across the Midwest. He is also very excited to be working on his wife's new show, EXIT 16, which will open in April 2025 at The Arts Asylum as the inaugural production of their new production company, Hypothesis: a Theatre Lab. Erik has a BA in Theatre from University of Missouri-Kansas City and studied with Kapoot Clown Theatre Intensive. Find out more about Erik at www.erikjpratt.com and www.dropsunlimited.com.

Michelle Tyrene Johnson

Playwright

Michelle Tyrene Johnson is a senior producer at Louisville, Kentucky’s public radio station, a writer, and a former attorney. As a playwright, her work has been staged nationally in readings and productions, including at the Obie Award-winning The Fire This Time Festival in New York City, the Pork Filled Productions' Unleashed Festival in Seattle, WA, the Florida Rep PlayLab Festival in Fort Myers, FL, the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s reading series and its New Works Festival in Kansas City, MO, and Local Theatre’s PlayLab in Boulder, CO. Michelle's commissioned play, ONLY ONE DAY A YEAR, was selected for the Kennedy Center’s New Visions/New Voices Festival in 2020, was the recipient of a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and had its world premiere at The Coterie in 2023. Michelle received her MFA in Writing with an emphasis on playwriting in May 2022 from the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing at Spalding University. Additionally, she is a fourth-generation Kansan and a devotee of soap operas, mystery novels, real R&B music, traveling, and nice yarn.

Teresa Leggard

Director

Teresa Leggard comes to theatre through poetry. Growing up, she wrote and performed original poems as well as the occasional church play, but it was a playwriting class with Frank Higgins at University of Missouri-Kansas City that helped her realize she loved collaborating to create something for others to see and hear. Teresa returns to The Coterie after directing AKEELAH AND THE BEE last season and appearing in and co-directing the world premiere of ONLY ONE DAY A YEAR, written by Michelle Tyrene Johnson. She has worked as director of SINGLE BLACK FEMALE and THE GREEN BOOK WINE CLUB TRAIN TRIP at KC MeltingPot Theatre, PASS OVER at Olathe Civic Theatre Association, ONTARIO WAS HERE at Lied Center of Kansas, PIPELINE at Unicorn Theatre, and as associate director of NINA SIMONE: FOUR WOMEN for Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Milwaukee Repertory Theater's co-production in February and April 2024. Teresa received her MFA from University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Mackenzie Goodwin*

Stage Manager

Mackenzie Goodwin met the theatre through her parents, and she became an avid theatre goer. Her mom is a theatre actor and director, and her dad was an acrobat and a lighting and sound technician. Mackenzie returns to The Coterie after having worked on numerous recent productions, including serving as production stage manager for CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL, ELECTRIC POE, ALICE'S WONDERLAND, PETE THE CAT, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, 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); swing manager on DREAMGIRLS and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET for New Theatre & Restaurant; production stage manager on THE PRICE and DOT for Kansas City Actors Theatre, SHOWS FOR DAYS for Fishtank Theatre, and TITUS ANDRONICUS and MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE for The Living Room Theatre; and safety coordinator at Kansas City Actors Theatre. Mackenzie is the co-producing artistic director for Brother Octopus Productions at The Black Box (formerly Stuffed Buffalo Productions), an intimacy director, a voice over actor, and a member of Actors' Equity Association. For more about Mackenzie visit goodwincalling.com.

Theresa Comstock

Set Designer

Theresa Comstock got into theatre when she was cast as Alice in ALICE IN WONDERLAND in her seventh grade musical. Making her Coterie debut with HORSE POWER, Theresa is a lighting and scenic designer who worked in both Chicago and Kansas City prior to joining the faculty at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the St. Louis Metro Area. Some of her favorite productions to have worked on were GREEN BOOK WINE CLUB TRAIN TRIP at the KC Melting Pot Theatre, UBU ROI with the Organic Theater Company in Chicago, and OF MICE AND MEN with Monomoy Theatre in Cape Cod. Theresa earned her MFA in Theater Design and Technology from Northern Illinois University. To find out more about Theresa visit www.theresa-design.com.

Georgianna Londré

Costume Designer

Georgianna Londré 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 include CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL (2014, 2016, 2018, 2023), ONLY ONE DAY A YEAR, A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (2015, 2017, 2019, 2022), ELECTRIC POE (2020, 2021, 2022), AKEELAH AND THE BEE, ALICE'S WONDERLAND, PETE THE CAT, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, DRAGONS LOVE TACOS, PUFFS, RISE UP: THE STRUGGLE OF THE FREEDOM RIDERS, BEAT BUGS: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE, MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS, BECOMING MARTIN, TUCK EVERLASTING, WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED: THE STUDENT SIT-INS OF 1960, GARFIELD: THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE, ELEPHANT & PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY!", NO TALKING, THE NINE WHO DARED: COURAGE IN LITTLE ROCK, and over 50 other designs since 2000. Other recent design credits include COME BLOW YOUR HORN and HANK WILLIAMS: LOST HIGHWAY with New Theatre & Restaurant, THE OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and eight seasons with Quality Hill Playhouse. She has also designed for Late Night Theatre, The Living Room, Kansas City Actors Theatre, and What if Puppets. She always hopes her son likes the plays she’s working on at The Coterie, and he motivates her to do her best.

Zoe M. Spangler

Lighting Designer

Zoe M. Spangler's introduction to theatre was during first year orientation of high school from her mom, who urged her to try something new. Zoe and her best friend (whose mom also made her start a new activity) started out afraid of performing. However, over time, they supported each other and came out of their shells. Now, 14 years later, they still work in theatre and are still best friends. These days, Zoe is a lighting designer based in Kansas City, MO. She is elated to make her Coterie debut with HORSE POWER. Her previous design work has been seen all over the KC metro area, including Unicorn Theatre, Music Theater Heritage, Whim Productions, Kansas City Burlesque Festival, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Charlotte Street Foundation, Kansas City Aerial Arts, Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College, Jewell Theatre Company, and UMKC Conservatory. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Lighting Design and Technology at University of Missouri-Kansas City in May 2022 and is now adjunct faculty at Johnson County Community College and William Jewell College. Zoe's full lighting design portfolio can be found at zmspangler.com. Enjoy the show!

Wren Royer

Sound Designer

Wren Royer was introduced to the theatre world from a young age, attending youth theatre camps with their younger sister. Wren didn't fully dive into the backstage work until their Junior year of high school when their new friends asked them to a drama club meeting. After meeting the director, Wren began working as a sound assistant and was soon the solo sound designer on their all-school play! They've been in love with theatre ever since. Wren is a graduate of Johnson County Community College and recently transferred to Drake University to pursue a BFA in Theatre: Tech & Design. Recent theatre credits include serving as A2 for CABARET and stage manager for FLAMING GUNS OF THE PURPLE SAGE with Johnson County Community College; sound designer on THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND/BLACK COMEDY, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, and IS HE DEAD? with Olathe Civic Theatre Association; and sound designer on PRICE OF BAIL with The Arts Asylum. Wren’s next production will be DRACULA at Drake University, for which they will be sound designer. They are honored and thrilled to be a part of this incredible original work, and to get to work with HORSE POWER's incredible director, Teresa Leggard.

Lacey Pacheco

Props Designer

Lacey Pacheco's love of trivia lead her to the world of theatre. One of her first middle school classes ended each day with a team trivia game about theater history. Lacey is incredibly competitive so she learned all she could to win and, in the meantime, fell in love with the stories of theatre's origins dating back to early Greek theatre. She loved the drama of the old plays and was quickly inspired by new works. Shortly after that, RENT hit Broadway and it made her want to be a part of that artistic community forever! Lacey is a Kansas City native and jill-of-all-trades. She graduated from Missouri State University with a BFA in Technical Theatre. She worked as a production stage manager in the KC area and shifted gears to props design post-pandemic. She has designed props for SMART PEOPLE and SKELETON CREW with Kansas City Actors Theatre; the indoor productions of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and SHOUT as well as the outdoor production of BYE BYE BIRDIE with Theatre in the Park; and THE LITTLE MERMAID with White Theatre at The J. She was also the production manager for the KC Fringe Festival. Lacey's upcoming projects include REEFER MADNESS and EXIT 16 at The Arts Asylum, MUSIC MAN at White Theatre at The J, and DOUBT: A PARABLE with Kansas City Actors Theatre at Kansas City United Church of Christ.

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 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.

Ezra Martinez-Haskins

Assistant Stage Manager/Deck Manager

Ezra Martinez-Haskins was always drawn to the theatre but their school was so small that they didn’t have to audition -- they only needed to express an interest and they were able to participate. In college, Ezra discover how much they actually cared about telling stories through theatre so they switched their degree and have been working in theatre ever since. Ezra may be a familiar face to many in The Coterie's audience as they have been house managing and assisting in the box office for several years. Other recent credits include serving as stage manager on LEGALLY BLONDE with Stage Right Theatre Company as well as Summer Theatre’s 50th Anniversary Alumni Reunion, PULP FICTION: MUSIC FRICTION, and MY NAME IS LOOFAH TUTU with Lawrence Art Center. Ezra has a BA from Washburn University.

Donors

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

The following list celebrates gifts received April 1, 2023, and September 8, 2024.

VISIT OUR FRIENDS