Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory

Jerry Jay Cranford

Jerry Jay Cranford was cast to play Charlie Brown in his elementary school's musical concert when he was in third grade, and there was NO TURNING BACK! He sends thanks to his supportive elementary music teachers who recognized his love of singing and performance when he was young. A familiar face at The Coterie, Jerry Jay returns after previously serving as choreographer and appearing as The Baron in the cast of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, as well as serving as director and choreographer for the musicals, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, MADAGASCARA MUSICAL ADVENTURE, GARFIELD: THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE, GOOSEBUMPS: PHANTOM OF THE AUDITORIUM-THE MUSICAL, and The Coterie’s co-production of NEWSIES with The White Theatre at The J. He most recently directed the world premiere family opera, THE HABERDASHER PRINCE, for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City; DREAMGIRLS for the New Theatre & Restaurant in Overland Park; and played the role of Barry in THE PROM for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. This summer, you can also see his work as director and choreographer of NEWSIES at New Theatre & Restaurant. Jerry Jay has performed in four national and international touring productions as well as appeared on Broadway in LES MISÉRABLES. He also appeared as a performer on the PBS special, “Lawrence Welk: Then and Now.” However, his favorite role EVER is that of husband and father to two fabulous daughters. Jerry Jay has a BFA in Music from University of Oklahoma and a MFA in Theatre from Minnesota State, Mankato, and teaches Theatre at Kansas State University.

Anthony T. Edwards +

Anthony T. Edwards 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 NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE, THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL (2014, 2016, 2018 and 2023), DOCTOR DOLITTLE, DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL!, PETE THE CAT, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, ELEPHANT & PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY!", BEAT BUGS: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE, MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS, GOOSEBUMPS: PHANTOM OF THE AUDITORIUM - THE MUSICAL, GARFIELD: THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE, 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 BA 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 Secretary on the Board of Directors for the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

Ty Tuttle

Mackenzie Goodwin *

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 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.

Derek Trautwein

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 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 find their voices and venues.

David Kiehl +

David Kiehl 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 130 Coterie productions during the past 25 years including, most recently, 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, PUFFS, RISE UP: THE STRUGGLE OF THE FREEDOM RIDERS, BEAT BUGS: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE, MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS, and BECOMING MARTIN. Other local productions include THE GRAVE, MILKING CHRISTMAS, and NOCTURNE at The Living Room Theatre, CLYDE'S, THE SOUND INSIDE, and TONI STONE at Unicorn Theatre, and SMART PEOPLE, ‘NIGHT MOTHER, and A DOLL'S HOUSE at Kansas City Actors Theatre.

Jarrett Bertoncin +

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 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, 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.

Georgianna Londré

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 were 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.

Eric Palmquist

Eric Palmquist participated in a production of PETER PAN after being signed up by his parents, and has been trying to relearn how to fly ever since. He made his mainstage debut at The Coterie in HANA'S SUITCASE and recently performed in AKEELAH AND THE BEE. He has also worked on our productions as a properties designer for THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL, DOCTOR DOLITTLE, DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL!, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, and PUFFS. His recent performance credits include SPIDER'S WEB with Kansas City Actors Theatre, VIPER with Terra Femina Collective, and NOMAD HOTEL with Unicorn Theatre. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Theatre Performance and is currently the resident props designer at Unicorn Theatre, Spinning Tree Theatre, and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Bradley Meyer

Bradley Meyer was in sixth grade when his did a production of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and he so desperately did NOT want to be cast as an Oompa Loompa, so he volunteered to help work on the set instead and has been hooked ever since. 20 years later, Bradley makes his Coterie debut as scenic designer on CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Bradley is a freelance theatre designer, director, artisan, and professional educator originally from Des Moines, IA. A lifelong learner, Bradley holds several degrees in education and studied scenic design in the graduate program at UMKC. Recent credits include properties designer on JULIUS CAESAR for Heart of America Shakespeare Festival and H.O.T at Unicorn Theatre, scenic design on FLAMING GUNS OF THE PURPLE SAGE at Johnson County Community College, JOURNEY TO THE POLES OF INACCESSIBILITY at Unicorn Theatre, and LAST SUMMER AT BLUEFISH COVE for Whim Productions. To see more of Bradley's designs, visit bradleymeyerdesigns.com.

Chioma Anyanwu

Ciera Loran

Ciera Loran got into theatre because she wanted to put herself out there. CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is Ciera's first production with The Coterie. Ciera is a sophomore at Benedictine College studying Criminology and Theater. She has been in a multitude of different plays including Cheshire Cat in ALICE IN WONDERLAND in a touring Theatre for Young Audiences production, Marina in PERICLES, she was part of the ensemble in Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s Region 5 Devised Theater Project, Liesl Von Trapp in SOUND OF MUSIC, Claire Ganz in RUMORS, Mrs. Paddy in CURIOUS SAVAGE, Meg March in LITTLE WOMEN, Kelly Perkins in MURDER ON RESERVE, and Lucy in YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN. She has also worked off of the stage as the hair designer and assistant costume designer for ALICE IN WONDERLAND, a lighting designer and assistant stage manager for the Spring Dance Show and the dance captain and costume crew for PERICLES. She is currently the Benedictine Theater Department's Marketer as well as the Youth Coordinator/Productions Assistant at The Coterie. She is also very diverse in her theatre training. She is trained in Suzuki-Viewpoints, Theater for Young Audiences and “Artful Impact” Teaching Artist Training.

Dorian Allen

Dorian Allen made his way into theatre completely by coincidence after working as an Audio Technician at The Black Box. Dorian is thrilled to be back at The Coterie after previously serving as facilities/house manager on NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE, stage carpenter on THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL, deck manager on ELECTRIC POE (2023), and stage manager on DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL! Other recent credits include playing guitar in FUN HOME with Olathe Civic Theatre Association and serving as assistant stage manager on NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 for Fishtank Theatre. When he isn't on a ladder or covered in paint you can find him playing his guitar or hiking with his dog, Bear. Dorian would like to thank The Coterie, his family and partner, Andi, and Heidi Van for their unwavering love and support. Enjoy the show and ask yourself, Why Not?

Bee Gradwohl

Bethany "Bee" Gradwohl grew up training to be a dancer and eventually realized they wanted to be backstage instead of onstage! Bethany is a freelance theatre technician in the Kansas City area. Originally from Audubon, Pennsylvania, they graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2020 with a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography and started stage managing performances while in school. Their most recent credits include serving as deck crew for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, spotlight operator for ELVIS: ALOHA FROM VEGAS at New Theatre & Restaurant, and assistant stage manager for PETER PAN at Kansas City Ballet. Bee is very excited to be working on their first production with The Coterie!

Chas Coffman

Chas Coffman began taking theatre and dance classes as a young child with Lori's Performance Dance and Arts in Warrensburg, MO. After a short break he got back into theatre in middle school, and never looked back! Chas returns to The Coterie after having served as scenic painter on NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE, as well as the designer of the Naked Mole Rat concert posters that decorated the set and theatre. In addition to stage acting for The Living Room, Thud Productions, and Fishtank Theatre, Chas performs monthly stage readings for charity at The Black Box. He is also an accredited illustrator and graphic designer, most recently making artwork for an exciting new interactive Children's Literature Museum, The Rabbit Hole. Chas is a 2014 graduate of University of Central Missouri, majoring in Illustration/Graphic Design with a minor in Theatre. To find out more about Chas, visit www.chascoffmandesign.com.

David Greig

David Greig is a playwright whose plays include THE EVENTS, THE STRANGE UNDOING OF PRUDENCIA HART, MONSTER IN THE HALL, MIDSUMMER, DUNSINANE, YELLOW MOON, DAMASCUS, OUTLYING ISLANDS, THE AMERICAN PILOT, SAN DIEGO, PYRENEES, THE COSMONAUT'S LAST MESSAGE, DR. KORCZCAKS'S EXAMPLE, THE ARCHITECT, and EUROPE. David's adaptation's include THE SUPPLIANT WOMEN, THE FATHER, THE LORAX, LANARK, CREDITORS, and CALIGULA. In 1990, he co-founded Suspect Culture Theatre Co., for whom he wrote TIMELESS, MAINSTREAM, and 8000M. Since 2016, David has been the Artistic Director of The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Marc Shaiman

Marc Shaiman has been writing music, lyrics, arrangements, orchestrations and very lengthy Emails since entering show business at the age of 16, at LaMama, in 1976. Recently, he and co-lyricist Scott Wittman have written the songs for director Rob Marshall and Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns", the film sequel (not remake!!) to the classic film 'Mary Poppins'. He received a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination for his score for the film. In addition, Mr. Shaiman and Mr. Wittman received an Oscar nomination for the song "The Place Where Lost Things Go", featured in the movie. And their West End and Broadway musical, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, is currently touring North America and opened in Australia in 2019. Marc has been nominated for two Tony Awards (winning one for co-writing the score to HAIRSPRAY with co-lyricist Scott Wittman), four Grammy Awards, (winning one for The Original Cast Recording of HAIRSPRAY), eleven Emmy Awards (winning one for his work on Billy Crystal's Academy Award hosting) and if he hadn't lost each of his five Oscar nominations (for "Sleepless In Seattle", "Patch Adams", "The First Wives Club", The American President" and "South Park-Bigger, Longer & Uncut"), he could boast of being an EGOT. Till then, he remains a EGT. Marc's other film work includes "Beaches", "When Harry Met Sally", "City Slickers", "The Addams Family", "A Few Good Men", "Sister Act" (1 & 2), "Hocus Pocus", "The Bucket List" and "Parental Guidance", to name a few. Millions of more titles are available upon request. Call him. He and Mr. Wittman were Executive Producers of the successful film adaptation (not remake!!) of their musical HAIRSPRAY. Besides HAIRSPRAY, his and Mr. Wittman's other original Broadway musicals are the Tony-nominated MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME and the Tony-winning CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, while Off-Broadway productions include THE HIGH-HEELED WOMAN, LIVIN' DOLLS, and Andre De Shields' HAARLEM NOCTURNE. Broadway concert credits are "Peter Allen-Up In One", Bette Midler's "Divine Madness", Ellie Greenwich's "Leader Of The Pack" and "Patti LuPone On Broadway". Also, after a tremendously successful concert for The Actor's Fund, his & Mr. Wittman's musical BOMBSHELL, created as part of the television show "Smash", is now being developed into a Broadway show. His television ventures, varied and many, include "The Sweeney Sisters" on SNL, countless award and talk show shows with Mr. Crystal, Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane, Jennifer Hudson, Jack Black and Will Ferrell (among many others), Jenifer Lewis' "Jackie's Back", the Emmy-winning "SNL 40th", the aforementioned "Smash", and his proudest achievement for television, his collaboration with Bette Midler for her Emmy-winning appearance as his final guest on Johnny Carson's penultimate Tonight Show. Other performers Marc has collaborated with in concert, cabaret, film and television include Kristen Chenoweth, Eric Clapton, Christine Ebersole, Kathy Griffin, Allison Janney, Jennifer Holiday, Diane Keaton, Steve Martin, John Mayer, Barbra Streisand, Rob Thomas, Queen Latifah, Raquel Welch, Robin Williams...the list is kind of endless... He has co-produced and/or arranged Grammy winning recordings for (among others) Miss Midler, Harry Connick Jr. and Mariah Carey, including the Grammy-winning recordings "The Wind Beneath My Wings" and "From A Distance". He and Ms. Carey were nominated for a Golden Globe for their song "The Star" from the soundtrack to that animated film. And he is quite fond of his online opus "Prop 8 - The Musical". Mr. Shaiman was happy to have his childhood piano teacher Miss Andrews when he & Mr. Wittman were celebrated in 2014 by the New York Pops with a spectacular concert at Carnegie Hall. And at the after-party for "SNL 40th", he jammed with Paul McCartney, Prince and Taylor Swift and completely lost his mind! Finally, Marc is overjoyed to report that four years ago he stopped reading online chat boards, and his life and well-being have improved drastically! He suggests you do the same.

Scott Wittman

Scott Wittman co-wrote, with Marc Shaiman, the lyrics for the Olivier Award wining musical HAIRSPRAY, for which the pair received Tony and Grammy Awards. He also served as an executive producer on the hit film starring John Travolta. They teamed up again on Broadway for MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME, which he also directed, and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, which received a Tony nomination for Best Musical. For their original songs on NBC's musical drama "Smash", Scott & Marc were nominated for two Emmy Awards, a Grammy and a Golden Globe. On "Smash" they have composed songs for Jennifer Hudson, Uma Thurman, Bernadette Peters, and Liza Minnelli. Their original score for the Marilyn Monroe musical, BOMBSHELL, was released on Sony Records. Scott co-wrote the lyrics to CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, directed by Sam Mendes, currently playing to sold out houses at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London's West End. For Patti LuPone, Scott has created and directed two Broadway shows, three recordings, and three sold-out Carnegie Hall concerts. At LaMama, Scott conceived and directed JUKEBOX JACKIE starring Justin Vivian Bond, Cole Escola, Steel Burkhardt, and Bridget Everett. He collaborated with Marc Shaiman on new songs for Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns", directed by Rob Marshall. He and Marc received an Oscar nomination for the song, "The Place Where Lost Things Go," featured in the film.

Leslie Bricusse

Leslie Bricusse is a composer, lyricist, and librettist is a double Oscar and Grammy winner who has contributed to many musical films and plays during his career. He was born in London, and educated at University College School and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he was President of the Footlights Revue Club and founded the Musical Comedy Club. There, he co-authored, directed and performed in his first two musical shows, OUT OF THE BLUE and LADY AT THE WHEEL, both of which made their way to London's West End. He also found time in the gaps to acquire a Master of Arts Degree. The late, great Beatrice Lillie plucked him out of the Footlights Revue at the Phoenix Theatre, and made him her leading man in AN EVENING WITH BEATRICE LILLIE at the Globe Theatre, where he spent the first year of his professional life writing another musical, BOY ON THE CORNER, and the screenplay and score of his first motion picture, CHARLEY MOON, which won his first Ivor Novello Award. That year he decided to drop the possibilities of directing and performing, and concentrate his career on becoming a full-time writer-composer-lyricist. His subsequent stage musicals include STOP THE WORLD - I WANT TO GET OFF; THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT - THE SMELL OF THE CROWD; PICKWICK; HARVEY; THE GOOD OLD BAD OLD DAYS; GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS; HENRY'S WIVES; SCROOGE; ONE SHINING MOMENT; SHERLOCK HOLMES; JEKYLL AND HYDE; and VICTOR/VICTORIA. He has written songs and/or screenplays for such films as DOCTOR DOLITTLE; SCROOGE; WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY; GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS; SUPERMAN; VICTOR/VICTORIA; SANTA CLAUS - THE MOVIE; HOME ALONE I & II; HOOK; TOM & JERRY - THE MOVIE; and various PINK PANTHERS. Leslie wrote more than forty musical shows and films, and over the years had the good fortune to enjoy fruitful collaborations with a wonderful array of musical talents, including Anthony Newley, Henry Mancini, John Williams, John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith, Jule Styne, Quincy Jones, Andre Previn, Frank Wildhorn and Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky (whose NUTCRACKER SUITE he adapted into a song score). His better-known songs include: "What Kind Of A Fool Am I?;" "Once In A Lifetime;" "Gonna Build a Mountain;" "Who Can I Turn To?;" "The Joker;" "If I Ruled The World;" "My Kind Of Girl;" "Talk To The Animals;" "You And I;" "Felling Good;" "When I Look In Your Eyes;" "Goldfinger;" "Can You Read My Mind?" (the love theme from Superman); "You Only Live Twice;" "Le Jazz Hot;" "On A Wonderful Day Like Today;" "Two For The Road;" "The Candy Man;" "This Is The Moment;" "Crazy World;" "Pure Imagination;" and "Ompa-Loompa-Doompa-Dee-Doo." He has been nominated for ten Academy Awards, nine Grammys, and four Tonys, and won two Oscars, a Grammy, and eight Ivor Novello Awards, the premiere British Music Award. Hundreds of Bricusse's songs have been recorded by major artists, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis, Jr. (who recorded 60 Bricusse songs), Tony Bennett, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli, Andy Williams, Rex Harrison, Kate Smith, Elaine Paige, Anthony Newley, Michael Feinstein, Bette Midler, The Moody Blues, Nancy Sinatra, Lena Horne, Sergio Mendes, Nina Simone, Dionne Warwick, Robert Goulet, Matt Monro, Ray Charles, Ethel Merman, Placido Domingo, Jennifer Holliday, Danny Kaye, Robbie Williams, Mariah Carey, Linda Eder, Maroon 5, Michael Bublé and The Black-Eyes Peas. In 1989 he received the Kennedy Award for consistent excellence in British songwriting, bestowed by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, and was inducted into the American Songwriters' Hall of Fame - only the fourth Englishman to be so honoured - after Noel Coward, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Leslie is currently represented internationally and across the United States by JEKYLL & HYDE, written with Frank Wildhorn, which ran for four years at the Plymouth Theatre in New York, with a dozen international productions around the world, and VICTOR/VICTORIA, written with Blake Edwards and Henry Mancini, which successively starred Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli and Raquel Welch on Broadway, and is now to be seen across America and in other international productions. Bricusse's children's stage musical version of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORU opened at the Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts in Washington DC in November, 2004, before embarking on a three-year national tour. Another Bricusse perennial, his musical version of SCROOGE, in which Anthony Newley starred at the Dominion Theatre in London's West End, is also seen annually in many productions in the U. K., Europe, the U. S. and Japan. For DOCTOR DOLITTLE, another current stage musical, which played four years in the U.K. starring Phillip Schofield and almost one hundred assorted animatronic animals created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, Leslie served as librettist, composer, lyricist and co-producer. Further productions are planned in Europe, Australia, South Korea, and Japan. A major U.S. production opened in the summer of 2005. Recent projects included a remarkable musical biography of the world's greatest entertainer, the late Sammy Davis, Jr., entitled SAMMY, directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen. Bricusse also completed the book and lyrics of his musical adaptation of CYRANO DE BERGERAC, his new collaboration with Frank Wildhorn, and a compilation songbook show, BRICK BY BRICK BY BRICUSSE.

Anthony Newley

George Anthony Newley (September 24, 1931-April 14, 1999) was a British actor, singer, and songwriter. His first major film role was as the Artful Dodger in David Lean's 1948 "Oliver Twist." Anthony had a successful pop music career, with two number ones in 1960, "Why?" and "Do You Mind?" He won the 1963 Grammy Award for Song of the Year for "What Kind of Fool Am I?," but was also well-known for "Gonna Build a Mountain" and comic novelty songs such as his version of "Strawberry Fair". With Leslie Bricusse, he wrote the musical STOP THE WORLD - I WANT TO GET OFF in which he also performed, earning a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. His other musicals include THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT - THE SMELL OF THE CROWD (1965) and WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971). In recognition of his creative skills and body of work, Anthony was elected to the songwriters Hall of Fame.

Khalia Davis

Khalia Davis was 11 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. 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

Jonathan Thomas stepped into his role managing operations at The Coterie in November 2022 after the tragic loss of executive director Joette Pelster. He co-leads the organization with the producing artistic director, 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 Orpheus KC 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 junior at Cornell University, Tristan, a junior in high school, and Cassia, a three-year-old who is undecided about her college plans.