Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory

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Song List

"The Candy Man" ..... Willy Wonka, Company

"Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka" ..... Charlie Bucket, Willy Wonka

"A Letter from Charlie Bucket" ..... Charlie Bucket, Mrs. Bucket, Grandma Josephine, Grandma Georgina, Grandpa Joe, Grandpa George

"More of Him to Love" ..... Mrs. Gloop, Augustus Gloop

"When Veruca Says" ..... Mr. Salt, Veruca Salt

"The Queen of Pop" ..... Mr. Beauregarde, Violet Beauregarde, Ensemble

"That Little Man of Mine" ..... Mrs. Teavee, Mike Teavee

"I've Got a Golden Ticket" ..... Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, Mrs. Bucket, Grandma Josephine, Grandma Georgina, Grandpa George

"It Must Be Believed to Be Seen" ..... Willy Wonka, Company

"Strike That, Reverse It!" ..... Willy Wonka, Company

"Pure Imagination"..... Willy Wonka, Company

"The Oompa Loompa Song/Auf Weidersen" ..... Oompa Loompas, Mrs. Gloop, Willy Wonka, Ensemble

"You Got Watcha Want" ..... Oompa Loompas

"Veruca's Nutcracker Sweet" ..... Oompa Loompas, Company

"Vidiots" ..... Oompa Loompas

"The View from Here" ..... Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket

Cast

Creative Team

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

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

+ Denotes Coterie resident artist

* 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: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory design by Trinity Burgo.

Financial assistance for this project has been generously provided by Missouri Arts Council, Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, The Shubert Foundation, Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family 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. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 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, named "One of the Five Best Theaters for Young Audiences" in the U.S. by TIME magazine, 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 (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

Joe Bellinger
LaTanya Franklin
Carlos Gonzalez
Katie Hall
Jennifer Ingraham
Gabriela Lucas
Carla Noack
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
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 • Kennedy Claypoole
HOUSE MANAGERS & BOX OFFICE ASSISTANTS • Dorian Allen, Teisha Bankston, Robert Coppage, Adisynn Foster, Charlie Gannon, Ezra Martinez-Haskins, Kelsey McGee, Pam West

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

ACTING CLASSES FOR K-12th GRADES

Meet the Company

Tanner Rose *

Willy Wonka

Tanner Rose was bitten by the "theatre bug" at 10 years old when he played Barnacles in HONK, JR! at the William Inge Theatre in Independence, KS. He's been doing it ever since! When Tanner is not playing world-renowned chocolate inventor, Willy Wonka, at The Coterie, he is selling chocolate at Andre's Confiserie Suisse on the Plaza, where he has called home for two years. Tanner’s acting career has taken him cross-country and internationally, but in the last four years he has planted roots here in Kansas City. He returns to The Coterie after appearing earlier this season in JUSTICE AT WAR. Off-Broadway: BELLS ARE RINGING (The Lion Theatre, New York). International: VI LIEB MUSIKALER (Oslo National Academy of the Arts). Regional: THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Portland OR); LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Weitzenhoffer Theatre). Local: PETER PAN AND WENDY (Kansas City Repertory Theatre); THE INHERITANCE (Unicorn Theatre); CABARET, GODSPELL (Music Theater Heritage); GRAND HORIZONS (Kansas City Actors Theatre). Television: “The Deuce” (HBO - Streaming now!). Upcoming: A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Kansas City Repertory Theatre). Tanner is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

James Wright *

Grandpa Joe

James Wright has been singing all his life but found the joy of performing in junior high and high school. After seeing A CHORUS LINE on stage in 1976, it changed his life. From then on, he knew he had to pursue a life in the theatre. Nearly 40 years later, he still loves experiencing the joy of creating live theatre. James is beyond thrilled to be returning to The Coterie after last appearing as Pa Ingalls in A LITTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS almost 30 years ago. He has appeared on Kansas City stages including countless productions at New Theatre & Restaurant, American Heartland Theatre, Quality Hill Playhouse, Unicorn Theatre, Music Theater Heritage, Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, Starlight Theatre, and many others. Favorite local roles include Greg in SYLVIA, Judge Turpin in SWEENEY TODD, Joe Keller in ALL MY SONS, and Johnny in FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE. James is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Chelsea Turner

Mrs. Bucket, Cherry, Oompa Loompa

Chelsea Turner grew up wanting to be a cowgirl, an archaeologist, and a dancer, but then she realized she was just wanting to be her favorite characters from her favorite films! Once her mom explained those people were actors, she wanted to be everything and live every life -- and acting let her do that! When she saw SPRING AWAKENING at The Coterie for her 16th birthday, it set her trajectory into theatre. Chelsea is an actress and teaching artist in the Kansas City area who is making her Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. She has taught and directed youth through Kansas Academy of Theatrical Arts, The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, and The Learning Club of KCK. She is a 2023 HeARTland Arts Fellow and has appeared in SPILLED MILK with Fishtank Theatre, DREAMGIRLS at New Theatre & Restaurant, and CHICKEN & BISCUITS with The Black Rep last fall.

Kushi Beauchamp

Grandma Josephine, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Gloop, Squirrel, Oompa Loompa

Kushi Beauchamp was only five years old when she got to play Simba's mother in THE LION KING. She had two lines and then got to faint! It was all very exciting and she fell in love with theatre because she LOVED getting to tell stories. Kushi is an actor, playwright, and teaching artist currently based in Kansas City. She is making her Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. After receiving her BA from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, Kushi moved to Kansas City to get her MFA in Acting at University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). She has performed locally and abroad, recently appearing at Kansas City Repertory Theatre as Belle in A CHRISTMAS CAROL and Tinkerbell in PETER PAN AND WENDY. Other recent credits include BIG LOVE, GROUNDED, FIXING KING JOHN, and THINNER THAN WATER at UMKC. She loves crocheting, playing D&D, and being outside! Find out more about Kushi at www.kushibeauchamp.com.

Shanna Jones *

Grandma Georgina, Mrs. Teavee

Shanna Jones loved to sing as a kid but had horrible stage fright! When she was 9 years old, she was cast in the local community theater production of OLIVER (it desperately needed kids). That show changed her life when she realized she didn’t have to feel afraid when she had friends on stage singing with her. She fell in love with theatre and has been performing ever since. Shanna is thrilled to make her Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. She has appeared at Kansas City Repertory Theatre in BETWEEN THE LINES, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, STILLWATER, HAIR: RETROSPECTION, and THE SANTALAND DIARIES; and at New Theatre & Restaurant in FREAKY FRIDAY, BRIDESMAIDS, MAMMA MIA, and SISTER ACT. Other credits include New York: DECLINE AND FALL for New York Theatre Workshop as well as PHAEDRA'S CABARET, NEXT TO NORMAL, and UNDONE; Chicago: TUG OF WAR, FOREIGN FIRE, and CIVIL STRIFE for Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Regional: LES MISÉRABLES at Pioneer Theatre Company and ROMEO AND JULIET at Utah Shakespeare Festival. Shanna has a BFA from the Actors Training Conservatory at the University of Utah.

Corbin Eakes

Grandpa George, Mr. Salt, Oompa Loompa

Corbin Eakes was inspired to be a performer by his grandmother who was a very skilled piano player; Corbin wanted to be just like her. At the age of seven, Corbin began taking piano lessons. He found after years of practicing that his favorite part of learning the piano was when he was able to perform for others and make them smile. So, when he was ten years old, his parents enrolled him in a theatre summer camp at a local community theatre. From that moment on, he was hooked and theatre and performing have been a part of his life ever since! Corbin makes his Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Other credits include appearing as Brian Johnson in JOHN HUGHES' THE BREAKFAST CLUB UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL for Theatre Atchison PRO Series; Man #1 in I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE! for Halifax Repertory Theatre; a swing in JUNIE B. IN JINGLE BELLS BATMAN SMELLS for Orlando Family Stage; King and Grand Duke understudy in TWICE CHARMED: AN ORIGINAL TWIST ON THE CINDERELLA STORY; Hook Hand, Sage, Baker, and Guard in TANGLED THE MUSICAL; and King, Sebastian, and Cogsworth puppets in DISNEY DREAMS AN ENCHANTED CLASSIC for Disney Cruise Line; as well as Marcellus Washburn in THE MUSIC MAN and Major-General Stanley in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE for Great Plains Theatre. Corbin has a Bachelor of Music Education from Kansas State University.

Marcel Daly

Mr. Beauregarde, Jerry, Squirrel, Robot

Marcel Daly was inspired to start performing by watching Michael Jackson in THE WIZ! Marcel makes his Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Marcel previously appeared as Nick in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? for KC Melting Pot Theatre as well as ensemble and Curtis Taylor, Jr. understudy in DREAMGIRLS and Passion in THOUGHTS OF A COLORED MAN for The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City. He is a graduate of Univeristy of Nebraska at Omaha. Find out more about Marcel at www.marceldaly.com.

Luke Pyron

Charlie Bucket

Luke Pyron has always loved singing and wants to share his love of music with others. Luke makes his Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. He has performed as James in SCHOOL OF ROCK, JoJo in SEUSSICAL, and Fletcher in FREAKY FRIDAY at Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park; Baby Ogre and Elf in SHREK and Chip in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for Music Theatre Kansas City (MTKC); Randolph in BYE BYE BIRDIE and as a featured solo artist in HOLLYWOOD LIVE for MTKC Pro; Kurt in THE SOUND OF MUSIC for Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Cristian in FUN HOME for Olathe Civic Theatre Association; and, most recently, as Colin in THE SECRET GARDEN for The Barn Players. Luke enjoys dancing, singing, tumbling, and soccer. He just finished elementary school at Belmont in the De Soto School District and will be attending Mill Creek next fall.

Ethan Suen

Charlie Bucket

Ethan Suen always loved to sing and dance at home while growing up. Being raised in a Disney-loving family, he was constantly surrounded by the magic of storytelling through song, and when his parents signed him up for an introductory musical theatre class, it felt like a natural fit and he never looked back! Ethan makes his Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, however this production marks his third production based on the works of Roald Dahl in the past year, having previously appeared as Nigel in MATILDA with The Culture House at the Kauffman Center, and as James in JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH JR. last fall. Other recent stage credits include Tiny Tim in A CHRISTMAS CAROL with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Mason in SCHOOL OF ROCK with Theatre in the Park, in the ensemble and as the Colin undertstudy in THE SECRET GARDEN with The Barn Players, and as Les in NEWSIES with Pleasant Ridge Middle School. Ethan is a sixth grader at Pleasant Ridge Middle School and, when not performing, he enjoys reading and excels as a competitive figure skater and swimmer. He takes vocal lesson at Richardson Vocal Studio, studies acting with Lana Gage, and dance at The Culture House Conservatory and Miller Marley School of Dance and Voice. Ethan is grateful to his family for being his biggest supporters, and to The Culture House Conservatory, his friends, and his fellow cast mates and crew.

Viviana Carias

Violet Beauregarde

Viviana Carias has been performing since she was seven years old. Ever since her first show, SEUSSICAL, which she was convinced to do by a friend, she hasn't stopped performing: "I simply come alive when on stage, it's my favorite place to be!" Vivi is thrilled to make her Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY as the "Queen of Pop"! Previous credits include Molly in 13: THE MUSICAL and Madison in SCHOOL OF ROCK with Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, Sophia in DOLORES HUERTA with Theatre for Young America, Lavender in MATILDA with The Culture House, and Dorothy in THE WIZARD OF OZ with Liberty Junction Theatre (Ontario, Canada). Vivi is a freshman in high school. When not performing, Vivi enjoys reading, serving at church, playing tennis, and hanging out with friends. Vivi would like to thank the amazing directing team for this opportunity, her vocal coach Matt Richardson for mentoring her, her parents and little brother for always supporting her, and, most importantly, God for blessing her with the opportunity to preform. All for HIS glory!

Aubrey Richardson

Violet Beauregarde

Aubrey Richardson credits her love of theatre to her mom and dad who have been performing on stage themselves for years. Once they enrolled Aubrey in her first theatre camp, she never wanted to leave the stage! Aubrey is elated to make her Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY -- she's been loving every minute of it! Aubrey also performs at The Culture House and dances competitively at Above the Barre Dance Academy. She currently attends Olathe East High School. Aubrey is so excited to hit the stage and wants to thank all of her family and friends for their support.

Kamryn Henderson

Augustus Gloop

Kamryn Henderson found his love of musical theatre through the Disney movie FROZEN. He started singing "Let It Go" for anyone who would listen, and discovered how much he loved to sing! When Kamryn was four, his grandparents started taking him to The Coterie's holiday musical every year. One year, while waiting for the RUDOLPH performance to begin, Kamryn’s grandmother told him that he would perform on The Coterie stage one day. He is elated that her prediction came true earlier this season when Kamryn performed in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL at The Coterie! Some of Kamryn’s recent shows include 13: THE MUSICAL at Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, MATILDA at The Culture House, KINKY BOOTS at The White Theatre at The J, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MUSICAL at Minneapolis Children’s Theater, and A CHRISTMAS STORY at Music Theater Kansas City. Kamryn, an eighth grader in Lee’s Summit, thanks his mother, sister, grandparents, extended family, and friends for their love and support.

Evan LeRoy

Augustus Gloop

Evan LeRoy started going to live theatre with his parents when he was two years old. At nine, he took his first acting class and he loved it so much, he auditioned for his first show. It turned out to be a life changing experience! Evan is so excited to be making his Coterie debut in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Other recent credits include 13: THE MUSICAL with Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park and many shows with Mill Valley High School and IP Theater. His favorite role to play so far was as Plankton in THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL with First Act KC. Evan is sixteen and will be a junior at Mill Valley High School. When he's not on stage, he enjoys being a reporter for his school’s video and print news departments. He would like to thank the directing team for giving him this sweet opportunity.

Leo J. Covitz

Mike Teavee

Leo J. Covitz originally took an acting class with Stage Right for fun, but he immediately fell in love with performing and hasn't stopped since! Leo returns to The Coterie's stage after making his debut in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL earlier this season as well as taking Coterie acting classes. Other recent credits include THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre and A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Leo also performed in THE WIZARD OF OZ with Kansas City Ballet. Leo attends Indian Hills Middle School.

Joaquin Gonzalez Layton

Mike Teavee

Joaquin Gonzalez Layton started performing when he was 9, after watching his brother play Grandpa Joe in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, but it was being cast as Lefou in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Stage Right Performing Arts a couple of years later that made him realize that theatre is something that he wanted in his life forever. He loves nothing more than entertaining people and making them laugh! Joaquin has most recently been seen as Not Dead Fred in Blue Valley North’s production of SPAMALOT and as Jojo in Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park’s SEUSSICAL. He was part of the first ever all teen cast at Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park last summer as an ensemble member in 13: THE MUSICAL. Another recent memorable role includes Jack Kelly in NEWSIES at Leawood Middle School. Later this summer, Joaquin will perform as a member of the teen ensemble in WEST SIDE STORY at Starlight Theatre and as Ryan in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL with Stage Right Performing Arts. Joaquin hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Lainey McManamy

Veruca Salt

Lainey McManamy got into theatre because, at the age of three, she started watching her sisters perform on stage in musicals and she wanted to be just like them! Lainey is a Coterie Master class student who made her mainstage debut in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL earlier this season. She's excited to be back in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Other recent credits include appearing as Mary Lennox in THE SECRET GARDEN with Music Theater Heritage, Trixie in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF and Tiny Tim/Want/Ensemble in A CHRISTMAS CAROL with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Shonelle in SCHOOL OF ROCK and an ensemble member in 13: THE MUSICAL with Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, Young Fiona in SHREK THE MUSICAL with Music Theatre Kansas City, and Kendra in 13: THE MUSICAL with Inspired Purpose Theater Company. Lainey is in eighth grade at Visitation School and loves art, baking, singing, as well as playing piano, soccer, and basketball. She also loves to do impressions! Lainey thanks everyone for coming and hopes they enjoy the show.

Sophia Bell Payton

Veruca Salt

Sophia Bell Payton found her love for the stage when she started dancing competitively at the age of four, specializing in award-winning musical theatre genre solos. She also comes from a very creative family who passed on their love of theatre to her. Sophia is thrilled to be back at The Coterie after recently appearing RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL and performing as a member of The Coterie's Master Class 2024. In addition to her classes with The Coterie, Sophia is a current dance company member at a modern/contemporary dance company, Artists Revealed, where she performs all styles of dance and contortion, as well as Priscilla and Dana's School of Dance. Other recent credits include the upcoming production of WEST SIDE STORY at Starlight Theatre, as well as the role of Bess in THE LAST WIFE with Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, BIG RIVER at Gladstone Theatre in the Park, and appearing on Jojo Siwa's "Dance Pop Revolution" television show. Sophia would like to thank The Coterie and her fellow cast and crew for this "sweet" experience!

Lindsey Edwards

Female Cover

Lindsey Edwards attended a production of HELLO, DOLLY! at her high school and as she was watching, she thought, “I can do that too!” After that, she auditioned, and she did, in fact, do it! Lindsey is so excited to join the cast of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. This is her first production with The Coterie. Lindsey holds a BS of Theater and BS of Psychology from Kansas State University. She would like to thank God, everyone who worked on the production, her friends, Oreo and Ted, and her family for their constant support. She feels extremely blessed to be given this opportunity and work with such amazing people!

Terrace Wyatt, Jr.

Male Cover

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, Snoopy in A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (2022), and as an understudy in NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL (2023), and ALICE'S WONDERLAND. Terrace received his B.A. in Theatre at William Jewell College in 2020 and has been working non-stop since. Other recent 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 recently made his professional debut as a playwright, producer, and director with Theatre Community Fund of Kansas City’s 2nd Annual Crescendo Awards Festival of his play BLACK MAN, MO [MISSOURI] at The Arts Asylum. Currently, he is developing a new play written by Phillip Dixon - a local Kansas City filmmaker for BrothaAbe Films. This is in addition to preparing his KC FRINGE Festival debut this summer that’ll kickstart his production company, Terr. Studios. Terrace sends love to his mother, his family, friends, and God for putting him on the path to be the best everyday. To find out more about Terr. Studios visit @terr.studios on Instagram or Terr. Studios on FaceBook.

Jerry Jay Cranford

Director/Choreographer

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 +

Resident Music Director

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

Music Director

Mackenzie Goodwin *

Production 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 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

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 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 +

Resident Sound Designer

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 +

Resident 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 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

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 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

Properties Designer

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

Scenic Designer

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

Associate Director

Ciera Loran

Young Professionals Coordinator/Production Assistant

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

Facilities/House Manager

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

Assistant Stage Manager/Deck Manager

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

Scenic Painter

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

Writer

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

Composer

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

Lyricist

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

Film Score Composer

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

Film Score Composer

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

Coterie Producing Artistic Director

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

Coterie Managing Director

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.

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 June 18, 2024.

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