The Coterie Theatre’s Transition from Children’s Theatre to Multigenerational Theatre: 1991-2014

Abstract

The programming of The Coterie Theatre of Kansas City, Missouri, under Artistic Director Jeff Church, was studied from September 1990 to August 2014. The works researched included world, commissioned and American premieres of plays for young audiences at the theatre. These plays were chosen in proof of the hypothesis that Jeff Church’s programming played a primary role in the theatre’s transition from a children’s theatre to a theatre for young audiences and then to a multigenerational theatre. The findings strongly suggest that not only is the hypothesis correct but Church’s programming contributed to The Coterie Theatre’s rise to national prominence.