Women Artistic Directors in Kansas City and Their Processes

Abstract

This thesis is an overview of several important women artistic directors who have helped form the recent Kansas City theatre landscape. Cynthia Levin, Jeanne Beechwood, Sidonie Garrett, Karen Paisley, and Heidi Van are pivotal artistic directors with unique perspectives. These women have opened doors to allow other women to flourish in arts leadership roles. This document is arranged chronologically, although there are overlaps in the timelines of these five women’s lives and accomplishments. The focus of my research spans from the 1960s to 2015. There are several other women who have been successful artistic directors, but I have chosen these five based on the longevity of their careers and the unique perspectives they have added to the Kansas City theatre landscape.