about kcat
Artistic Mission
We challenge and enlighten the Kansas City community by producing classic and modern-classic plays using Kansas City theatre artists. We present a collection of plays that are integrated, whether over a season or in true rotating repertory, in order to deepen the appreciation of each individual play.
We are an artist-led, artist-driven ensemble of theatre professionals.
Origin and Purpose
The Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT), a not-for-profit corporation, was founded in January, 2004. The KCAT is meant to operate under a paradigm that is radically different from that employed by any other theatre in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
- KCAT has been formed and will be led by practicing artists, not by managers, producers or directors.
- KCAT will perform plays in the classic “rotating repertory” format, meaning that multiple productions will be run concurrently throughout a season.
- KCAT will create a vital core company of artists—actors, stage managers, directors, designers—which will be comprised of members of the greater Kansas City artistic community.
- KCAT productions will most importantly focus on the craft and skill of the actor, depend heavily upon the talents of the playwright, implement exciting lighting, music and sound, and will eschew expensive and elaborate scenery and costumes.
- KCAT ’s play selection will fill a gap in KC theatre by choosing from playwrights of the world who have been underused or wholly neglected by other companies. While the emphasis will be on classic and modern-classic plays, KCAT will occasionally take on newer works when such a work sparks an enthusiastic response from the group. (See list of playwrights)
Who Benefits
First and foremost, lovers of live theatre in the greater Kansas City area will find in KCAT a theatre company offering new productions of classic and modern-classic works and more. KCAT will surprise and entertain the community as the talents of actors bloom through a process of extended development and rehearsal, and where actors are cast in challenging and unexpected roles.
Another benefit will emerge for the Kansas City theatre arts community, which at long last will be strengthened and nurtured by the creation of a resident acting company. KCAT, increating its own resident company, will join a handful of prominent national theatres who have already done likewise. Such a company will provide Kansas City artists with a quality and consistency of artistic expression, which will only deepen their commitment to Kansas City while attracting new artists to this growing community.
Where Located
Kansas City Actors Theatre will initially perform at the H&R Block City Stage Theatre located in the Theatre District of Kansas City’s Union Station.
Funding
KCAT will be funded entirely by ticket sales, private contributions, grants and ongoing fund-raising projects. At best, ticket sales will provide 50% of operating costs. The Board of Directors will contact private businesses, foundations, and individuals for continuing financial support.
Tax Exempt Status
Kansas City Actors Theatre was granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code on August 31, 2004.
Program Description
KCAT will begin with a two-play repertory season in June 2005.
KCAT will also schedule a series of Readers Theatre presentations, and old-time Radio Theatre performances.
How Supervised
Its artistic founders, operating in close alignment with a Board of Directors of up to 30 members will supervise KCAT.
Actors Theatre’s list of Neglected Playwrights
This list comprises some of the world’s finest playwrights, without question.
KCAT believes that within these artists’ collected works lies enough brilliant, proven material to fill many, many seasons to come.
Edward Albee Amiri Baraka Alan Ayckbourn Samuel Beckett Anton Chekhov Caryl Churchill Noel Coward Charles Fuller Lorraine Hansberry David Hare Lillian Hellman Zora Neale Hurston Henrik Ibsen William Inge Federico Garcia Lorca Arthur Miller Eugene O’Neill Clifford Odets John Osborne Luigi Pirandello Harold Pinter Edmond Rostand William Saroyan Sam Shepard Tom Stoppard August Strindberg J. M. Synge Thornton Wilder Tennessee Williams Lanford Wilson
“…such stuff as dreams are made on.”
We are a group of professional artists who have come from far and wide and love the community that is Kansas City. Our wish is to create theatre that illuminates the power of humanity by presenting predominantly classic and classic-modern plays in true rotating repertory.
Now is the time
and this is the place
to give substance to the dream of
Kansas City Actors Theatre
