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)

“…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

In Memoriam

Carol Patterson 1946-2004, Founding Member, President

Carol was an inspired, loving, intelligent woman who helped to ensure that Kansas City thrived civically and culturally. One of her many passions was the theatre. She believed wholeheartedly in the excellence of resident artists of Kansas City, and when approached with the idea of creating a true repertory theatre that would challenge and strengthen Kansas City artists as well as the theatre-going community, she was immediately taken with our vision. She was our founding president and utilized her amazing energy and resources to help us take the first bold steps in creating KCAT. Carol infused us with hope and energy that will forever drive our efforts.