Meet New Coterie Theater Boss After Former Honcho 86'd Himself

For those who don't remember . . . 

The local "alternative" publication published a bunch of accusations that were never proven in a court of law because Jeff Church, former leader of Kansas City children's theatre The Coterie UN-alive'd himself on Christmas Eve of 2022. 

It's a sordid story that mostly made this town's "creative class" very uncomfortable about the behind the scenes culture of a formerly beloved institution.

Now, here's a peek at the organization's best efforts to move forward in an environment where most people don't like going out anymore and youngsters would much rather play video games or seek riches & fame by way of social media. 

Check-it . . .  

Khalia Davis, 35, a former director of the now-defunct Bay Area Children’s Theatre in Berkeley, California, said she accepted the Coterie job having been made well aware not only of the exemplary work the theater has done since its founding in 1979, but also of the recent scandal, still fresh in people’s minds.

“Everybody has acknowledged how hard and how difficult it had been through this transition,” Davis told The Star. “If this is part of the fabric of the Coterie, I don’t think we should be trying to move past it or brush it under the rug. It’s something that is going to be part of the Coterie’s journey as a theater. “But, hopefully, what I think people have witnessed over the last 13 months, is that we are still here and the mission hasn’t changed.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

A year after sex scandal and suicide, Kansas City children's theater names new leader

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Coterie Theatre announces new leadership, addresses investigation into former artistic director

The acclaimed children's theater has made its first major changes following abuse allegations and the death of longtime director Jeff Church

Coterie Theatre appoints Khalia Davis as new Producing Artistic Director

Today, the the Board of Directors of The Coterie Theatre announced today the appointment of Khalia Davis as the new producing artistic director, effective Feb. 1, 2024. Davis replaces interim artistic director Heidi Van who has led the artistic programming since February. 2023.

Developing . . .