The Coterie Theater and The Culture House:

Powerhouse Creative Venues for Kansas City Youth

Amanda-Fay Moore, a St. Joseph, MO teacher, violinist, and mother of one-year-old son, Hudson, is writing her dissertation about “the positive academic and social effects that assist in the development of critical academic skill” when students take part in music programs.  She contends, “Many schools are cutting their instrumental music programs or failing to encourage participation in instrumental music classes.”  Amanda-Fay is a passionate advocate of the arts and promotes the academic benefits of instrumental music programs within our schools and community.

Although many schools feel forced to cut creative arts programs in order to allow more time for core subject instruction, we are blessed with local artists, musicians, directors, choreographers, teachers, and actors who understand the powerful connections between the discipline required to hone one’s craft and develop habits which will help students become successful.  They provide our youth with opportunities to explore their potential and express their creative talents in Kansas City. 

 The Coterie Theater and The Culture House stage explosive productions; invite local children to experience classes in art, music, dance, storytelling, and acting; and provide schools with instructional resources that allow teachers to investigate the history and issues explored in glorious programs which amaze and transform audiences of all ages.

www.coterietheatre.org

The Coterie Theatre 
2450 Grand Blvd., Suite 144, Kansas City, MO 64108
The Wrestling Season
January 24^th – February 19^th
Time Magazine calls The Coterie Theatre  “one of the five best theatres for young audiences in the U.S.”   

Photos by Marianne Kilroy

The Wrestling Season is a compelling drama based on the book by Laurie Brooks, directed by Leigh Miller, and is sponsored in part by Kansas City’s  Child Center.  The cast grapples with complicated issues such as bullying and peer pressure as they square off in competition with one another on the wrestling mat.  More information can be found on the Coterie website, http://www.coterietheatre.org, or call the Coterie Box Office, 816-474-6552.

www.theculturehouse.com

The Culture House
14808 W 117th St    Olathe, KS 66062          
913-393-3141
In 1996, I was invited to coordinate the opening liturgical celebration at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City.  I was given the name of a young couple who moved to the area with a vision of founding a local home for promotion of the creative arts, community involvement, social justice, and mission grounded in a spiritual foundation.  Their breathtaking choreography included performances of young local talents and transformed liturgical celebrations at future youth conferences.

www.culturehouse.com

Sixteen years later, the vision of Jeremiah and Mona Enna flourished into what we know now as The Culture House and established:

·         Störling Dance Theater

·         Change Agent (music group and composers ensemble)

·         The Culture House Chat Night (a lecture series featuring the combined support of The Francis Schaeffer Institute)

·         The Culture House Academy of the Performing Arts

Jeremiah explains, “The Culture House is dedicated to shaping the future through excellence, education, social engagement, and ideas.” 

More information can be found at http://www.culturehouse.com/index.php.