Coterie Theatre

What Coterie Theatre does

The Coterie Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional Equity theatre founded in 1979 and based at Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. It produces six mainstage productions annually plus special events and co-productions, serving families and young audiences with programming from preschool through high school. The organization has developed and produced more than 100 world or American premieres and was recognized by TIME magazine as one of the top five US theatres serving families and young audiences. Its programming spans original works, family-friendly musicals (including co-productions like Disney's Frozen at The White Theatre at The J), and site-specific work such as Electric Poe at Union Cemetery.

Beyond mainstage productions, The Coterie operates a Theatre School with year-round acting classes for ages 3-18 at five Kansas City metro locations (Midtown, Overland Park, Plaza, Liberty, Kansas City KS), and runs community programs including Project Daylight (mental wellness theatre for middle schoolers with UMKC), Project Pride (LGBTQ+ teen theatre), Young Playwrights Roundtable, and in-school residencies for grades 1-12. Core technology is standard theatrical production infrastructure, with the 2002 renovation adding a kinetic lobby, theatre lab, and improved stage, plus an HVAC system meeting ASHRAE 8 ACH standards. Distribution is direct: a Box Office (phone and in-person), OvationTix online ticketing, and Mailchimp email marketing.

Revenue is generated through a mix of individual ticket sales ($25 max + $2 fee), group bookings ($6.75-$14 per person for 20+), Spotlight Pass season tickets ($250 for 10 flex tickets), acting class fees ($88-$650 depending on session), gift cards, and charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Pricing is augmented with accessibility programs including Pay-What-You-Choose, TeenTix ($5), Blue Star military discounts, and Employee Share subsidies with Kauffman Foundation and Hallmark. As a 501(c)(3), the organization supplements earned revenue with foundation grants and corporate sponsorships from entities including Copaken Family Foundation, H&R Block Foundation, and Variety Children's Charity.

Name

Coterie Theatre

Legal name

The Coterie Theatre

Website

https://thecoterie.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Coterie Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional Equity theatre in Kansas City, founded 1979, producing six mainstage productions annually plus year-round acting classes and community programs for families, K-12 schools, and youth across the KC metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Theatre Education

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Performing arts education
• Youth theatre training
• Community arts programs
• School field trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Individual and group tickets to live theatre productions. Ticket prices vary by show and performance date, with a $2.00 service fee per ticket. Group rates available for 20+ attendees at $6.75-$14.00 per person.
2. Acting Classes and Camps: Year-round theatre classes for grades K-12 and early childhood (ages 3-5) at multiple KC locations. Summer camps and performance camps available. Class fees range from $88-$650 depending on session length and location.
3. Donations and Sponsorships: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The Coterie receives charitable contributions from donors and corporate sponsors. Donors contributing $100+ become members with 20% discount on classes. Bus subsidy program funded by donations.
4. Spotlight Pass (Season Tickets): Season ticket package offering 10 flex tickets for any mainstage show, with priority seating and no service fees. Priced at $250 (10 tickets at $25 each).
5. Gift Cards: Gift certificates redeemable for show tickets, Spotlight Passes, and acting classes. Available in amounts of $20 or more, valid for one year from purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Coterie Theatre is a nonprofit professional Equity theatre that produces live theatrical performances for young audiences and families, and offers acting classes and community outreach programs. Founded in 1979 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, the organization stages mainstage productions, school field-trip matinees, acting classes, and inclusive community programs.

Product overview

Coterie Theatre is a professional Equity theatre serving families and young audiences in Kansas City, offering a multi-faceted portfolio of live theatre productions, arts education programs, and community engagement initiatives. The core offering includes six mainstage productions annually (2026-2027 season features Electric Poe, The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!, JACKED! A Beanstalk Remix, The Gingerbread Kid, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure, plus special events), supported by the Theatre School with classes for ages 3-5 (preschool) through 12th grade at five KC metro locations. The theatre operates the invitation-only Master Class program for advanced training, manages community programs including Project Daylight (mental wellness), Project Pride (LGBTQ teen theatre), and Young Playwrights Roundtable, and provides extensive accessibility services including ASL interpretation, audio description, sensory-friendly performances, and sensory kits. Ticketing and subscriptions are managed through Spotlight Pass season tickets and AudienceView (OvationTix).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Coterie Theatre School: The theatre school component offering acting classes for grades K-12 and early childhood programs
• Project Daylight
• Project Pride
• Young Playwrights Roundtable
• Lab for New Family Musicals

Products and services

• Mainstage Theatre Productions

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000+ youth served from Dramatic STD/HIV Project (1993-2022)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Union Cemetery Historical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced special event partner for Electric Poe performances at Union Cemetery. The cemetery's 'Holding Vault' built in 1857 serves as the performance backdrop for the outdoor production.
• Kansas City Art InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent agency MICRO provides original production designs and illustrations for Coterie productions, offering students real-world experience while providing the theatre with professional design work.
• UMKC School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Project Daylight mental wellness program. UMKC trains Coterie actors/facilitators and provides social work expertise for the interactive theatre workshops for middle schoolers.
• Blue Star Theatres / Theatre Communications GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram of Blue Star Families and Theatre Communications Group offering military discounts. The Coterie provides 1 free youth ticket with adult purchase to military personnel.
• Variety Children's Charity of Greater Kansas CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerously provides sensory kits for patrons with sensory needs, containing noise-reducing headphones, weighted lap pads, sunglasses, and fidget toys.
• Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee Share partner covering up to 50% of employee ticket prices for season and single tickets.
• Hallmark CardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee Share partner covering up to 50% of employee ticket prices for season and single tickets. Also a Crown Center tenant host.
• UMKC TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional training program partnership where actors and designers work at The Coterie in their final years of training, marking their professional debut. Also offers acting apprenticeships for elementary, middle, and high school students.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Imagination Stage: Bethesda, MD-based professional theatre producing mainstage work for young audiences plus an extensive theatre school. Directly comparable mission, programming mix (productions + classes), and youth/family audience focus.
• Nashville Children's Theatre: Professional children's theatre in Nashville producing a season of plays and musicals for young audiences, with parallel education programming. Highly comparable in scope and nonprofit regional model.
• Adventure Theatre MTC: Maryland-based professional theatre dedicated exclusively to children and families, producing mainstage productions and education programs. Closely comparable to Coterie in mission, audience (young audiences/families), and professional Equity status.
• San Diego Junior Theatre: One of the oldest continuously operating youth theatres in the US, producing a season and offering acting classes for youth. Directly comparable as a nonprofit youth theatre with classes and mainstage productions.
• First Stage: Milwaukee-based professional children's theatre with mainstage productions, theatre academy, and community programs. Comparable in production count, education offerings, and youth/family audience orientation.
• Main Street Theater: Houston-based professional theatre producing both adult and children's programming with an extensive Theatre Academy for Youth. Comparable mix of mainstage season and acting-class business lines.

Broad incumbents

• Alliance Theatre: Atlanta-based large regional theatre with a prominent children's/family programming division and education programs. Comparable in mission and youth programming, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• People's Light: Pennsylvania-based professional regional theatre producing a season plus extensive education and community engagement programs. Comparable on regional producing model and education/community breadth, though not exclusively young-audience focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CoterieWeb
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCoterieTheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecoterietheatre
• TikToktiktok.com/@thecoterietheatre
• Xx.com/CoterieTheatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coterie Theatre