Kansas City Actors Theatre

Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT) is a non-profit theatre in Kansas City, Missouri.^[1] Started in 2004, Kansas City Actors Theatre was founded in order to “challenge and enlighten the Kansas City community by producing classic and modern-classic plays using Kansas City theatre artists.” The company presents a collection of plays that are integrated either over a season or in rotating repertory, in order to deepen the appreciation of each play.^[2] The theatre is also known to be a place for young local actors to obtain experience in a professional setting.^[3] The artist-led theatre company often collaborates with theatre students from the UMKC Theatre .^[4][5] This Mission was exemplified when they were the first theatre company to run Lanford Wilson’s Tally Trilogy in repertory.^[6]

In 2015, KCAT was awarded the American Theatre Wing's National Theatre Company Grant.^[7]

KCAT uses professional actors in various performance spaces around Kansas City, Missouri.^[8] Notably, KCAT has produced productions at the National World War I Museum ,^[9] H&R Block City Stage, and in Union Station (Kansas City, Missouri). Many founders of KCAT are also professors at UMKC Theatre, including Tom Mardikes .^[10]

For a short period, starting in 2006, Kansas City Actors Theatre changed its name to “Actors theatre”, but the name returned to the original name shortly after.^[11]