Kansas City Actors Theatre

American theatre company

The Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT) is a non-profit theatre company in Kansas City, Missouri.[1]

## History

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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 it was the first theatre company to present 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. Many founders of KCAT are also professors at UMKC Theatre (the theatre department of the University of Missouri–Kansas City), including Tom Mardikes.[10]

For a short period, starting in 2006, KCAT changed its name to Actors Theatre, but the name returned to the original name shortly after.[11]

## References

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1. ^ Kansas City Actors Theatre." Kansas City Actors Theatre RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. March 28. 2014. <http://www.kcactors.org>.
2. ^ Kansas City Actors Theatre. Kansas City Actors Theatre RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. March 28, 2014. <http://www.kcactors.org>.
3. ^ Trussell, Robert. "Acting Troupe Fills Niche in KC Theater". The Kansas City Star. June 2, 2005, sec. Theatre: 31. Print.
4. ^ Trussell, Robert. "Putting a Focus on Actors". The Kansas City Star. February 18, 2007, sec. Theatre: 16–17. Print.
5. ^ Suh, Grace. "Kansas City Actors Theatre and UMKC Theatre Join Forces in 'Oh, What a Lovely War!'". The Pitch. N.p., n.d. Web. April 14, 2014. <http://www.pitch.com/>.
6. ^ Trussell, Robert. "Three from the Talleys". The Kansas City Star. June 1, 2006, sec. Theatre: 31. Print.
7. ^ Gambino, Joe (September 3, 2015). "American Theatre Wing Announces Recipients of 2015 National Theatre Company Grants". Playbill. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
8. ^ "Kansas City Actors Theatre". Kansas City Actors Theatre RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. March 28. 2014. <http://www.kcactors.org
9. ^ Cook, Liz. "Journey's End Digs into World War I with Grace and Wit". The Pitch. N.p., n.d. Web. April 14. 2014. <http://www.pitch.com>.
10. ^ Trussell, Robert. "Putting a Focus on Actors". The Kansas City Star. February 18, 2007, sec. Theatre: 16–17. Print.
11. ^ Trussell, Robert. "Putting a Focus on Actors". The Kansas City Star. February 18, 2007, sec. Theatre: 16–17. Print.