Coterie Theatre

The Coterie Theatre has been the quintessential children's theatre in KC for as long as I can remember. Located in Crown Center, near the kiddo favorite, Fritz's, it makes for a near perfect outing to take your child to see a performance and then out to dinner or lunch at one of the many family friendly establishments located in and around Crown Center. As for the theatre itself there is a ton to love, even after more than 30 years of existence. When they announced that they were putting on a production of Charlie Brown's Christmas it seemed like a perfect time to introduce live theatre to my toddler. We got some family friends together (also with toddlers in tow) and purchased tickets well in advance. Once our weekend came up, you guessed it, my family was hit HARD with the flu. The Coterie was wonderfully accommodating and helped us move our tickets to a later date. Although my dreams of holiday magic leading up to Christmas were dashed, I was grateful to still be able to attend as a family the week after. Once you're there it's a really welcoming space, geared towards kids and families, which is perfect when you are trying to get kiddos used to something like a live performance. The actors were really all top notch and the staff all super friendly. The only thing that still perplexes me is how they want all children to sit in the taped off enclosure near the stage and all the adults to sit seated behind them. Yes, this isn't a bad idea in theory but with small kids you almost need to sit with them, which we did, on the floor, but then you have parents with not enough space and legs cramping halfway through the show. If the money is ever there to reimagine this I'd love to see a solution that keeps everyone more comfortably seated. Overall though, this is a top notch theatre and a fun place to take small kids!

Incredible children's theater. No bad seats. I love that kids can sit on the floor close to the stage. Very affordable and such a talented group of actors. We saw Dr Doolittle and loved it.

Full disclosure - This was a performance put on by the Coterie Theater at Union Hill Cemetery a couple weekends ago. They are continuing this show through Halloween. There are Queen size blankets placed at proper socially-distance measured increments so people can enjoy the show minus a mask should they so choose, however a mask was required to enter and get to/from the assigned seating. The performance itself was a couple of Edgar Allen Poe works and amazing despite really only having a couple of performers and a lighting/sound person involved. The guitarist really captured the sound of what both works would sound like and the lead really captured Poe's paranoid neurosis that crept into his works. Additional props to the cemetery for letting them have the show there and answering questions about the venue after the show. There probably isn't a better place to put on a Poe show than a cemetery; highly recommend catching a show before Halloween.

I wish there were more clearly marked signs within Crown Plaza informing us how to actually get to the theater. Nevertheless, we found it after some assistance from employees.We saw the play, "We shall not be Moved." It was amazing! Great acting, great script, and great room setup. I must say it was a great introduction to the theater.The prices are affordable and I cannot wait to go back to the theater to see more performances!

We went to see Mr Poppers Penguins at the Coterie theatre. My daughter thought it was amazing! We were there at a time where two other schools came. The children all seemed enthralled. I love the idea of this place and wish we had something like it near us.

Coterie is a theatre made for kids - it captures a certain magic few stages can do for a child in Kansas City and I always wanted to be a Coterie Kid! Coterie offers acting classes for grades K through 12 as well as provide a venue for some adult performances every now and then.I was so jealous of this girl in my class who was an "actress." We were in 3rd grade and she participated in an acting troupe at the Coterie - she got to be in all of these hilarious plays (hilarious for a 3rd grader) and she threw out her "warm-up exercises" during recess all too readily. I was way jealous - and the Coterie, to this day, represents a very cool and original outlet for kids in the city to plug into an interest outside of school. I did plays here and there later on, I wrote my own play just recently - but I have to wonder what might have happened had I ignited the theatre flame a bit sooner - would things be different? I don't know - but yesterday I found myself eating in the food court at Crown Center across from the Coterie. I saw kids in top hats running around and I wondered if it was too late - not for acting in children's plays, but for acting in their less frequent adult stage performances. I talked to the most helpful man at the front desk who gave me all the names and contact information of people that I could learn from, try out for, talk to, anything - in regards to acting and the Coterie and beyond. Although I had my trepidations to even approach him (I hadn't stepped in that theatre for years!), by the time we said our goodbye's - I had made my peace with that little girl inside of me who wanted to act. Thanks to the Coterie and it's most recent random guidance - I hope to enroll into a suggested acting studio for classes. And I don't want anything from it other than to have with it! I'm excited.

My review is around the Coterie classes. (Their performances are good) We signed up for acting classes which was a joke. They basically read a story and then had the kids go on toddler level scavenger hunt for an hour. No stage, no costumes, no performance, no music or singing. I am not sure how you keep kids engaged.I expressed my concerns to the director after the first class who told me that no one in KC offers this, their approach is different, and my expectations were out of line. I eventually requested a credit or refund and was instead offered 2 tickets. The administrative staff is inflexible and defensive.I found some other great options at the Culture House who do have the items listed above. If your kids want acting classes, they will surely be disappointed at Coterie.

I loved it that my daughter got to sit up close and personal on the floor at the recent Seussical the Musical performance. I sat behind her in a somewhat rickety theater seat. I made it work so no star deduction. The actors involved the kids and kept them interested. They were fun. The 6 or so month old baby sitting next to me cooed and sang along and all the adults laughed out loud several times. It was literally, something for all ages. Of course, I know not all productions may do that but this one did. We went with a group we made up of SAHM and Homeschooling Moms and we bought a block of tickets that allowed us to pay just 5.50 each. I LOVED that! It was a great experience that you could easily fit into a whole day long KC adventure all within the Crown Center area. I would go again and pay full price in a hearbeat!

I'm not a big fan of GA seating, but other than that, what a great experience - I took my son for his first ever live musical experience this past weekend (Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day) and we had a blast. I have been to the Coterie just once before for an adults-only show (Night of the Living Dead) and that was great fun as well, but it was awesome to realize that this is a whole new entertainment venue that I can start bringing my whole family to now that my son is old enough to enjoy it. I expect that I will be going to lots of shows here in the next few years - all seats are reasonably good, acoustics are decent and the performers really seem to care about entertaining the audience and building a good energy. I'm excited to see what shows will be coming up!

Always love the theater. Always a fun time. I have taken my kids for many years. Always recommend to people when visiting Kansas City.