What is The Coterie?
Founded in 1979 by theatre graduate students Judith Yeckel and Vicky Lee from the University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC), The Coterie is a renowned theatre institution. Housed in Hallmark's Crown Center shops, it has a rich history of nearly 5,000 performances across 159 shows, reaching over 1 million patrons. The theatre's enduring mission, established by Yeckel, focuses on opening lines of communication between races, sexes, and generations. Under the leadership of Artistic Directors Jim Tibbs and later Jeff Church, and with the operational expertise of Executive Director Joette Pelster, The Coterie has evolved to embrace "multigenerational" theatre, catering to families and diverse audiences. Pelster's strategic community partnerships have been instrumental in growing the organization's annual budget to nearly $1 million.
How much funding has The Coterie raised?
The Coterie has raised a total of $150K across 1 funding round:
Debt
$150K
Debt (2020): $150K with participation from PPP
What's next for The Coterie?
The recent large-scale late-stage funding indicates a period of significant scaling and strategic expansion for The Coterie. This capital injection is likely to fuel further development of its innovative programming, potentially enabling broader outreach initiatives and the exploration of new theatrical frontiers. The company's focus on multigenerational and diverse audiences positions it for continued growth and impact in the performing arts landscape.
See full The Coterie company page
