H.O.T. the Musical - Playbill

by Shelly Verden & Sarah Crawford May 8 - June 2, 2024 Directed by Sarah Crawford

Opening Night: Saturday, May 11, 2024 UNICORN THEATRE PRESENTS

Music and Lyrics by Shelly Verden Book by Shelly Verden and Sarah Crawford Directed by Sarah Crawford Music Direction by Ahafia Jurkiewicz-Miles

Choreography by Christina Burton

THE CAST Helen The Storyteller Hera Athena Aphrodite Paris Menelaus Achilles Patroclus Odysseus

Maddie Robert* Ashley Pankow* Margo Mikkelson Shelby Floyd Elaine Watson* Scotty Sharp Matthew Robison Darrington Clark* Austin Skibbie Collin O’Connor*

THE BAND Piano Cello Drums

Ahafia Jurkiewicz-Miles Adee Dancy Morgan Rogers

PRODUCTION TEAM Production Stage Manager Asst. Stage Manager Scenic Designer Lighting Designer Costume Designer Props Designer Sound Designer Fight Coordinator Intimacy Director Asst. Lighting Designer Lead Electrician Scenic Artist Sound Board Operator

Lydia Krause* Ashley Champion* Em Swenson Alex Perry Arwen White Bradley Meyer David Kiehl Logan Black Katie Gilchrist Sally Farrand Taylor Sullivan Tanya Brown Paul Vedros

* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association

3828 MAIN STREET | KANSAS CITY, MO 64111 | (816) 531-7529 | UNICORNTHEATRE.ORG

MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT 1 Prologue The Question Absurd Celebrity Status Absurd (Reprise) Hey Zeus To Be a Bride Fight for You My Song Fight for You (Reprise) Hey Zeus (Reprise 1) Start a War The Best of Us Fight for You (Reprise 2) It’s Not So Bad Kinda Hot Today More Than a Man Hey Zeus (Reprise 2) Live Forever Right Through Me Divine Intervention It Must Be You The Start

..... All ..... All ..... Ensemble ..... Aphrodite ..... Ensemble ..... Helen ..... Hera ..... Achilles, Odysseus ..... Menelaus ..... Ensemble ..... Helen ..... Athena, Ensemble ..... Artemis, Aphrodite, Athena ..... Ensemble ..... Hera ..... Paris, Ensemble ..... Athena, Aphrodite, Paris ..... Helen ..... Helen ..... Odysseus, Menelaus, Patroclus, Achilles ..... Paris, Aphrodite, Ensemble ..... Paris, Helen, Menelaus, Aphrodite ..... Athena, Menelaus, Ensemble

There will be one 15 minute intermission.

ACT 2 Thousand Ships .....

Aphrodite’s Question .....

How We Love .....

Athena’s Question .....

Battlefield Suite .....

Pyromaniac .....

Andromeda .....

Trouble .....

Wildfire .....

Sister, I’m Sorry .....

All Aphrodite, Helen, Ensemble Patroclus Athena, Helen All Menelaus Helen, Ensemble Helen All All

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM

Cynthia Levin

Shelly Verden

Sarah Crawford

Ahafia Jurkiewicz-Miles

Christina Burton

Maddie Robert

Ashley Pankow

Margo Mikkelson

Shelby Floyd

Elaine Watson

Scotty Sharp

Matthew Robison

Darrington Clark

Austin Skibbie

Collin O’Connor

Lydia Krause

Ashley Champion

Adee Dancy

Morgan Rogers

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR UNICORN THEATRE THIS SEASON HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Cynthia Levin (PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) is in her 45th season with the Unicorn. This will be her final season with the Theatre! Cynthia started at the Unicorn in 1979 as an actor, stage manager, designer and director. In 1983, she was offered the position of Artistic Director, which was to become the role of a lifetime. Since that time, she has worked on over 300 productions. Most recently Cynthia directed Refuge, Our Black Death and Bernhardt/Hamlet. Some of the other productions she has directed here are Bond, Vietgone, Chesapeake, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert: The Musical (co-directed with Missy Koonce), Eclipsed, Hand to God, Heathers: The Musical (again, with Missy), The Oldest Boy, Women Playing Hamlet (world premiere), Bad Jews, Grounded, Venus in Fur, My Name is Asher Lev, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Soul Collector (world premiere), Hungry (world premiere), Red, Two Jews Walk Into A War…, Distracted, Green Whales (world premiere), Miss Witherspoon, My First Time, The Clean House, Mauritius, 9 Parts of Desire, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Bat Boy: The Musical and additionally the world premieres of rightnextto me (both at the Unicorn and Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, NY), How His Bride Came to Abraham, Light:Damage, Mercy Killing, Innocent Thoughts and Jack and Jill. At Coterie Theatre, she has directed Number the Stars, And Then They Came for Me, Frankenstein, Gatherings in Graveyards (I and II), Valley Song and To Kill A Mockingbird. At the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., she directed readings of Our Black Death, Occupants, In The Belly Of The Whale, The Friendship Of Her Thighs, The Last Pair Of Earlies, Tigers Be Still and White Devil and Loving Mother for the MFA Playwright’s Workshop. Cynthia is a graduate of Park University which also awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2002. She is a founding board member of the National New Play Network, an organization dedicated to the development and production of new works. She has been honored with the Pinnacle Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Human Rights Campaign Equality Award and most recently the Kathryn V. Lamkey Award from the Actors’ Equity Association for her ongoing commitment to inclusion and diversity. She shares her home with Dublin, the 12 month old Golden Retriever rescue and the spirits of Dodger and Zia. Shelly Verden (COMPOSER/LYRICIST/PLAYWRIGHT) is an actor, musician, and songwriter from Lee’s Summit, MO. This is his first original musical! He has been writing music for several years alongside his career as an actor. He has performed locally with Unicorn Theatre, Musical Theater Heritage, Theater Atchison, MTKC Pro, Faust Theatre, and Theater in the Park. He was also seen at the Kaufman Center in 2022 in An Officer and a Gentleman. Thank you to his parents and family, all the roommates that have heard way too much of this show, all the friends who inspired this project, and to Sarah and the Unicorn for all they’ve invested into this piece.

Sarah Crawford (PLAYWRIGHT/DIRECTOR) was raised by KC Theatre and began performing professionally at age 9. After a BFA from Drake University she returned to KC to work as an equity actor for 10 years before crossing the boards to produce and direct. Sarah’s the recipient of many Best Of KC awards; most recently named Best Director Of A Musical for WHO’S YOUR BAGHDADDY here at the Unicorn. Sarah conceived and directed the 1st all-female production of the musical 1776 garnering national acclaim and leading to an advisorship with Music Theatre International for other productions across the country, including the 2022 Broadway production.

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM In 2016, Sarah assisted Rocco Landesman, former President Of The National Endowment Of The Arts, in his adaption of BIG RIVER for ENCORES NY. Sarah’s proudest contribution to KC was building a successful musical theatre company where she served as Producing Artistic Director and directed nearly 40 productions.

Her next quest is continuing to raise funds to build an Arts Center in her hometown of Overland Park. Sarah sends thanks to her partner Shelly for inviting her to join him on this journey and big HOT love to the entire Unicorn Staff and Designers for enthusiastically supporting this endeavor. Most importantly, to The Incomparable Cynthia Levin who offered opportunities that changed lives; including this theatre artist’s 1st professional dramatic role in a straight play and her 1st assistant-director position, changing the trajectory of her life forever. How many 1000s of “chances” have you created for others with your blood-sweat-tears commitment to this “little theatre-that-could-and-has” for 45 of it’s 50 years? A thousand congratulations on a difficult job well done and a lifelong legacy.

Ahafia Jurkiewicz-Miles (MUSIC DIRECTOR/PIANO) is a queer trans musician and theater artist. They’ve worked as a pit musician and music director since 2017, and have been active as a writer and performer in KC since 2018. Some favorite productions: music director - Bat Boy, The Arts Asylum, 2023; playwright/Billy Tipton - Tipton, Kansas City Public Theatre, 2023; AMD/pianist - The Last Five Years, The Arts Asylum, 2022; MD - Matilda, The White Theatre, 2022; AMD/pianist - The Spongebob Musical, Shawnee Mission TIP, 2022; writer/performer - With Me, and Such As Me, It Is Different, KC Fringe, 2019; Max - Hir, Unicorn Theatre, 2018. They are so happy to work on and support locally created theater!

Christina Burton (CHOREOGRAPHER) is excited to be back at the Unicorn. You’ve seen her work here as a choreographer in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Hands On A Hard Body, and on stage performing in Everyday Rapture. She is member of Actors Equity Association and is certified in the Giordano Jazz Technique through the Nan Giordano Certification Program® and a certified DANCEFIX instructor. Christina is a teaching artist and choreographer and continues to perform in Kansas City, MO and beyond. Regional musical theatre credits include: Godspell, That Old Black Magic, You’ve Got a Friend, The Dawning of Aquarius, Judy Barbra Liza!, Mary Poppins, Cinderella , 1776, Kiss Me Kate, The Man of La Mancha, The Most Happy Fella, Pippin, Footloose, Working, Grease, Cats, Jekyll and Hyde and more. Christina has been a Guest Artist for Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company where she worked with Donald McKayle on his famed classic Games. She is the director/choreographer for Starlight Theatre’s Starlight STARS program and choreographs Starlight’s annual Blue Star Awards. Her choreography credits include: The Pirates of Penzance, Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert, Disney’s The Newsies (Associate), Hairspray (Associate/ Starlight Theatre) The Wizard of Oz (Assistant/Starlight Theatre) Joseph ... Dreamcoat (Assistant/NTR) Godspell (Associate/Starlight), On Your Feet (Assistant/Starlight and MUNY), Legally Blonde (Assistant/Starlight) Jekyll and Hyde, Blood Brothers, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Working, The Most Happy Fella, Grease, Xanadu, Title of Show, A Spectacular Christmas, Vegas Baby!(Heartland Men’s Chorus), The Kansas City Youth Ballet, Starlight’s Children’s Theatre production of Disney’s Aladdin at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts in Kansas City and AMC’s Wanda Gala in

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Beijing. Christina recently received the Outstanding Choreographer Award at Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition. She is an instructor and choreographer for the Kansas City Ballet School as well as Adjunct Professor of Dance for the University of Missouri in Kansas City Conservatory and for The University of Central Missouri Department of Theatre and Dance.

Maddie Robert (HELEN) is an actor, dancer, and singer/songwriter based in NYC. She is thrilled to return to her hometown and make her Unicorn Theatre debut! Some of her recent credits include Zag Zurka (original) in Hip Hop Cinderella (Off Broadway at the New Victory); Gypsy (Goodspeed Opera House); Jules (original) in Patches; Wendy in Peter Pan (Piknik Theatre); Maggie in A Chorus Line (Weathervane); and A Christmas Story (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina). Instagram: @maddierobert Ashley Pankow (THE STORYTELLER) is thrilled to be making her Unicorn Theatre debut. In Kansas City, Ashley has worked with the KC Rep ( Old Man And The Old Moon), Kansas City Actors Theatre (Moon For The Misbegotten, The Realistic Joneses), New Theatre Restaurant (Narrator in Joseph, Boeing Boeing, Million Dollar Quartet, Sister Act, Addams Family, Moon Over Buffalo, Fox On The Fairway, Johnny & June), MTH (Next To Normal, South Pacific), Starlight Theatre, Quality Hill Playhouse, Chestnut FAC, and Nelly Don in the world premiere of Nelly Don: The Musical. Ashley has also worked all over the country on National Tours and Regional Theatres. Private Vocal/Audition Coach. @pankowthebronco. www.ashleypankow.com Margo Mikkelson (HERA) is excited to be making her acting debut at the Unicorn Theatre in this original production of H.O.T. the Musical! Her most recent roles were DeeDee Allen in The Prom, Marcia in Motherfreakinghood, The Musical and Frau Schneider in Cabaret. Margo is also an accompanist and Music Director in the KC area. Thank you so much for coming to support new works, hope you enjoy the show!

Shelby Floyd (ATHENA) has performed professionally in Kansas City for the last 13 years. Favorite roles include Annie Oakley Annie Get Your Gun (MTH), Irene Molloy Hello Dolly (MTH), and Emma Tell Me on a Sunday (Egads!). Shelby also sings for Patrick Lentz Entertainment, Hallmark Ornaments, and just wrapped her first television production- set to debut on HBO Max. Shelby is endlessly thankful for meeting her husband Jeff Berger, back in 2012, in the Sarah Crawford directed Sweeney Todd at MTH. Jeff, your belief and support are immeasurable- thank you for everything. Big thank yous also to Sarah Crawford, whose trust and encouragement over the years has meant so much to me; and to Shelly, for sharing the passion, talent, and diligence it took to create H.O.T. You can follow Shelby for project updates at instagram.com/ shelbyfloyd91. Even the ugliest path to self-acceptance can become beautiful.

Elaine Watson (APHRODITE) is an AEA actor from Kansas City, and she is unbelievably excited to be working with the Unicorn Theatre. Her most notable and recent credits include the National Tour of Jagged Little Pill (Ensemble/Frankie Cover), Roxy’s Downtown’s Heathers the Musical (Heather Duke), and Theatre in The Park’s Half Time: Gotta Dance! (Kendra). She would like to take this time to acknowledge the unconditional love and support from her friends, family, and team at Stewart Talent

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Chicago. She would also like to thank the production team of H.O.T for giving her the opportunity to be a part of something so special. Enjoy the show, lovies!

Scotty Sharp (PARIS) is very excited to be making his debut performance here at Unicorn Theatre. You may have seen him locally in Nick Padgett’s Production of American Idiot featuring as Will and The Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring as Brad.

Scotty also spent many seasons performing locally at Worlds of Fun, and abroad with RWS Entertainment Group as well as Carnival Cruise Lines.

Matthew Robison (MENELAUS) is excited to be a part of this phenomenal new work!

He is a graduate from Kansas State University, and recently performed in the National Tour of a new musical version of A Christmas Carol! Other credits include: Chess The Musical (Freddie), The Prom (Sheldon), Bonnie & Clyde (Clyde), Pirates Of Penzance (Frederic), and Urinetown (Bobby). He would like to thank Sarah, and everyone involved with H.O.T., all love to God, his Mom, Shelly, who wrote this excellent show, his step-bros, Tyler Rene, friends & family, and most importantly his sister, Emily, for introducing him to the magic that is: theatre.

Darrington Clark (ACHILLES) is an actor, youth educator and creative human born and raised in Kansas City. Local credits: KC Rep (12th Night, Flood, A Christmas Carol) Unicorn Theatre (Tiny Beautiful Things, Dance Nation, Kill Move Paradise, Who’s Your Baghdaddy?), New Theatre Restaurant (Dreamgirls), Starlight (Godspell, Hairspray), Coterie (Charlie Brown Christmas, Garfield, Puffs) Music Theater Heritage (Cats, My Fair Lady). Regional: Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage, Circa 21, Children’s Theater of Madison. Darrington is honored to help keep local theater possible, present and powerful. @darringtune Austin Skibbie (PATROCLUS) is a local actor, director and theatre creative who is thrilled to be making his Unicorn Theatre Debut. Local credits: Music Theatre Heritage - Disco Musical Monday, Olathe Civic Theatre Association- Daddy Long Legs (Director), A Man of No Importance (Director), Rent (Angel), A New Brain (Gordon Schwinn), TIP – Footloose (Cowboy Bob), Cinderella (Prince Topher). Thanks to Aly, Darrington, August, his family, and his amazing friends. You can see him play Ursula in The Little Mermaid this summer at the Jewish Community Center @AustinJSkibbie Collin O’Connor (ODYSSEUS) is making his KC debut with H.O.T. The Musical!!

He’s thrilled to be working on a new musical as his first project in KC. Favorite credits include: Jersey Boys (Swing/Norwegian Cruise Lines), Mamma Mia! (Sky/ Royal Caribbean Cruise lines), and The Last Five Years (Jamie/Third Avenue Playworks). When he’s not in musicals, Collin can be seen performing on cruise ships with his solo show Call Me Irresponsible and the group Shades of Buble. Collin holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Millikin University. Much love to his incredible wife Lili Torre O’Connor and his dogter Olive. @collin0connor

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Adee Dancy (CELLO) is a performing artist born and raised in the Kansas City area.

Adee is a student of many teachers and disciplines, attempting to amalgamate all they have learned and loved into their artistic life. Adorning many different hats, Adee has stepped into a multitude of roles in their career such as professional cellist, music director, vocalist, composer, actor, and more. With dynamic string writing and theatrical rock at the helm of their work, Adee captains a project and alter-ego called Sisterbot, that fuses their multiple disciplines. Adee feels extremely lucky to have music, art, and theater as means of expression and livelihood!

Morgan Rogers (DRUMS) is a percussionist from Kansas City who picked up drumsticks at age 12 and has not put them down since. Morgan is the drummer for the pop punk band, LVNDLOCKED, and Christopher Burnett’s “Originals” jazz quartet. Morgan has performed with The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, The Kansas City Women’s Chorus, Worlds of Fun, Padgett Productions, and is going on tour with Tre’ Mutava this summer. Morgan is so excited to be playing drums in H.O.T. the Musical!

Lydia Krause (PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER) Unicorn Theatre National: Hamilton (ASM, Philip Tour) Regional: Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, Church Basement Ladies 1 (PSM, Timber Lake Playhouse); 7 seasons as PSM for Maples Repertory Theatre. Local: Milking Christmas (PSM, Living Room Theatre); Legacy Land (PSM), School Girls (ASM) (KCRep); Wizard of Oz (ASM, Starlight Theatre); Girlfriend, Billy Elliot (PSM, Spinning Tree Theatre); The Wolves (ASM, Unicorn Theatre). Kansas City homegrown. Proud AEA Member.

Ashley Champion (ASST. STAGE MANAGER) is excited to be back at the Unicorn Theatre! She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in technical theatre from the University of Missouri in 2019. Recent credits include Macbitches (Unicorn Theatre), Native Gardens (Unicorn Theatre), and Mary’s Seacole (Unicorn Theatre). Ashley’s favorite thing about the Unicorn is the opportunity to work on new works and world premieres.

A fun fact about Ashley is that she has 9 pets—2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 bearded dragons, a leopard gecko, and a corn snake.

Em Swenson (SCENIC DESIGNER) Recently at Unicorn Theatre, Em was the lighting designer for Refuge, Clyde’s, and The Inheritance, Parts 1 & 2, scenic designer for Lungs, The Lifespan of a Fact, Babel, Who’s Your Baghdaddy, Nomad Motel, The Effect and The Revolutionists; lighting designer for Sweat and Chesapeake; and projection designer for A Doll’s House, Part 2 and Bond. Em holds a Master of Public Administration from UMKC, and serves as the Director of Development for Legal Aid of Western Missouri.

Alex Perry (LIGHTING DESIGNER) holds 9/10 of a Masters of Fine Arts from UMKC and is thrilled to light design for the Unicorn having also worked in the areas of scenery and props. Lighting designs include: Journey to the Poles of Inaccessibility, Lungs, Our Black Death, Who’s your Bahgdaddy, Heathers: The Musical, The Ghosts of Lote Bravo, The Oldest Boy, Hands on a Hardbody, Water by the Spoonful, Grounded, Venus in Fur, The Mountaintop, My Name is Asher Lev, Everyday Rapture, and Red.

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Alex has also worked as lighting and scenic designer with many other theatres in the KC area, and spends his days with A to Z Theatrical Supply and Service Inc. Arwen White (COSTUME DESIGNER) is a Kansas City based costume designer and founder of Juste Jaquet Designs, a creative studio for costume design and fine art. She has designed theatrically throughout the city on productions including Dr. Dolittle, Pigeon, Pete the Cat (Coterie Theatre), What the Constitution Means to Me, Flood (The KC Rep), Journey to the Poles of Inaccessibility, Mary’s Seacole, The Sound Inside, Clyde’s, Toni Stone, Tiny Beautiful Things, The Lifespan of a Fact, Who’s Your Baghdaddy?, The Revolutionists, Sweat (Unicorn Theatre); Sketchbook for Ollie (Lyric Opera); Great Comet of 1812, Motherfreakinghood, Gruesome Playground Injuries (Fishtank Theatre); R & H Unplugged (Musical Theatre Heritage); Little Shop of Horrors (Padgett Productions); Something Rotten, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Pan (The White Theatre); Tommy (Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre); Chainsaw (The Living Room); Tartuffe (Landlocked Opera); Wicked Creatures (Confluence Theatre); the light burns blue (Stage Play). Film: Plot to Kill Jesse James, History Channel.

Education: Theater Design and Construction, UMKC. Mrs. White is the founder and lead designer of Juste Jaquet Designs. arwenjwhite.com. Entertainment Contractor for Norwegian Cruise Line, stitching for Burn the Floor, Paradie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Band on the Run. A Teaching Artist throughout Kansas City she is loving the opportunity to help young artists grow and explore through theatre and design. arwenjwhite.com Bradley Meyer (PROPS DESIGNER) is a freelance Theatre Designer and professional educator from Des Moines, Iowa. He moved to Kansas City in 2021 after a lifetime in Iowa where he taught Family and Consumer Science as well as directed theatre and speech programs at the high school level. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science from Iowa State University as well as a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, and studied scenic design in the graduate program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His recent design credits include; Boxed (Whim Productions), Playing on the Periphery (Whim Productions), After All: 60 Years of Cher (Heartland Men’s Chorus), Seussical the Musical (Ruskin High School), Journey to the Poles of Inaccessibility, Marys Seacole (Unicorn Theatre), & Bethel Park Falls (UMKC). Bradley has served as the Props Artist for the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival for three seasons and serves as the Resident Scenic Designer for both Whim Productions and Heartland Men’s Chorus. Upcoming Productions include; Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage (JCCC) . For more information visit: bradleymeyerdesigns.com David Kiehl (SOUND DESIGNER) is excited to be back at the Unicorn where he has worked as sound designer for over 100 productions. Previous Unicorn productions date back to 1997 and include Sylvia, The Laramie Project, and Proof; more recently: Tiny Beautiful Things, Toni Stone, The Sound Inside, and Clyde’s, Marys Seacole, and Lungs. You may have heard his work around town at KCAT (Smart People, The Pests), the Living Room (Milking Christmas, Nocturne) and over 120 productions at the Coterie (Charlie Brown Christmas, Electric Poe, and Doctor Doolittle).

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

President

Producing Artistic Director Cynthia Levin Managing Director Jason Kralicek Director of Marketing Nathan Gwartney Director of Development Skylar Pappenfort Production Manager Taylor Jene Sullivan Technical Director Andy Peveler Box Office Manager Michael LeDesma Social Media Coordinator Josh Grinlinton Production Stage Manager Tanya Brown Front of House Staff Todd Becker, Cheryl Benge,

Sally Everhart

Vice President

Kirsty Melville

Treasurer

Michael Nonbello Secretary

Meredith Webster Carol Gee Cynthia Levin Annie Swartz Amy Wright

Anthony Beyer, Christopher Carlson, Megan Forbes, Paula Fry, Andrew Gosling, Daniel Harkins, Imani Lewis, Tshombe Locke, Ethan Platt, Emma Post, Anna Sell, & Rosie Thomas Photography Cynthia Levin

UNICORN THEATRE’S MISSION Unicorn Theatre enhances the Kansas City community by developing and producing high-quality, thought-provoking plays that have never been seen in the region. We illuminate social issues by shining a light on diversity and inclusive stories which include race, religion and gender identity. Unicorn creates opportunities for the advancement of emerging and established actors, directors, playwrights, designers, technicians and administrative staff.

VISION STATEMENT By producing provocative new plays Unicorn Theatre fosters the next generation of great American writers and artists, creating innovative and intimate theatrical experiences that transcend the ordinary. We inspire the community to think and feel deeply; to see the world in new and different ways. Unicorn strives to be one of the preeminent homes for new plays in the country.

AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS Unicorn Theatre is a constituent of Actors’ Equity Association; Theatre Communications Group, Inc.; The National New Play Network; Missouri Citizens for the Arts; The Downtown Council; Main Street Development Corporation; Nonprofit Connect; Urban Core Group; and The Kansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

FIRE WORK

by Mary Glen Fredrick World Premiere December 4 – December 22, 2024 In the near future or distant past, the children are the ones who work in the factories and do hard labor. When the rules start changing, they decide to take matters into their own hands and revolt against the system.

DOCTOR MOLOCH

by Carla Milarch World Premiere

2024 - 2025 SEASON A STRANGE LOOP Book, Music & Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson September 4 – September 29, 2024 Meet Usher: a black, queer writer writing a musical about a black, queer writer writing a musical about a black, queer writer. This blisteringly funny masterwork exposes the heart and soul of a young artist.

THE HEART SELLERS

by Lloyd Suh October 23 – November 10, 2024 In the 1970s the landmark Hart-Celler Act granted thousands of immigrants a new path to citizenship. With grace and dignity, this funny new play asks: “Would you give up your heart to make a new home?”

January 29 – February 16, 2025 An actress is hired by an eccentric billionaire to teach the Artificially Intelligent Doctor Moloch how to feel. Driven by profit, the doctor’s creator must decide whether an empathetic robot is a wise business decision. Does the desire for progress overshadow the potential human risk?

WOLF PLAY

by Hansol Jung March 12 – March 30, 2025 A Korean boy is adopted by an American boxer and her wife from an online posting. The young boy (performed by a puppet) and a wolf (performed by a human) try to fit in but their eccentric behavior is straining the family.

SHOW #6 To Be Announced April 30 – May 25, 2025 This production will be announced at our 50th Celebration on June 22, 2024. Save the date!