In Celebration!French playwright Molière was born on 15 January 1622. Two hundred years later, Kansas City became a French settlement and Missouri became a state. Celebrations of the 400th birthday and the 200th anniversaries will come together in the 2021-22 theatre season and in city-wide arts events: KC MOlière: 400 in 2022.
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Célébrons!Molière est né le 15 janvier 1622. Deux cents ans plus tard, les premiers habitants français fondèrent ce qui allait devenir Kansas City et l'état du Missouri naquit. La ville célèbrera ces 400ème et 200ème anniversaires en même temps lors de la saison théâtrale 2021-22 ainsi qu'avec des manifestations artistiques dans toute la ville : KC MOlière: 400 in 2022.
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Why Kansas City? |
Pourquoi Kansas City? |
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François Chouteau settled at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers and opened a fur-trading post where French families interacted with Osage and Kansa natives. They will be represented as a sculpture group on The François Chouteau and Native American Heritage Fountain to be unveiled in 2021.
Molière’s comedies have always been part of Kansas City’s vibrant theatre scene. Demographically, Kansas City ranks in the top three American cities for support of the arts. Virtually every one of our dozen professional theatre companies is committed to presenting a play by Molière or inspired by his work as part of KC MOlière: 400 in 2022. |
François Chouteau s'établit au confluent des fleuves Kansas et Missouri et ouvrit un poste de traite de fourrures où les familles françaises et les tribus locales Osage et Kansa pouvaient se rencontrer. En 2021, une sculpture de groupe les représentant fera partie de la François Chouteau and Native American Heritage Fountain qui sera inaugurée en 2021.
Les pièces de Molière ont depuis toujours fait partie de la vibrante scène théâtrale de Kansas City. Part rapport à sa population Kansas City figure parmi les trois premières villes des États-Unis pour le soutien aux arts. Pour ainsi dire chacune des douze compagnies de théâtre s'est engagée présenter une pièce de Molière ou s'inspirant de son oeuvre pour le festival KC MOlière: 400 in 2022. |
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board of directors listing
As president of the board, Felicia Londré carries on the legacy of Kip Niven, founder of Equity Actors’ Readers Theatre (EARTh), whose production of Molière’s The Doctor in Spite of Himself on 4 December 2017 was the genesis of KC MOlière: 400 in 2022. He convinced Felicia to undertake what has become an increasingly large undertaking. Felicia is Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emerita at UMKC where she is in her 42nd year of teaching theatre history. She earned her BA in French at the University of Montana, her MA in Romance Languages at the University of Washington, Seattle, and her Ph.D. in Speech/Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she directed plays in French and English. She was pleased to get two minutes at the inaugural gathering of the Theatre Alliance of Kansas City (TAKC) on 12 August to tell about KC MOlière: 400 in 2022, Inc.
Don Dagenais joined the board as vice president in July 2021. He continues to serve as our Fundraising chair. Don has been active in civic and community groups, particularly relating to the performing arts, for over 40 years. He has been a member of the boards of directors of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City (24 years), the Kansas City Lyric Opera Guild (40 years), Opera Guilds International (now renamed Opera Volunteers International) (15 years), the Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony (Opera in the Ozarks) (15 years), the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival (6 years), The Coterie Theatre and its Advisory Board (total of 37 years), the University of Missouri-Kanas City (UMKC) Conservatory (8 years), the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre (9 years), Summerfest Concerts (8 years) and many others.
In 1986 he founded the Lyric Opera preview speakers’ bureau and At Ease With Opera programs and has been the principal lecturer for those programs ever since. He has taught dozens of courses and given hundreds of lectures on topics relating to opera and classical music.
He has written four books about opera for various opera organizations, including the 50th and 60th anniversary histories of the Lyric Opera in 2008 and 2018.
He was honored as an outstanding supporter of music by the Kansas City Musical Club, was given both a Bravo Award (for national activism) and a Partners in Excellence Award (for local volunteer excellence) by Opera Volunteers International, was honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution for his civic and community work, was given the Virtuoso Award for arts support by the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City (ArtsKC) and was initiated as a special member of Sigma Alpha Iota music sorority/fraternity.
He has also been active in other civic causes. In 2010 was given a special award for 25 years of community service to his homes association. He was a volunteer for his alma mater institutions, Grinnell College and Cornell University Law School.
In his professional life Don was partner with the law firm of Lathrop Gage, LLP, where he practiced commercial real estate law for 43 years prior to his retirement in 2019. During his legal career he was a volunteer attorney for the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts and the Volunteer Attorney Project, among others. Among other things he assisted more than 25 Kansas City charitable organizations in becoming chartered as nonprofit tax exempt corporations. He was general counsel of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and several other arts organizations.
For over ten years he has been an adjunct professor at the UMKC Law School and the UMKC Bloch School of Administration. He also teaches courses in music and history for several lifelong learning programs, including those associated with the University of Kansas (Osher Institute) and UMKC (SPARK).
He has been married to Patricia Dagenais since 1974. They have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.
In 1986 he founded the Lyric Opera preview speakers’ bureau and At Ease With Opera programs and has been the principal lecturer for those programs ever since. He has taught dozens of courses and given hundreds of lectures on topics relating to opera and classical music.
He has written four books about opera for various opera organizations, including the 50th and 60th anniversary histories of the Lyric Opera in 2008 and 2018.
He was honored as an outstanding supporter of music by the Kansas City Musical Club, was given both a Bravo Award (for national activism) and a Partners in Excellence Award (for local volunteer excellence) by Opera Volunteers International, was honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution for his civic and community work, was given the Virtuoso Award for arts support by the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City (ArtsKC) and was initiated as a special member of Sigma Alpha Iota music sorority/fraternity.
He has also been active in other civic causes. In 2010 was given a special award for 25 years of community service to his homes association. He was a volunteer for his alma mater institutions, Grinnell College and Cornell University Law School.
In his professional life Don was partner with the law firm of Lathrop Gage, LLP, where he practiced commercial real estate law for 43 years prior to his retirement in 2019. During his legal career he was a volunteer attorney for the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts and the Volunteer Attorney Project, among others. Among other things he assisted more than 25 Kansas City charitable organizations in becoming chartered as nonprofit tax exempt corporations. He was general counsel of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and several other arts organizations.
For over ten years he has been an adjunct professor at the UMKC Law School and the UMKC Bloch School of Administration. He also teaches courses in music and history for several lifelong learning programs, including those associated with the University of Kansas (Osher Institute) and UMKC (SPARK).
He has been married to Patricia Dagenais since 1974. They have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.
Jim Weitzel, board treasurer, has opened a bank account for KC MOlière: 400 in 2022, Inc. and is working with Fundraising chair and Vice-President, Don Dagenais. Jim brings to the board his experience from a career in commercial real estate marketing and development. He earned his B.S. in Economics at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Michigan Business School. Jim has served on the boards of the Folly Theatre (board president 2011-12), the Unicorn, the American Jazz Museum, and the Homeowners Association of Kansas City. Jim and his wife, Sarah Minogue Weitzel, are also strong supporters of KC Melting Pot Theatre.
Patricia Hamarstrom Williams is an international film and theatre producer/director and new media expert. She holds the honor of being a past U.S. Cultural Rep to Eastern Europe, as well as U.S.I.S. Academic Specialist in that region. She is a former college Dean of Design and Media Arts.
Her film directing credits include “A Tomb for Boris Davidovich”, “A Long Day’s Journey Into Night”, “Othello”, and “Tiger Dance”; work at Cinecitta and for Universal Studios. She is currently a higher education curriculum consultant and serves as President of the Board of Directors of CinemaKC and the United Nations Association of Greater Kansas City, as well as our Board. She is an appointed member of the Gender Equity Task Force of the City of Kansas City, MO, Human Rights Commission.
Her film directing credits include “A Tomb for Boris Davidovich”, “A Long Day’s Journey Into Night”, “Othello”, and “Tiger Dance”; work at Cinecitta and for Universal Studios. She is currently a higher education curriculum consultant and serves as President of the Board of Directors of CinemaKC and the United Nations Association of Greater Kansas City, as well as our Board. She is an appointed member of the Gender Equity Task Force of the City of Kansas City, MO, Human Rights Commission.
Board member at large, Rebecca Smith, was the driving energy behind the success of our volunteer “getting to know you” party at Diastole on 6 August. She grew up in the St. Louis area and graduated from Indiana University with studies at the University of Hamburg, Germany. Becky and her husband, Phil Smith, met in Chicago, where they both worked in advertising. They and their three children have lived in New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, and Ann Arbor. Becky is an avid supporter of the arts in Kansas City, as you can tell from her articles in KC Studio magazine.
Jennifer Martin, PhD is Hall Family Foundation Professor of Theatre, Emerita, UMKC and a James Olsen Professor from the University of Missouri System. A Theatre Movement Training specialist, she holds an MFA in Choreography from the University of North Carolina- Greensboro and a PhD in Acting and Directing from the University of Michigan. As a founding member and past President of the Association of Theatre Movement Educators, she is a nationally recognized specialist in Period Styles of Movement and Dance.
In addition to serving as Master Teacher at Actor’s Theatre in New York City she has presented master classes at University of Pittsburgh, Harvard, Rutgers, Boston University Louisiana State University , University of South Carolina, and University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. Her choreographic and style coaching work has been seen in regional theatres such as Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC, Seattle Rep, GoodSpeed Opera House New Haddam CT, The Swine Theatre in Baton Rouge and Masterworks Lab Theatre in New York City.
After teaching at the University of Iowa for eight years, Jennifer accepted the invitation from Dr. Patricia McIlrath to join the UMKC Department of Theatre as the Movement Specialist for the MFA Actor Training Program and Resident Choreographer for Missouri Repertory Theatre where she remained until her retirement. In addition to what is now KC Rep, her choreography has been seen at KC theatres such The Coterie Theatre, Theater for Young America, The Unicorn Theatre, the Heartland Theatre and The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival where she served as Resident Choreographer for eighteen years.
Since her retirement from UMKC, Jennifer has redirected her expertise in nonverbal communication toward UMKC medical students where she taught Patient Centered Communication skills, or what used to be called “good bedside manner.” She has also been involved in an on-going study of the nonverbal communication between the Attending and Resident Physicians at the critical moment of surgery. Working from filmed procedures, Jennifer adapted a system of movement notation to record the nonverbal communication. It’s now being taught to UMKC Medical Students who are participating in the research.
Jennifer is delighted to be part of KC MOlière: 400 in 2022. As co-chair of the Higher Education Committee, it has been exciting to see that colleges and universities from Columbia, MO to Manhattan KS are mounting Moliere productions. All this in spite of the challenges COVID poses to live performance! She is also honored to serve as a member of the board of directors for KC MOlière: 400 in 2022.
Kansas City has been home for the Martin Family for nearly 40 years- husband Howard and sons, Barclay and Doozie. Their lives have been enriched by the lively and diverse arts community, and they look forward to the exciting year ahead!
In addition to serving as Master Teacher at Actor’s Theatre in New York City she has presented master classes at University of Pittsburgh, Harvard, Rutgers, Boston University Louisiana State University , University of South Carolina, and University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. Her choreographic and style coaching work has been seen in regional theatres such as Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC, Seattle Rep, GoodSpeed Opera House New Haddam CT, The Swine Theatre in Baton Rouge and Masterworks Lab Theatre in New York City.
After teaching at the University of Iowa for eight years, Jennifer accepted the invitation from Dr. Patricia McIlrath to join the UMKC Department of Theatre as the Movement Specialist for the MFA Actor Training Program and Resident Choreographer for Missouri Repertory Theatre where she remained until her retirement. In addition to what is now KC Rep, her choreography has been seen at KC theatres such The Coterie Theatre, Theater for Young America, The Unicorn Theatre, the Heartland Theatre and The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival where she served as Resident Choreographer for eighteen years.
Since her retirement from UMKC, Jennifer has redirected her expertise in nonverbal communication toward UMKC medical students where she taught Patient Centered Communication skills, or what used to be called “good bedside manner.” She has also been involved in an on-going study of the nonverbal communication between the Attending and Resident Physicians at the critical moment of surgery. Working from filmed procedures, Jennifer adapted a system of movement notation to record the nonverbal communication. It’s now being taught to UMKC Medical Students who are participating in the research.
Jennifer is delighted to be part of KC MOlière: 400 in 2022. As co-chair of the Higher Education Committee, it has been exciting to see that colleges and universities from Columbia, MO to Manhattan KS are mounting Moliere productions. All this in spite of the challenges COVID poses to live performance! She is also honored to serve as a member of the board of directors for KC MOlière: 400 in 2022.
Kansas City has been home for the Martin Family for nearly 40 years- husband Howard and sons, Barclay and Doozie. Their lives have been enriched by the lively and diverse arts community, and they look forward to the exciting year ahead!
Dorothée Werner is a dual French and American citizen born in Paris, France and educated at the Sorbonne University in Paris. She moved to Kansas City to teach French at Notre Dame de Sion and now works at Académie Lafayette’s Oak campus in Kansas City, Missouri where she has been vice principal since 2020, serving 500 local children and families from Kindergarten through grade 5. She started at Académie Lafayette in 2011 as a 5th grade teacher. She earned a master’s in educational leadership from Baker University and is a certified K-12 administrator.
In her professional life, Dorothée Werner owned and operated three small businesses in education, travel and intercultural exchanges, and was a marketing and advertising executive for 12 years serving national, local and international clients from Fortune 500 companies to small nonprofits.
Dorothée Werner has been active in civic and community groups, particularly relating to education, immigration, intercultural competencies and criminal justice reform. She taught the welcome to America class for two years to new Americans as a volunteer at Jewish Vocational Services. She assisted prisoners’ successful reentry in society through her involvement with Reaching Out from Within. She served for three years as the president of the Board of the Alliance Française of Kansas City, where she is still an active board member. She founded True Blue Women, a local non-profit seeking to build common grounds and teach women how to support their chosen causes from education, to social justice, to the environment, and served on its board for 10 years. She is passionate about children, restorative justice and education and is honored to have been asked to serve to support KC MOlière: 400 in2022’s mission.
Dorothée is married to Mark Werner and has three grown children.
In her professional life, Dorothée Werner owned and operated three small businesses in education, travel and intercultural exchanges, and was a marketing and advertising executive for 12 years serving national, local and international clients from Fortune 500 companies to small nonprofits.
Dorothée Werner has been active in civic and community groups, particularly relating to education, immigration, intercultural competencies and criminal justice reform. She taught the welcome to America class for two years to new Americans as a volunteer at Jewish Vocational Services. She assisted prisoners’ successful reentry in society through her involvement with Reaching Out from Within. She served for three years as the president of the Board of the Alliance Française of Kansas City, where she is still an active board member. She founded True Blue Women, a local non-profit seeking to build common grounds and teach women how to support their chosen causes from education, to social justice, to the environment, and served on its board for 10 years. She is passionate about children, restorative justice and education and is honored to have been asked to serve to support KC MOlière: 400 in2022’s mission.
Dorothée is married to Mark Werner and has three grown children.
Committee Chairs
Fundraising: Don Dagenais
Press & Publications: Rebecca Smith & Patricia Hamarstrom Williams
Education: K-12: Martin English & Danielle Trebus
Education: College & University: Mechele Leon & Jennifer Martin
Cultural Context: Music & Dance: Linda Ade Brand & Tracy Terstriep Herber
Cultural Context: Visual & Popular Arts: Trudie Homan & Beth Byrd Lonski
International Relations: Cyprienne Simchowitz & Dorothée Werner
Thoroughly Modern Molière: Cynthia Levin & Damron Russel Armstrong
Social: Georgianna Londré Buchanan & Claire Davis
Special Collaborations
Dennis Hennessy, ex officio advisor
Stephanie Roberts, UMKC Conservatory Liaison
Alison De Simone & Collin Vorbeck, Academic Conference Planners
Chantal Roberts, Newsletter Editor & Website Calendar Manager
Richard Rischar, Music-Theatre Research
Catherine Thompson, Website Blogmaster
Melanie Adams, High School French Teacher Liaison
Catherine Tissot, Alliance Française de Kansas City Liaison
Tanguy Accart, Cultural Attaché, Consulate General of France in Chicago
Tasha Zugazagoitia, Honorary French Consul for Kansas and Western Missouri
Keith Nelson, Chouteau Fountain Founders
Philip blue owl Hooser, Missouri Bicentennial Play
Nicole Hodges Persley & Linda Williams, KC Melting Pot Theatre
René Bollier, creator of The Molière, a new pastry in fall 2021
Doug Frost, Molière Coffee & Wine Liaison
Trilla Ray Carter, Kansas City Baroque Ensemble
Calan Welder, Chief of Operations, Jeu de Plume K-12 Essay Competition
Sarah Ingram-Eiser, Coordinator of Jeu de Plume Judging
Sarah Jean Haynes-Hohne & Mary Allison Joseph & Gabriel Livingston, Judges of Grades 6-8 Jeu de Plume essay competition
Patricia Cleary Miller & Bryan LeBeau & Elisabeth Kirsch, Judges of Grades 9-12 Jeu de Plume essay competition
Julia Brand, Kelly Brown, Georgianna Buchanan, Brigid Elbert, Sascha Groschang, Trudie Homan, Peregrine Honig, Karen Lisondra, & Rebecca Parrill, Molière Coloring Book Contributors
Fundraising: Don Dagenais
Press & Publications: Rebecca Smith & Patricia Hamarstrom Williams
Education: K-12: Martin English & Danielle Trebus
Education: College & University: Mechele Leon & Jennifer Martin
Cultural Context: Music & Dance: Linda Ade Brand & Tracy Terstriep Herber
Cultural Context: Visual & Popular Arts: Trudie Homan & Beth Byrd Lonski
International Relations: Cyprienne Simchowitz & Dorothée Werner
Thoroughly Modern Molière: Cynthia Levin & Damron Russel Armstrong
Social: Georgianna Londré Buchanan & Claire Davis
Special Collaborations
Dennis Hennessy, ex officio advisor
Stephanie Roberts, UMKC Conservatory Liaison
Alison De Simone & Collin Vorbeck, Academic Conference Planners
Chantal Roberts, Newsletter Editor & Website Calendar Manager
Richard Rischar, Music-Theatre Research
Catherine Thompson, Website Blogmaster
Melanie Adams, High School French Teacher Liaison
Catherine Tissot, Alliance Française de Kansas City Liaison
Tanguy Accart, Cultural Attaché, Consulate General of France in Chicago
Tasha Zugazagoitia, Honorary French Consul for Kansas and Western Missouri
Keith Nelson, Chouteau Fountain Founders
Philip blue owl Hooser, Missouri Bicentennial Play
Nicole Hodges Persley & Linda Williams, KC Melting Pot Theatre
René Bollier, creator of The Molière, a new pastry in fall 2021
Doug Frost, Molière Coffee & Wine Liaison
Trilla Ray Carter, Kansas City Baroque Ensemble
Calan Welder, Chief of Operations, Jeu de Plume K-12 Essay Competition
Sarah Ingram-Eiser, Coordinator of Jeu de Plume Judging
Sarah Jean Haynes-Hohne & Mary Allison Joseph & Gabriel Livingston, Judges of Grades 6-8 Jeu de Plume essay competition
Patricia Cleary Miller & Bryan LeBeau & Elisabeth Kirsch, Judges of Grades 9-12 Jeu de Plume essay competition
Julia Brand, Kelly Brown, Georgianna Buchanan, Brigid Elbert, Sascha Groschang, Trudie Homan, Peregrine Honig, Karen Lisondra, & Rebecca Parrill, Molière Coloring Book Contributors