Publication Date: Fall 2018
Il y Avait Une Fois...
(Once Upon A Time…)
...a dashing, young Frenchman named Étienne de Veniard was a fugitive from Louis XIV’s rule when he deserted his post as commander of Fort Détroit. To redeem himself, he traveled to the south and to the west discovering the location where the Kansas and Missouri rivers met. He was the first European to call the rivers by those names. Veniard was rewarded by being named the commander of Missouri. He founded Fort Orléans, approximately 90 miles north-east of Kansas City and this secured another foothold for the French in the Louisiana Territory.
Veniard was promoted to minor nobility and went home to France. 200 years later the illustrious Chouteau family came to present-day Kansas City and opened trading houses just a few miles south of the Kansas River. In the beginning, the settlement was called "Chez les Canses" (at the village of the Kansa). After a while, it was referred to simply as "Chouteau's." The Chouteau settlement became the first European settlement of Kansas City.
Donc, mes enfants, qu’avons-nous appris?
(So, children, what did we learn?)
That Kansas City is French! And what better way to celebrate its French heritage than to have a year-long birthday party in honor of France’s greatest comic playwright Molière?
(Once Upon A Time…)
...a dashing, young Frenchman named Étienne de Veniard was a fugitive from Louis XIV’s rule when he deserted his post as commander of Fort Détroit. To redeem himself, he traveled to the south and to the west discovering the location where the Kansas and Missouri rivers met. He was the first European to call the rivers by those names. Veniard was rewarded by being named the commander of Missouri. He founded Fort Orléans, approximately 90 miles north-east of Kansas City and this secured another foothold for the French in the Louisiana Territory.
Veniard was promoted to minor nobility and went home to France. 200 years later the illustrious Chouteau family came to present-day Kansas City and opened trading houses just a few miles south of the Kansas River. In the beginning, the settlement was called "Chez les Canses" (at the village of the Kansa). After a while, it was referred to simply as "Chouteau's." The Chouteau settlement became the first European settlement of Kansas City.
Donc, mes enfants, qu’avons-nous appris?
(So, children, what did we learn?)
That Kansas City is French! And what better way to celebrate its French heritage than to have a year-long birthday party in honor of France’s greatest comic playwright Molière?
KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 Mission
The mission of KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 is:
The mission of KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 is:
- To celebrate Molière, his work, and his theatrical and musical heritage;
- To showcase Kansas City’s special relationship with France and encourage all forms of French-American cultural exchange;
- To facilitate and coordinate Molière-related initiatives in all of the arts and from all levels of education throughout greater Kansas City and the Missouri Valley region;
- To enhance Kansas City’s national and international visibility as a cosmopolitan city where the arts flourish;
- To have fun and laugh together in community spirit.
Meeting Report-- Felicia Londré
On 21 May 2018, twenty-six Kansas City arts leaders came together to consider the feasibility of a 400th birthday celebration for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, a.k.a. Molière, in 2022.
Representatives from the French Consul of Kansas City, Alliance Française de Kansas City, Académie Lafayette, Byrd Productions, Commedia Kansas City, The Coterie Theatre, EARTh (Equity Actors’ Readers’ Theatre), Kansas City Actors
Theatre, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Studio Magazine, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Mesner Puppet Theatre, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Tivoli Cinemas, UMKC Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, and University of Kansas Department of Theatre socialized over donated French wines and cheeses, then engaged
in animated discussion that amounted to an enthusiastic go-ahead.
Representatives from the French Consul of Kansas City, Alliance Française de Kansas City, Académie Lafayette, Byrd Productions, Commedia Kansas City, The Coterie Theatre, EARTh (Equity Actors’ Readers’ Theatre), Kansas City Actors
Theatre, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Studio Magazine, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Mesner Puppet Theatre, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Tivoli Cinemas, UMKC Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, and University of Kansas Department of Theatre socialized over donated French wines and cheeses, then engaged
in animated discussion that amounted to an enthusiastic go-ahead.
Molière’s 400th birthday, 15 January, falls on a Saturday in 2022. We discussed pros and cons of a concentrated mid-January festival vs. stretching out the events over a longer period. The consensus favored the latter.
We might use the birthday as a kick-off date with a live broadcast from the stage of the Comédie-Française when they do their annual homage with the famous chair from The Imaginary Invalid. Or the birthday party could culminate months of educational programing and Baroque arts events. Or the celebration of the comic spirit could take over an entire year of Kansas City culture.
We might use the birthday as a kick-off date with a live broadcast from the stage of the Comédie-Française when they do their annual homage with the famous chair from The Imaginary Invalid. Or the birthday party could culminate months of educational programing and Baroque arts events. Or the celebration of the comic spirit could take over an entire year of Kansas City culture.
Molière’s work is perfect for a city-wide arts festival because it is so closely tied to music, dance, painting, and poetry—not to mention his eternally hilarious theatre. From lowbrow clowning to neoclassical verse, there is something for every audience. His plays have been adapted for ballet, opera, and musical comedy. There are contemporary plays inspired by intriguing events in his life and plays from his circle of acquaintances at the court of the Sun King, Louis XIV. A search of the web shows many modern-dress productions of Molière’s plays to expose how 17th-century human foibles are echoed in our own time.
Our illustrious group (and by the way, Molière’s company was called L’Illustre Théâtre) generated so many ideas. Here are just a few:
- Playwriting competition to encourage new plays about Molière or spin-offs of Molière plays;
- Lecture series;
- School workshops and programs with opportunities for students to perform with commedia masks and/or 17th-century wigs;
- KC Fringe Festival presentations pieces;
- French film screenings;
- Invitations to President Macron and artists of the Comédie-Française to visit Kansas City;
- Work with FRAME (French - American Museum Exchange) for a relevant exchange or loan of an exhibit.
Merci (thank you) to Chris Neher (Alliance Française) for his suggestion on which we would like to follow up immediately: formation of committees to get things going quickly and in a focused way. Co-conveners Kip Niven and Felicia Londré hereby issue a call for volunteers to serve on the following committees.
Theatrical Production Committee: To coordinate play selections and scheduling of stage productions for the celebration period.
Chair: John Rensenhouse (KC Actors Theatre), Co-chair: Sidonie Garrett
(Heart of America Shakespeare Festival)Suggested membership: Representatives from each professional theatre producing group.
K – 12 Education Committee: To generate curriculum and programming in the schools with activities that might include workshops, performances, French-language events, field trips, study guides. Chair: Doug Weaver (Bishop Seabury Academy, Lawrence), Co-chair: Martin English (Kansas City Young Audiences).
Suggested membership: K-12 educators.
College & University Education Committee: To encourage study of Molière and his era as well as production of his plays and/or spin-offs of his plays.
Chair: Jennifer Martin (Professor Emerita, UMKC Theatre), Co-chair: Mechele Leon (Professor, KU Theatre)
Suggested membership: Representatives from each KC area institution of higher learning.
Cultural Context Committee: To encourage and coordinate activities in music, dance, painting, and other arts related to Molière and 17th-century Baroque and/or neoclassical culture. Chair: Linda Ade Brand (Lyric Opera of KC), Co-chair: Tracy Terstriep Herber (Original Broadway cast member of The Producers and Fosse. Choreographer for KCRep, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Ballet)
Suggested membership: Representatives from each art museum, musical group, dance company, puppet company, etc.
Fund-raising Committee: To raise funds to support the coordinating initiatives and other costs not borne by the producing organizations. May create a separate committee to oversee financials.
Chair: Bev Elving (Former President of KCAT Board), Co-chair: TBA
Suggested membership: Experienced fund-raisers and gala organizers.
Social Committee: To coordinate receptions for visiting artists, facilitate arrangements for national press visitors, organize fundraising gala events. Chair and Co-chair: TBASuggested membership: Organizers and those with a passion for showing off the best of Kansas City.
International Relations Committee: To seek opportunities for participation in the Kansas City 2021-22 season of Molière by artists and organizations from France.
Chair: Cyprienne Simchowicz (Honorary French Cultural Attachée to KC) Co-chair: TBA.
Suggested membership: French-speaking and/or world-traveling volunteers.
Theatrical Production Committee: To coordinate play selections and scheduling of stage productions for the celebration period.
Chair: John Rensenhouse (KC Actors Theatre), Co-chair: Sidonie Garrett
(Heart of America Shakespeare Festival)Suggested membership: Representatives from each professional theatre producing group.
K – 12 Education Committee: To generate curriculum and programming in the schools with activities that might include workshops, performances, French-language events, field trips, study guides. Chair: Doug Weaver (Bishop Seabury Academy, Lawrence), Co-chair: Martin English (Kansas City Young Audiences).
Suggested membership: K-12 educators.
College & University Education Committee: To encourage study of Molière and his era as well as production of his plays and/or spin-offs of his plays.
Chair: Jennifer Martin (Professor Emerita, UMKC Theatre), Co-chair: Mechele Leon (Professor, KU Theatre)
Suggested membership: Representatives from each KC area institution of higher learning.
Cultural Context Committee: To encourage and coordinate activities in music, dance, painting, and other arts related to Molière and 17th-century Baroque and/or neoclassical culture. Chair: Linda Ade Brand (Lyric Opera of KC), Co-chair: Tracy Terstriep Herber (Original Broadway cast member of The Producers and Fosse. Choreographer for KCRep, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Ballet)
Suggested membership: Representatives from each art museum, musical group, dance company, puppet company, etc.
Fund-raising Committee: To raise funds to support the coordinating initiatives and other costs not borne by the producing organizations. May create a separate committee to oversee financials.
Chair: Bev Elving (Former President of KCAT Board), Co-chair: TBA
Suggested membership: Experienced fund-raisers and gala organizers.
Social Committee: To coordinate receptions for visiting artists, facilitate arrangements for national press visitors, organize fundraising gala events. Chair and Co-chair: TBASuggested membership: Organizers and those with a passion for showing off the best of Kansas City.
International Relations Committee: To seek opportunities for participation in the Kansas City 2021-22 season of Molière by artists and organizations from France.
Chair: Cyprienne Simchowicz (Honorary French Cultural Attachée to KC) Co-chair: TBA.
Suggested membership: French-speaking and/or world-traveling volunteers.
Press and Publications Committee: To handle the social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and to oversee printed materials: brochures, news stories, media outlets, and the 2022 collectible souvenir booklet.
Chair: Chantal Roberts (Editor KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 newsletter), Co-chair: Rebecca Smith (KC Studio)
Suggested membership: Writers, editors, social media savvy and witty persons.
Thoroughly Modern Molière Committee: To encourage new plays about the life of Molière or inspired by his comic spirit or in the form of adaptations of his work to feature diverse contemporary cultures, and to facilitate the production of such new work during the 2021-22 season as part of Kansas City’s internationally-visible KC MOlière: 400 in 2022. Chair: Cynthia Levin (The Unicorn), Co-chair: Damron Russel Armstrong (Black Repertory Theatre of KC).
Suggested membership: Theatre artists of color, dramaturgs.
Commercial Committee: To plan for the creation and marketing of collectibles and souvenirs: ads in programs, festival buttons, postcards, French gourmet delights. Chair and Co-chair: TBA
Suggested membership: Entrepreneurs, business-savvy people.
Logistics / Governing Committee: To work with the eventual hired director to oversee and coordinate the work of all other committees.
Dennis Hennessy (New Theatre Restaurant) will serve as ex officio advisor to this committee.
Chair and Co-chair: TBA
Suggested membership: Organizers and experienced persons with time management skills.
We are eager to have volunteers to chair committees, and will allow a grace period for volunteers before we come after you!
SIGN UP NOW BEFORE ALL THE FUN COMMITTEES ARE TAKEN!
S’il vous plaît, send an email indicating your interest in chairing or participating on any one or more of these committees. Our new email address is:
kcmoliere400@gmail.com. Use the subject header “Committee Volunteer.”
Chair: Chantal Roberts (Editor KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 newsletter), Co-chair: Rebecca Smith (KC Studio)
Suggested membership: Writers, editors, social media savvy and witty persons.
Thoroughly Modern Molière Committee: To encourage new plays about the life of Molière or inspired by his comic spirit or in the form of adaptations of his work to feature diverse contemporary cultures, and to facilitate the production of such new work during the 2021-22 season as part of Kansas City’s internationally-visible KC MOlière: 400 in 2022. Chair: Cynthia Levin (The Unicorn), Co-chair: Damron Russel Armstrong (Black Repertory Theatre of KC).
Suggested membership: Theatre artists of color, dramaturgs.
Commercial Committee: To plan for the creation and marketing of collectibles and souvenirs: ads in programs, festival buttons, postcards, French gourmet delights. Chair and Co-chair: TBA
Suggested membership: Entrepreneurs, business-savvy people.
Logistics / Governing Committee: To work with the eventual hired director to oversee and coordinate the work of all other committees.
Dennis Hennessy (New Theatre Restaurant) will serve as ex officio advisor to this committee.
Chair and Co-chair: TBA
Suggested membership: Organizers and experienced persons with time management skills.
We are eager to have volunteers to chair committees, and will allow a grace period for volunteers before we come after you!
SIGN UP NOW BEFORE ALL THE FUN COMMITTEES ARE TAKEN!
S’il vous plaît, send an email indicating your interest in chairing or participating on any one or more of these committees. Our new email address is:
kcmoliere400@gmail.com. Use the subject header “Committee Volunteer.”
Dr. Felicia Londré and Kip Niven enjoying a bottle -- or two -- of French wine.
KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 is their idea to support great classics of dramatic literature on Kansas City stages and to continue the momentum of the educational component in this era when the Arts & Humanities are marginalized.
KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 is their idea to support great classics of dramatic literature on Kansas City stages and to continue the momentum of the educational component in this era when the Arts & Humanities are marginalized.
For future newsletters, we welcome your contributions--reviews of books about Molière and the Baroque era; reviews of productions of Molière plays; comments on comparative translations; commissions for new plays about Molière, etc. Send your ideas or submissions to kcmoliere400@gmail.com with the subject header “Newsletter Submission.”