Press Resources are available on this page and by request including interview scheduling, photos, past news coverage, and press releases. Download the Media Kit below for contacts and pertinent festival information.
Our Logo
KC MOlière: 400 in 2022's Board commissioned Christina Schafer, who generously donated her time and talent for the logo. With Kansas City in the foreground of the French fleur-de-lis flag, it’s a direct nod to Kansas City’s French past and its link to Molière. Felicia Londré, President, said, “Christina Schafer really came through for us by tying together today’s Kansas City and a lovely evocation of 17th century France."
information
Our name is spelled "KC MOlière: 400 in 2022". The "KC" and "MO" are capitalized to signify that we're from Kansas City, Missouri. The "lière" in Molière is italicized because we italicize French words. Our name is bolded and appears in red and blue to honor the French and American flags. The playwright Philip blue owl Hooser's Choctaw name should neither be
capitalized nor in quotes. Our mascot is spelled MoMo and comes from Molière's nickname in a 2018 book by Cécile Alix, which also matches perfectly with the abbreviation of Missouri. Only the "M"s are capitalized in MoMo. People's names, when mentioned for the first time, are bolded.
capitalized nor in quotes. Our mascot is spelled MoMo and comes from Molière's nickname in a 2018 book by Cécile Alix, which also matches perfectly with the abbreviation of Missouri. Only the "M"s are capitalized in MoMo. People's names, when mentioned for the first time, are bolded.
CHRONOLOGY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Videos About Us
A 6-minute survey of local theatre productions and related activities by John Rice:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tl50ji2ksiYv6HUMbszqL34RIpvPazvD/view?usp=drivesdk
A 3-minute promo video by Amanda Davison and John Rice.
Direct link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-
kmOzRVpr0RFe60mwbeQX5Bv4HT8I5wC/view?usp=drivesdk
Via YouTube site: https://youtu.be/bqQigsx14M4
Hello Kansas City, video from the Comédie-Française to Kansas City, in French with
subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph4QbDmhIB0
NOTE: Book Club and blog publication listings are incomplete.
June 2022
2-11 June. Secrets & Lies, a contemporary African American adaptation by Nicole Hodges Persley of Molière's Sganarelle, ou le Cocu imaginaire. Kansas City Melting Pot Theatre.
10 & 12 June. Tartuffe, the opera by Kirke Mechem. Landlocked Opera. Penn Valley Community College Theatre. Lecture preceding each performance by Professor Anna Wheeler Gentry, Arizona State University.
May 2022
1 May. 2:00 - 4:30pm. Free public celebration of Molière's 400th birthday (originally scheduled for 15 January but postponed). Kirkwood Hall, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
1 May. 1:00pm. Matinee performance of M de Molière by Jérôme Pouly after which he joined the public celebration at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
2 May. 2:30-3:30pm: Monsieur Pouly in conversation with Rockhurst University and UMKC French students at Rockhurst’s Arrupe Hall 212.
2 May. 5:00pm: Jérôme Pouly’s Zoom from Kansas City to all branches of the Alliance Française nationwide.
2 May. “Molière at 400, Kansas City MO,” RFI English (Radio France International)
video: otrnp8 m82 47 M70A1yMtu0caat: 03560 ·
2 May. “France’s Molière Still Relevant in Kansas City after 400 Years” by Sarah Elzas, RFT (Radio France International): https://buff.ly/3kwBtCp
3 May. 6:30pm. Lecture by Dr. Virginie Roche-Tiengo, Université de Paris-Sorbonne, on Molière in World Culture at the Plaza Branch of Kansas City Public Library (originally scheduled for April 2020, then for January 2022, but postponed due to COVID).
15 May. 3:30-5:00pm. Ensemble Correspondences presented by The Friends of Chamber Music. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
18 May. 9:30-11:00am CDT Zoom with Dr Henriette Pouly’s two classes: Molière and French Literature, University of Hamburg, Germany.
April 2022
13-16 April. The Imaginary Invalid, translated by Miles Malleson, directed by Katheryn Bilbo. Mary Linn auditorium, Northwest Missouri State University,
21-24 April. The Imaginary Invalid, world premiere of a new translation by David MacKay of Molière's Le Malade imaginaire. Chapman Theatre. Kansas State University, Manhattan KS.
21 April. Presentation in French about KC Molière: 400 in 2022 by Trinity Hodges as her capstone project in Dr. Kathleen Madigan’s class, Rockhurst University.
25 April. Catherine Tissot and Felicia Londré on Michael Hogge’s Arts Magazine, KKFI 90.5FM, noon to 1:00pm, talking about the 400th birthday celebration and the visit of Jérôme Pouly.
29 April. 2:00pm. Performance of scenes from Molière by students of the Académie Lafayette International High School in the theatre at the Oak Street campus. Scenes from act 2 of Les Fourberies de Scapin directed by Mme Nora Abied. “Menuet” piano duo from Le Bourgeois gentilhomme. Scenes from Act 4 of Tartuffe directed by Mme Kate Absher.
29 April-4 May. Jérome Pouly, sociétaire of the Comédie Française, in residence in Kansas City, sponsored by KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 and the Alliance Française de Kansas City.
30 April. 7:30pm. Jérome Pouly, 510th sociétaire of the Comédie-Française, will perform the world premiere of M de Molière, his one-man play about Molière at METropolitan Ensemble Theatre's Warwick Theatre. Co-produced in Kansas City with the Alliance Française de Kansas City. This production will tour France in summer 2022. See also 1 May.
March 2022
3 - 6 March. Tartuffe, translated by Ranjit Bolt, directed by Cinnamon Schultz, Kansas
City Kansas Community College.
15 March. Broadway Play Publications publication of The Pests, Felicia Londré's verse
translation/ adaptation of Molière's Les Fâcheux, as premiered by Kansas City Actors
Theatre: https://www.broadwayplaypub.com/the-plays/the-
pests/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5newtitles2022
0316
23 March-27 April. Molière Then and Now, a SPARK course. 1:30-3:30 on Wednesdays at 4825
Troost and on-line, by Dr Felicia Londré, Curators' Distinguished Professor of Theatre Emerita, UMKC.
Course description
As theatres all over the world celebrate the 400th anniversary of Molière's 1622 birth with productions of his ever-popular comedies, Kansas City boasts a three-year build-up to the birthdate with play productions, lectures, videos, a coloring book, and even a pastry named The Molière. This course covers highlights from Molière life and work in the context of his time, the reign of the "Sun King" Louis XIV, when the arts encompassed both the Baroque and the neoclassical. Each session will include PowerPoint visuals and in-class reading of brief selections.
Wed. 23 March 2022 Introduction. KC MOlière: 400 in 2022. Overview of Molière's comedies and his place in world theatre. Scripts will be provided for reading The Flying Doctor during the session.
Wed. 30 March 2022 French theatre before Molière: farce, commedia dell'arte, tragicomedy, neoclassical tragedy and comedy. The Hôtel de Bourgogne and Théâtre du Marais. Jean-Baptiste Poquelin before he was Molière. Molière's
early career. Touring the French provinces. The Prince de Conti. Painters Nicolas & Pierre Mignard. The
salons of Paris. Scripts will be provided for reading a scene from Two Precious Maidens (Les Précieuses
ridicules).
Wed. 6 April 2022 Pierre Corneille & The Cid. Nicolas Fouquet & Vaux le Vicomte. Court ballet and comédie-ballet. Molière and Louis XIV. Jean de La Fontaine. Scripts will be provided for reading a scene from The Pests (Les
Fâcheux).
Wed. 13 April 2022 Madeleine Béjart. Molière's marriage to Armande Béjart. The School for Wives. Pleasures of the
Enchanted Isle at Versailles. Molière's 5-year battle for Tartuffe. Scripts will be provided for reading a
scene from Tartuffe.
Wed. 20 April 2022 Jean Racine. The Misanthrope. Dom Juan. Molière's friends: Boileau, Chapelle. Le Bourgeois
gentilhomme. Jean Racine. Jean-Baptiste Lully. Scripts will be provided for reading scenes from Phèdre
and from The Bourgeois Gentleman during the session.
Wed. 27 April 2022 The Learned Ladies. The Hypochondriac. Molière's death. The founding of the Comédie Française.
Preparation for the Kansas City performance of Le M de Molière by C-F sociétaire Jérôme Pouly on 30
April. Scripts will be provided for reading a scene from The Learned Ladies.
February 2022
5 February. Release of Hello, Kansas City, a short funny video in French with English
subtitles, filmed at the Comédie-Française in Paris and featuring sociétaires of the C-F
spreading amusingly garbled information about Kansas City, François Chouteau, and
Molière: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph4QbDmhIB0
19 February. Tartuffe reading & discussion by Oak Hall play-reading group.
January 2022
3 January. "Molière, un auteur 'au Panthéon des célébrités mondiales'," Le Monde
(Paris). Paragraph on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 on p. 23.
4 January. "A Multifaceted Celebration of French Culture" by Vivian Kane. KC Studio
XIV, 1 (January/February 2022), p. 27.
12 January. Release of Newsletter #14 (Volume 4, no. 1).
12 January. "Director of The Pests Reflects on Return to Stage, KC Molière Celebration"
by Emily Park, interviewing Matt Schwader. IN Kansas City
https://www.inkansascity.com/arts-entertainment/theater/director-of-the-pests-
reflects-on-return-to-stage-kc-moliere-celebration/
janvier-février 2022. Molière: Les secrets d'un génie. Special Hors-Série issue of Le
Point. ISBN 978-2-85083-044-0. Mentions KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 on p. 81.
15 January. Molière's 400th birthday celebration planned for this date,
postponed by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art because of staff shortages due
to COVID. Event rescheduled to Sunday 1 May, 2:00-4:30pm, in Kirkwood
Hall of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
15 - 30 January. The Pests, Kansas City Actors Theatre's world premiere of a new verse
translation of Molière's Les Fâcheux, directed by Matt Schwader. City Stage in Union
Station. 14 January preview performance; 15 January opening. Reviewed by
KC Studio (Vivian Kane, 22 January), Kansas City Magazine (Christine Pivovar, 24
January), and Black Bee Buzz (Lonita Cook, 25 January).
15 January. "400 ans de la naissance de Molière," France Info Culture. This online
article contains a link to the KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 website:
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/spectacles/theatre/400-ans-de-moliere-des-celebrations-en-
france-et-un-peu-partout-dans-le-monde_4917867.html
15 January. "4oo ans Molière [1/2]: 'jamais là où l'on l'attend'," by Siegfried Foster
interviewing Martial Poirson. RFI (Radio France International).
Kansas City gets a brief mention.
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/culture/20220115-moli%C3%A8re-400-ans-jamais-l%C3%A0-
o%C3%B9-on-attend-fabrique-gloire-nationale-martial-poirson-versailles
15 January. "En France et au-dela, on souffle les 400 bougies de Molière" L'Express.
Kansas City gets a brief mention.
https://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/1/societe/en-france-et-au-dela-on-souffle-les-400-bougies-
de-moliere_2166149.html
Also on France24: https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20220115-en-france-et-au-
del%C3%A0-on-souffle-les-400-bougies-de-moli%C3%A8re
December 2021
Jeu de Plume educational initiative: 17 essays by Rockhurst University students in Dr
Kathleen Madigan's French classes posted on website:
https://www.kcmoliere400in2022.com/newsletters
12 December. 7:30pm. Mademoiselle Molière by Gérard Savoisien, translated by Felicia
Londré. Public reading. Unicorn Theatre.
November 2021
4-7 November. 7:00pm Thr-Sat, 2:00pm Sun. The Learned Ladies (Freyda Thomas translation) directed by Chris McCoy. Jewell Theatre Company at William Jewell College.
8 November. "Molière as National Hero" lecture by Mechele Leon. UMKC Emeritus College Annual Dinner. Our 3-minute promo video was also shown: https://youtu.be/bqQigsx14M4
18-20 November. 7:30pm Thr-Sat, 2:00pm Sun. Sganarelle, or The Imaginary Cuckold (Richard Wilbur translation) directed by Matt Schwader. Avila University.
19 November. 12:10pm. Felicia Londré's PowerPoint lecture "Comic Genius at the Confluence: Molière and Kansas City." The Shepherd's Center in Central United Methodist Church. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w8Ht2-2mdo .
19 November. 6:30pm. Dr. Henriette Runte's lecture "Molière and Me" at the Kansas City Museum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlPKh017878
October 2021
23-24 October. The Precious Young Ladies by Molière and world premiere of satirical afterpiece The Precious Young Men by Alli Jordan. Pembroke-Hill School.
21 October. Jennifer Martin's master class on Baroque period movement at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
20 October. Felicia Londré's PowerPoint presentation on Molière and Sganarelle or The Imaginary Cuckold under the direction of Matt Schwader at Avila University.
9 October. "Lit on Grand" at Afterword Tavern & Shelves. All-day event for local authors will include KC MOlière: 400 in 2022's coloring book Molière and France under the Sun King.
10 October. "Culinary Art Just as the Sun King Intended" by Rachel Murphy. INKansas City.
4-15 October. Mobile Molière in schools. Pembroke Hill School (3:30 Oct. 4). Olathe High School with bussed-in middle schoolers and Q & A (9:30am Oct 6). Belton High School (9:45am Oct. 8). UMKC campus (7:30pm Oct. 9 & 15). St. James Academy (11:20am Oct. 11). University Academy (9:20am Oct. 12). Frontier STEM (9:00 & 10:30am Oct. 14).
1-2 October. Mobile Molière public performances. The Coterie Theatre. The production then tours to schools until 15 October.
September 2021
29 September. Launch of André's Confiserie Suisse's The Molière pastry along with Molière 400 blend Messenger Coffee and Joie de Molière dessert wine from Les Bourgeois Vineyards. To be followed by pop-up events at Messenger Coffee and elsewhere.
16 September. Alliance Française de Kansas City open house included KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 handouts.
16 September. K-12 e-blast to 700 area teachers of English, French, and dramatic arts.
14 September. Release of Fall 2021 newsletter, vol. IV, no. 3.
14 September. Felicia Londré's PowerPoint presentation on Molière and The Learned Ladies for the Jewell Players cast under direction of Chris McCoy, William Jewell College.
1 September. Tartuffenthrope! nominated for Best Play in The Pitch's annual Best of Kansas City voting. Voting open 1-30 September; winner to be announced in the October issue.
August 2021
20 August 2021. Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Swope Park, Kansas City. 5:45-6:00. Photo ops with MoMo and performance of Tartuffenthrope!
13 August. Kansas City Baroque Ensemble concert, composers who worked with Molière, KC MOlière:400 in 2022 kick-off reception following.
August 2021: release of 3-minute promo video by John Rice and Amanda Davison, in production May-August. Direct link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-kmOzRVpr0RFe60mwbeQX5Bv4HT8I5wC/view?usp=drivesdk
via YouTube site: https://youtu.be/bqQigsx14M4
August 2021 issue. "Backstory 1821," interview with Philip blue owl Hooser, Kansas City Magazine, page 120.
July 2021
24 July. 8:00am to 1:00pm. Participation in dedication activities at François Chouteau and Native American Heritage Fountain: performance of Tartuffenthrope! MoMo, our mascot-head Molière, with flyers. Coloring book sales.
21 July. KKFI Radio, noon, Philip blue owl Hooser & Patricia Williams interviewed by Maria Vasquez.
16 July 2021. KCUR 89.3 Morning Edition. Interviews on Tartuffenthrope! https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2021-07-17/playwright-philip-blue-owl-hooser-creates-a-comedy-to-celebrate-the-founding-of-kansas-city
15 July. Jennifer Martin joined board.
8 July. Don Dagenais moved into the vice president position (open since the passing of our beloved vice president Sarah Ingram-Eiser on 24 June).
1 July. Blogging With Molière: 400th Anniversary Activities, presentation by M. Kathleen (Katie) Madigan, with participation by Dr. Felicia Londré. American Association of Teachers of French, annual conference, on Zoom, 1 July 2021.
June 2021
7 June. Board of Directors meeting. Vote to add two board positions: Don Dagenais and Dorothée Werner.
5 June. Kansas City Young Audiences. Teacher Appreciation and Season Announcement
Reception. Debut appearance of MoMo.
1 June. Molière and France Under the Sun King, a coloring book created by ten Kansas City volunteer artists, published in June 2021, available on Amazon and other online sites. ISBN 978-0-578-90157-2.
May 2021
24 May. Book Club discussion: Scapin the Schemer.
14 May. Newsletter IV, 2 (Summer 2021) released.
10 May. Book Club discussion: Le Médecin malgré lui (Doctor in Spite of Himself).
April 2021
26 April. Book Club discussion: The Learned Ladies (Les Femmes savantes).
22 April. Preliminary tasting of The Molière, a new pastry creation by René Bollier, Executive Pastry Chef and Chocolatier at André's Confiserie Suisse. David Weber of Messenger Coffee presenting a cupping of various beans to blend an exquisitely paired coffee. René gave a tour of the kitchens for committee members Rebecca Smith, Doug Frost, Felicia Londré, and videographer Amanda Davison.
21 April. Nathan Bowman is contracted to direct Tartuffenthrope!
19 April. Contract signed for use of Kirkwood Hall in Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for Molière's 400th birthday celebration. Program planning begins.
12 April. Book Club discussion: La Jalousie du Barbouillé.
March 2021
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in March: 25
22 March. Barbouillé's Jealousy, a new translation of La Jalousie du Barbouillé by Chantal Roberts, added to website.
15 March. K-12 newsletter sent by Dani Trebus to 700+ teachers. Deadline extended
to 26 April for this semester's Jeu de Plume competition. As an attachment, Richard Rischar's new translation of The Flying Doctor was offered for classroom use. The translation is also available under Teacher Resources on our website.
15 March. Book Club, 7:00-8:00pm, discussed Richard Rischar's translation of Le Médecin volant (The Flying Doctor); he has tentatively rendered the title as Chase-Scene Doctor.
14 March. "Creating a French-Inspired Garden" by Catherine Thompson added to blogs on website.
10 March. Felicia Londré gave her PowerPoint lecture on "Great Comedy from a Hard Life: How Molière Coped through Comedy," 8:45-9:50am, for Pembroke-Hill class in Theatre taught by Tracy Terstriep. $25 booking fee paid.
7 March. KC Actors Theatre gave us a benefit world-premiere reading of The Pests by professional actors, directed by John Rensenhouse, on Zoom and available to watch for one week following. The event raised $575 for KC MOlière: 400 in 2022.
5 March. For International Relations Council video designed to win back a Sister City in France (Metz used to be our Sister City), Tasha Zugazagoitia interviewed Felicia Londré, 10:00-10:30am, hosted by Matthew Hughes.
2 March. Higher Education Committee announced Molière production commitments from Avila University, Kansas State University, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Northwest Missouri State University-Maryville, Missouri Valley College, and UMKC.
1 March. "Louis XIV: His Influence on Childbirth" by Rebecca Smith added to blog on website.
February-March 2021
24 Feb.-17 March. UMKC Cockefair Course (continuing education) on Molière: 4 sessions on Zoom presented by Felicia Londré, 7:00 - 8:30pm on Wednesdays 24 February, 3, 10, and 17 March. There were 28 enrolled. 24 February: overview of KC MOlière:400 in 2022 & Molière's life; The Flying Doctor. 3 March: Molière & Louis XIV; The Pests and Two Precious Maidens. 10 March: women in Molière's life and plays; School for Wives and Misanthrope. 17 March: music & dance at court and in the plays; Tartuffe and Bourgeois Gentleman.
February 2021
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in February: 20
22 February. KKFI radio, noon to 1:00pm. Michael Hogge interview of John Rensenhouse and Felicia Londré about The Pests on his Arts Magazine program.
21 February. Unicorn's Thoroughly Modern Molière-commissioned new play Blind Faith by Natalie Liccardello and Talia Liccardello, 7:30-9:30pm Zoom reading by professional actors, followed by Q & A.
15 February. Book Club, 7:00-8:00pm, on Lovers' Quarrels (Le Dépit amoureux), part 2.
15 February. "Fly Me to the ... Forest?" by Chantal Roberts added to blog on website.
15 February. Spring 2021 newsletter, vol. 4, no. 1, released and archived on website.
8 February. Zoom meeting of Julián Zugazagoitia, Anne Manning, Sarah Ingram-Eiser, Cyprienne Simchowitz, and Felicia Londré to discuss possibility of holding the 400th birthday at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
1 February. Book Club, 7:00-8:00pm, on Lovers' Quarrels (Le Dépit amoureux).
January 2021
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in January:
27 January. "Celebrating Valentine's Day with Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame" by Catherine Rush Thompson added to blog on website.
15 January. Molière's 399th birthday celebrated with a Zoom party featuring Kansas City celebrity readers of selections from Molière's plays and the opening scene of Philip blue owl Hooser's Tartuffenmiserthrope! Recording of the event and the program available on website under About drop-down Enjoying Molière.
15 January. "Kansas' Mechem Gives Molière's Tartuffe the American-as-Apple-Pie Treatment" by Aaron Barksdale-Burns added to blog on website.
4 January. Board of Directors meeting.
1 January. "The Miser" by Rebecca Smith added to blog on website.
December 2020
Winter newsletter (vol. 3, no.4) released.
11 December. Email invitation from the office of the Mayor of Versailles to work with Le Mois Molière in Versailles, France. Cyprienne Simchyowitz sent a diplomatic response while we await further planning.
November 2020
21 November. K-12 newsletter sent; also posted under Education drop-down on website
October 2020
26 October. K-12 email blast sent.
19 October. Donor appeal letter sent to 419 addresses; cost $229.35; brought in
$4,056.00 in new funds.
September 2020
21 September. Book Club on Tartuffe, Part 2.
7 September. Book Club on Tartuffe, Part 1.
August 2020
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in August: 21. Events reached 348 people with 13 event responses.
27 August. Event at François Chouteau and Native American Heritage Fountain; Keith Nelson introduced Philip blue owl Hooser and Felicia Londré.
26 August. Publication of newsletter Vol. 3, no. 3 (Fall 2020). Call for volunteer artists for a Molière coloring book.
18 August 2020. Joint meeting of boards of Alliance Française de Kansas City and KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 on Zoom to explore collaboration and mutual support.
July 2020
26 July. The Miser, world premiere reading of as new translation by Nicholas Henke in
collaboration with Sunday Script Circle.
8 July. Philip blue owl Hooser commissioned to write a play set in 1821 about the Chouteau family and native nations at the confluence with Molière as a point of interaction.
June 2020
Publication of sixth newsletter (Summer 2020).
May-June 2020
12 "Five-Minute Molière" videos posted to KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 Facebook page and linked to website.
May 2020
May. K-12 email blast sent.
18 May. Book Club: The Bungler (L'Etourdi).
April 2020
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in April: 7 per week. 77 Instagram followers.
4 April. K-12 email blast sent.
April issue of INKansas City.com, "Make It Molière," p. 49.
March 2020
16 March. Summit Meeting on Zoom.
11-13 March. Visit to Kansas City by French Cultural Attaché Tanguy Accart. Luncheon with Board of Directors on 12 March.
February 2020
Publication of sixth newsletter (Spring 2020).
Kansas City Public Library lecture by Dr. Virginie Roche-Tiengo (School of Law, Sorbonne) scheduled for April, to be preceded by reception hosted by Gayle Krigel. Due to the pandemic, the lecture has been re-scheduled for January 2022.
20 February. Don Dagenais and Felicia Londré represent KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 at ArtsKC luncheon.
January 2020
15 January 2020. Molière's 398th birthday celebrated with Kansas City celebrity readings from his work at KC Melting Pot Theatre.
December 2019
Publication of fifth newsletter (Winter 2019). Debut of our logo designed by Christina Schafer.
November 2019
15 November. Dedication of land for François Chouteau and Native American Heritage Fountain, attended by Chantal Roberts and Felicia Londré.
September 2019
Publication of fourth newsletter (Fall 2019).
August 2019
23 August. 501c3 status granted by IRS.
6 August. Donor and volunteer party at Diastole. Approximately 40 volunteer sign-ups.
May 2019
Publication of our third newsletter (Spring/Summer 2019). Eulogy for our founder Kip Niven (d. 6 May 2022).
January 2019
Publication of second issue of our newsletter to a growing email list.
September 2018
Publication of our first newsletter. Sent to about 500 email addresses.
July 2018
July/August issue of KC Studio article about the project by Rebecca Smith on page 22.
May 2018
30 May. Kip Niven proposes our organization's name: KC MOlière: 400 in 2022.
21 May. Initial meeting of arts leaders to explore the idea of a Molière festival; 21 attended.
Future Events
January 2022
11 January. 6:30pm. "From Louis XIV's France to the Anglophone World Today: Molière's Continuing inspiration" lecture by Dr. Virginie Roche-Tiengo at the Plaza Branch of Kansas City Public Library.
12 - 30 January. The Pests, Kansas City Actors Theatre's world premiere of a new verse translation of Molière's Les Fâcheux.
15 January. 2:00-4:30pm. Molière's 400th birthday celebration in Kirkwood Hall of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
March 2022
3-6 March. Tartuffe at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
April 2022
21 April-1 May. The Imaginary Invalid, world premiere of a new translation by David MacKay of Molière's Le Malade imaginaire. Chapman Theatre. Kansas State University, Manhattan KS.
30 April-5 May. Jérome Pouly, sociétaire of the Comédie Française, will perform his one-man play about Molière and will participate in causeries with the Académie Lafayette and the Alliance Française de Kansas City.
May 2022
15 May. 3:30-5:00pm. Ensemble Correspondances presented by The Friends of Chamber Music. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
June 2022
10 & 12 June. Tartuffe, the opera by Kirk Mechem. Landlocked Opera.
2-11 June. Secrets & Lies, a contemporary African American adaptation by Nicole Hodges Persley of Molière's Sganarelle, ou le Cocu imaginaire. Kansas City Melting Pot Theatre.
updated 27 October 2021
A 6-minute survey of local theatre productions and related activities by John Rice:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tl50ji2ksiYv6HUMbszqL34RIpvPazvD/view?usp=drivesdk
A 3-minute promo video by Amanda Davison and John Rice.
Direct link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-
kmOzRVpr0RFe60mwbeQX5Bv4HT8I5wC/view?usp=drivesdk
Via YouTube site: https://youtu.be/bqQigsx14M4
Hello Kansas City, video from the Comédie-Française to Kansas City, in French with
subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph4QbDmhIB0
NOTE: Book Club and blog publication listings are incomplete.
June 2022
2-11 June. Secrets & Lies, a contemporary African American adaptation by Nicole Hodges Persley of Molière's Sganarelle, ou le Cocu imaginaire. Kansas City Melting Pot Theatre.
10 & 12 June. Tartuffe, the opera by Kirke Mechem. Landlocked Opera. Penn Valley Community College Theatre. Lecture preceding each performance by Professor Anna Wheeler Gentry, Arizona State University.
May 2022
1 May. 2:00 - 4:30pm. Free public celebration of Molière's 400th birthday (originally scheduled for 15 January but postponed). Kirkwood Hall, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
1 May. 1:00pm. Matinee performance of M de Molière by Jérôme Pouly after which he joined the public celebration at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
2 May. 2:30-3:30pm: Monsieur Pouly in conversation with Rockhurst University and UMKC French students at Rockhurst’s Arrupe Hall 212.
2 May. 5:00pm: Jérôme Pouly’s Zoom from Kansas City to all branches of the Alliance Française nationwide.
2 May. “Molière at 400, Kansas City MO,” RFI English (Radio France International)
video: otrnp8 m82 47 M70A1yMtu0caat: 03560 ·
2 May. “France’s Molière Still Relevant in Kansas City after 400 Years” by Sarah Elzas, RFT (Radio France International): https://buff.ly/3kwBtCp
3 May. 6:30pm. Lecture by Dr. Virginie Roche-Tiengo, Université de Paris-Sorbonne, on Molière in World Culture at the Plaza Branch of Kansas City Public Library (originally scheduled for April 2020, then for January 2022, but postponed due to COVID).
15 May. 3:30-5:00pm. Ensemble Correspondences presented by The Friends of Chamber Music. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
18 May. 9:30-11:00am CDT Zoom with Dr Henriette Pouly’s two classes: Molière and French Literature, University of Hamburg, Germany.
April 2022
13-16 April. The Imaginary Invalid, translated by Miles Malleson, directed by Katheryn Bilbo. Mary Linn auditorium, Northwest Missouri State University,
21-24 April. The Imaginary Invalid, world premiere of a new translation by David MacKay of Molière's Le Malade imaginaire. Chapman Theatre. Kansas State University, Manhattan KS.
21 April. Presentation in French about KC Molière: 400 in 2022 by Trinity Hodges as her capstone project in Dr. Kathleen Madigan’s class, Rockhurst University.
25 April. Catherine Tissot and Felicia Londré on Michael Hogge’s Arts Magazine, KKFI 90.5FM, noon to 1:00pm, talking about the 400th birthday celebration and the visit of Jérôme Pouly.
29 April. 2:00pm. Performance of scenes from Molière by students of the Académie Lafayette International High School in the theatre at the Oak Street campus. Scenes from act 2 of Les Fourberies de Scapin directed by Mme Nora Abied. “Menuet” piano duo from Le Bourgeois gentilhomme. Scenes from Act 4 of Tartuffe directed by Mme Kate Absher.
29 April-4 May. Jérome Pouly, sociétaire of the Comédie Française, in residence in Kansas City, sponsored by KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 and the Alliance Française de Kansas City.
30 April. 7:30pm. Jérome Pouly, 510th sociétaire of the Comédie-Française, will perform the world premiere of M de Molière, his one-man play about Molière at METropolitan Ensemble Theatre's Warwick Theatre. Co-produced in Kansas City with the Alliance Française de Kansas City. This production will tour France in summer 2022. See also 1 May.
March 2022
3 - 6 March. Tartuffe, translated by Ranjit Bolt, directed by Cinnamon Schultz, Kansas
City Kansas Community College.
15 March. Broadway Play Publications publication of The Pests, Felicia Londré's verse
translation/ adaptation of Molière's Les Fâcheux, as premiered by Kansas City Actors
Theatre: https://www.broadwayplaypub.com/the-plays/the-
pests/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5newtitles2022
0316
23 March-27 April. Molière Then and Now, a SPARK course. 1:30-3:30 on Wednesdays at 4825
Troost and on-line, by Dr Felicia Londré, Curators' Distinguished Professor of Theatre Emerita, UMKC.
Course description
As theatres all over the world celebrate the 400th anniversary of Molière's 1622 birth with productions of his ever-popular comedies, Kansas City boasts a three-year build-up to the birthdate with play productions, lectures, videos, a coloring book, and even a pastry named The Molière. This course covers highlights from Molière life and work in the context of his time, the reign of the "Sun King" Louis XIV, when the arts encompassed both the Baroque and the neoclassical. Each session will include PowerPoint visuals and in-class reading of brief selections.
Wed. 23 March 2022 Introduction. KC MOlière: 400 in 2022. Overview of Molière's comedies and his place in world theatre. Scripts will be provided for reading The Flying Doctor during the session.
Wed. 30 March 2022 French theatre before Molière: farce, commedia dell'arte, tragicomedy, neoclassical tragedy and comedy. The Hôtel de Bourgogne and Théâtre du Marais. Jean-Baptiste Poquelin before he was Molière. Molière's
early career. Touring the French provinces. The Prince de Conti. Painters Nicolas & Pierre Mignard. The
salons of Paris. Scripts will be provided for reading a scene from Two Precious Maidens (Les Précieuses
ridicules).
Wed. 6 April 2022 Pierre Corneille & The Cid. Nicolas Fouquet & Vaux le Vicomte. Court ballet and comédie-ballet. Molière and Louis XIV. Jean de La Fontaine. Scripts will be provided for reading a scene from The Pests (Les
Fâcheux).
Wed. 13 April 2022 Madeleine Béjart. Molière's marriage to Armande Béjart. The School for Wives. Pleasures of the
Enchanted Isle at Versailles. Molière's 5-year battle for Tartuffe. Scripts will be provided for reading a
scene from Tartuffe.
Wed. 20 April 2022 Jean Racine. The Misanthrope. Dom Juan. Molière's friends: Boileau, Chapelle. Le Bourgeois
gentilhomme. Jean Racine. Jean-Baptiste Lully. Scripts will be provided for reading scenes from Phèdre
and from The Bourgeois Gentleman during the session.
Wed. 27 April 2022 The Learned Ladies. The Hypochondriac. Molière's death. The founding of the Comédie Française.
Preparation for the Kansas City performance of Le M de Molière by C-F sociétaire Jérôme Pouly on 30
April. Scripts will be provided for reading a scene from The Learned Ladies.
February 2022
5 February. Release of Hello, Kansas City, a short funny video in French with English
subtitles, filmed at the Comédie-Française in Paris and featuring sociétaires of the C-F
spreading amusingly garbled information about Kansas City, François Chouteau, and
Molière: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph4QbDmhIB0
19 February. Tartuffe reading & discussion by Oak Hall play-reading group.
January 2022
3 January. "Molière, un auteur 'au Panthéon des célébrités mondiales'," Le Monde
(Paris). Paragraph on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 on p. 23.
4 January. "A Multifaceted Celebration of French Culture" by Vivian Kane. KC Studio
XIV, 1 (January/February 2022), p. 27.
12 January. Release of Newsletter #14 (Volume 4, no. 1).
12 January. "Director of The Pests Reflects on Return to Stage, KC Molière Celebration"
by Emily Park, interviewing Matt Schwader. IN Kansas City
https://www.inkansascity.com/arts-entertainment/theater/director-of-the-pests-
reflects-on-return-to-stage-kc-moliere-celebration/
janvier-février 2022. Molière: Les secrets d'un génie. Special Hors-Série issue of Le
Point. ISBN 978-2-85083-044-0. Mentions KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 on p. 81.
15 January. Molière's 400th birthday celebration planned for this date,
postponed by Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art because of staff shortages due
to COVID. Event rescheduled to Sunday 1 May, 2:00-4:30pm, in Kirkwood
Hall of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
15 - 30 January. The Pests, Kansas City Actors Theatre's world premiere of a new verse
translation of Molière's Les Fâcheux, directed by Matt Schwader. City Stage in Union
Station. 14 January preview performance; 15 January opening. Reviewed by
KC Studio (Vivian Kane, 22 January), Kansas City Magazine (Christine Pivovar, 24
January), and Black Bee Buzz (Lonita Cook, 25 January).
15 January. "400 ans de la naissance de Molière," France Info Culture. This online
article contains a link to the KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 website:
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/spectacles/theatre/400-ans-de-moliere-des-celebrations-en-
france-et-un-peu-partout-dans-le-monde_4917867.html
15 January. "4oo ans Molière [1/2]: 'jamais là où l'on l'attend'," by Siegfried Foster
interviewing Martial Poirson. RFI (Radio France International).
Kansas City gets a brief mention.
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/culture/20220115-moli%C3%A8re-400-ans-jamais-l%C3%A0-
o%C3%B9-on-attend-fabrique-gloire-nationale-martial-poirson-versailles
15 January. "En France et au-dela, on souffle les 400 bougies de Molière" L'Express.
Kansas City gets a brief mention.
https://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/1/societe/en-france-et-au-dela-on-souffle-les-400-bougies-
de-moliere_2166149.html
Also on France24: https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20220115-en-france-et-au-
del%C3%A0-on-souffle-les-400-bougies-de-moli%C3%A8re
December 2021
Jeu de Plume educational initiative: 17 essays by Rockhurst University students in Dr
Kathleen Madigan's French classes posted on website:
https://www.kcmoliere400in2022.com/newsletters
12 December. 7:30pm. Mademoiselle Molière by Gérard Savoisien, translated by Felicia
Londré. Public reading. Unicorn Theatre.
November 2021
4-7 November. 7:00pm Thr-Sat, 2:00pm Sun. The Learned Ladies (Freyda Thomas translation) directed by Chris McCoy. Jewell Theatre Company at William Jewell College.
8 November. "Molière as National Hero" lecture by Mechele Leon. UMKC Emeritus College Annual Dinner. Our 3-minute promo video was also shown: https://youtu.be/bqQigsx14M4
18-20 November. 7:30pm Thr-Sat, 2:00pm Sun. Sganarelle, or The Imaginary Cuckold (Richard Wilbur translation) directed by Matt Schwader. Avila University.
19 November. 12:10pm. Felicia Londré's PowerPoint lecture "Comic Genius at the Confluence: Molière and Kansas City." The Shepherd's Center in Central United Methodist Church. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w8Ht2-2mdo .
19 November. 6:30pm. Dr. Henriette Runte's lecture "Molière and Me" at the Kansas City Museum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlPKh017878
October 2021
23-24 October. The Precious Young Ladies by Molière and world premiere of satirical afterpiece The Precious Young Men by Alli Jordan. Pembroke-Hill School.
21 October. Jennifer Martin's master class on Baroque period movement at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
20 October. Felicia Londré's PowerPoint presentation on Molière and Sganarelle or The Imaginary Cuckold under the direction of Matt Schwader at Avila University.
9 October. "Lit on Grand" at Afterword Tavern & Shelves. All-day event for local authors will include KC MOlière: 400 in 2022's coloring book Molière and France under the Sun King.
10 October. "Culinary Art Just as the Sun King Intended" by Rachel Murphy. INKansas City.
4-15 October. Mobile Molière in schools. Pembroke Hill School (3:30 Oct. 4). Olathe High School with bussed-in middle schoolers and Q & A (9:30am Oct 6). Belton High School (9:45am Oct. 8). UMKC campus (7:30pm Oct. 9 & 15). St. James Academy (11:20am Oct. 11). University Academy (9:20am Oct. 12). Frontier STEM (9:00 & 10:30am Oct. 14).
1-2 October. Mobile Molière public performances. The Coterie Theatre. The production then tours to schools until 15 October.
September 2021
29 September. Launch of André's Confiserie Suisse's The Molière pastry along with Molière 400 blend Messenger Coffee and Joie de Molière dessert wine from Les Bourgeois Vineyards. To be followed by pop-up events at Messenger Coffee and elsewhere.
16 September. Alliance Française de Kansas City open house included KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 handouts.
16 September. K-12 e-blast to 700 area teachers of English, French, and dramatic arts.
14 September. Release of Fall 2021 newsletter, vol. IV, no. 3.
14 September. Felicia Londré's PowerPoint presentation on Molière and The Learned Ladies for the Jewell Players cast under direction of Chris McCoy, William Jewell College.
1 September. Tartuffenthrope! nominated for Best Play in The Pitch's annual Best of Kansas City voting. Voting open 1-30 September; winner to be announced in the October issue.
August 2021
20 August 2021. Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Swope Park, Kansas City. 5:45-6:00. Photo ops with MoMo and performance of Tartuffenthrope!
13 August. Kansas City Baroque Ensemble concert, composers who worked with Molière, KC MOlière:400 in 2022 kick-off reception following.
August 2021: release of 3-minute promo video by John Rice and Amanda Davison, in production May-August. Direct link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-kmOzRVpr0RFe60mwbeQX5Bv4HT8I5wC/view?usp=drivesdk
via YouTube site: https://youtu.be/bqQigsx14M4
August 2021 issue. "Backstory 1821," interview with Philip blue owl Hooser, Kansas City Magazine, page 120.
July 2021
24 July. 8:00am to 1:00pm. Participation in dedication activities at François Chouteau and Native American Heritage Fountain: performance of Tartuffenthrope! MoMo, our mascot-head Molière, with flyers. Coloring book sales.
21 July. KKFI Radio, noon, Philip blue owl Hooser & Patricia Williams interviewed by Maria Vasquez.
16 July 2021. KCUR 89.3 Morning Edition. Interviews on Tartuffenthrope! https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2021-07-17/playwright-philip-blue-owl-hooser-creates-a-comedy-to-celebrate-the-founding-of-kansas-city
15 July. Jennifer Martin joined board.
8 July. Don Dagenais moved into the vice president position (open since the passing of our beloved vice president Sarah Ingram-Eiser on 24 June).
1 July. Blogging With Molière: 400th Anniversary Activities, presentation by M. Kathleen (Katie) Madigan, with participation by Dr. Felicia Londré. American Association of Teachers of French, annual conference, on Zoom, 1 July 2021.
June 2021
7 June. Board of Directors meeting. Vote to add two board positions: Don Dagenais and Dorothée Werner.
5 June. Kansas City Young Audiences. Teacher Appreciation and Season Announcement
Reception. Debut appearance of MoMo.
1 June. Molière and France Under the Sun King, a coloring book created by ten Kansas City volunteer artists, published in June 2021, available on Amazon and other online sites. ISBN 978-0-578-90157-2.
May 2021
24 May. Book Club discussion: Scapin the Schemer.
14 May. Newsletter IV, 2 (Summer 2021) released.
10 May. Book Club discussion: Le Médecin malgré lui (Doctor in Spite of Himself).
April 2021
26 April. Book Club discussion: The Learned Ladies (Les Femmes savantes).
22 April. Preliminary tasting of The Molière, a new pastry creation by René Bollier, Executive Pastry Chef and Chocolatier at André's Confiserie Suisse. David Weber of Messenger Coffee presenting a cupping of various beans to blend an exquisitely paired coffee. René gave a tour of the kitchens for committee members Rebecca Smith, Doug Frost, Felicia Londré, and videographer Amanda Davison.
21 April. Nathan Bowman is contracted to direct Tartuffenthrope!
19 April. Contract signed for use of Kirkwood Hall in Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for Molière's 400th birthday celebration. Program planning begins.
12 April. Book Club discussion: La Jalousie du Barbouillé.
March 2021
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in March: 25
22 March. Barbouillé's Jealousy, a new translation of La Jalousie du Barbouillé by Chantal Roberts, added to website.
15 March. K-12 newsletter sent by Dani Trebus to 700+ teachers. Deadline extended
to 26 April for this semester's Jeu de Plume competition. As an attachment, Richard Rischar's new translation of The Flying Doctor was offered for classroom use. The translation is also available under Teacher Resources on our website.
15 March. Book Club, 7:00-8:00pm, discussed Richard Rischar's translation of Le Médecin volant (The Flying Doctor); he has tentatively rendered the title as Chase-Scene Doctor.
14 March. "Creating a French-Inspired Garden" by Catherine Thompson added to blogs on website.
10 March. Felicia Londré gave her PowerPoint lecture on "Great Comedy from a Hard Life: How Molière Coped through Comedy," 8:45-9:50am, for Pembroke-Hill class in Theatre taught by Tracy Terstriep. $25 booking fee paid.
7 March. KC Actors Theatre gave us a benefit world-premiere reading of The Pests by professional actors, directed by John Rensenhouse, on Zoom and available to watch for one week following. The event raised $575 for KC MOlière: 400 in 2022.
5 March. For International Relations Council video designed to win back a Sister City in France (Metz used to be our Sister City), Tasha Zugazagoitia interviewed Felicia Londré, 10:00-10:30am, hosted by Matthew Hughes.
2 March. Higher Education Committee announced Molière production commitments from Avila University, Kansas State University, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Northwest Missouri State University-Maryville, Missouri Valley College, and UMKC.
1 March. "Louis XIV: His Influence on Childbirth" by Rebecca Smith added to blog on website.
February-March 2021
24 Feb.-17 March. UMKC Cockefair Course (continuing education) on Molière: 4 sessions on Zoom presented by Felicia Londré, 7:00 - 8:30pm on Wednesdays 24 February, 3, 10, and 17 March. There were 28 enrolled. 24 February: overview of KC MOlière:400 in 2022 & Molière's life; The Flying Doctor. 3 March: Molière & Louis XIV; The Pests and Two Precious Maidens. 10 March: women in Molière's life and plays; School for Wives and Misanthrope. 17 March: music & dance at court and in the plays; Tartuffe and Bourgeois Gentleman.
February 2021
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in February: 20
22 February. KKFI radio, noon to 1:00pm. Michael Hogge interview of John Rensenhouse and Felicia Londré about The Pests on his Arts Magazine program.
21 February. Unicorn's Thoroughly Modern Molière-commissioned new play Blind Faith by Natalie Liccardello and Talia Liccardello, 7:30-9:30pm Zoom reading by professional actors, followed by Q & A.
15 February. Book Club, 7:00-8:00pm, on Lovers' Quarrels (Le Dépit amoureux), part 2.
15 February. "Fly Me to the ... Forest?" by Chantal Roberts added to blog on website.
15 February. Spring 2021 newsletter, vol. 4, no. 1, released and archived on website.
8 February. Zoom meeting of Julián Zugazagoitia, Anne Manning, Sarah Ingram-Eiser, Cyprienne Simchowitz, and Felicia Londré to discuss possibility of holding the 400th birthday at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
1 February. Book Club, 7:00-8:00pm, on Lovers' Quarrels (Le Dépit amoureux).
January 2021
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in January:
27 January. "Celebrating Valentine's Day with Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame" by Catherine Rush Thompson added to blog on website.
15 January. Molière's 399th birthday celebrated with a Zoom party featuring Kansas City celebrity readers of selections from Molière's plays and the opening scene of Philip blue owl Hooser's Tartuffenmiserthrope! Recording of the event and the program available on website under About drop-down Enjoying Molière.
15 January. "Kansas' Mechem Gives Molière's Tartuffe the American-as-Apple-Pie Treatment" by Aaron Barksdale-Burns added to blog on website.
4 January. Board of Directors meeting.
1 January. "The Miser" by Rebecca Smith added to blog on website.
December 2020
Winter newsletter (vol. 3, no.4) released.
11 December. Email invitation from the office of the Mayor of Versailles to work with Le Mois Molière in Versailles, France. Cyprienne Simchyowitz sent a diplomatic response while we await further planning.
November 2020
21 November. K-12 newsletter sent; also posted under Education drop-down on website
October 2020
26 October. K-12 email blast sent.
19 October. Donor appeal letter sent to 419 addresses; cost $229.35; brought in
$4,056.00 in new funds.
September 2020
21 September. Book Club on Tartuffe, Part 2.
7 September. Book Club on Tartuffe, Part 1.
August 2020
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in August: 21. Events reached 348 people with 13 event responses.
27 August. Event at François Chouteau and Native American Heritage Fountain; Keith Nelson introduced Philip blue owl Hooser and Felicia Londré.
26 August. Publication of newsletter Vol. 3, no. 3 (Fall 2020). Call for volunteer artists for a Molière coloring book.
18 August 2020. Joint meeting of boards of Alliance Française de Kansas City and KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 on Zoom to explore collaboration and mutual support.
July 2020
26 July. The Miser, world premiere reading of as new translation by Nicholas Henke in
collaboration with Sunday Script Circle.
8 July. Philip blue owl Hooser commissioned to write a play set in 1821 about the Chouteau family and native nations at the confluence with Molière as a point of interaction.
June 2020
Publication of sixth newsletter (Summer 2020).
May-June 2020
12 "Five-Minute Molière" videos posted to KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 Facebook page and linked to website.
May 2020
May. K-12 email blast sent.
18 May. Book Club: The Bungler (L'Etourdi).
April 2020
Facebook posts on KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 page in April: 7 per week. 77 Instagram followers.
4 April. K-12 email blast sent.
April issue of INKansas City.com, "Make It Molière," p. 49.
March 2020
16 March. Summit Meeting on Zoom.
11-13 March. Visit to Kansas City by French Cultural Attaché Tanguy Accart. Luncheon with Board of Directors on 12 March.
February 2020
Publication of sixth newsletter (Spring 2020).
Kansas City Public Library lecture by Dr. Virginie Roche-Tiengo (School of Law, Sorbonne) scheduled for April, to be preceded by reception hosted by Gayle Krigel. Due to the pandemic, the lecture has been re-scheduled for January 2022.
20 February. Don Dagenais and Felicia Londré represent KC MOlière: 400 in 2022 at ArtsKC luncheon.
January 2020
15 January 2020. Molière's 398th birthday celebrated with Kansas City celebrity readings from his work at KC Melting Pot Theatre.
December 2019
Publication of fifth newsletter (Winter 2019). Debut of our logo designed by Christina Schafer.
November 2019
15 November. Dedication of land for François Chouteau and Native American Heritage Fountain, attended by Chantal Roberts and Felicia Londré.
September 2019
Publication of fourth newsletter (Fall 2019).
August 2019
23 August. 501c3 status granted by IRS.
6 August. Donor and volunteer party at Diastole. Approximately 40 volunteer sign-ups.
May 2019
Publication of our third newsletter (Spring/Summer 2019). Eulogy for our founder Kip Niven (d. 6 May 2022).
January 2019
Publication of second issue of our newsletter to a growing email list.
September 2018
Publication of our first newsletter. Sent to about 500 email addresses.
July 2018
July/August issue of KC Studio article about the project by Rebecca Smith on page 22.
May 2018
30 May. Kip Niven proposes our organization's name: KC MOlière: 400 in 2022.
21 May. Initial meeting of arts leaders to explore the idea of a Molière festival; 21 attended.
Future Events
January 2022
11 January. 6:30pm. "From Louis XIV's France to the Anglophone World Today: Molière's Continuing inspiration" lecture by Dr. Virginie Roche-Tiengo at the Plaza Branch of Kansas City Public Library.
12 - 30 January. The Pests, Kansas City Actors Theatre's world premiere of a new verse translation of Molière's Les Fâcheux.
15 January. 2:00-4:30pm. Molière's 400th birthday celebration in Kirkwood Hall of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
March 2022
3-6 March. Tartuffe at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
April 2022
21 April-1 May. The Imaginary Invalid, world premiere of a new translation by David MacKay of Molière's Le Malade imaginaire. Chapman Theatre. Kansas State University, Manhattan KS.
30 April-5 May. Jérome Pouly, sociétaire of the Comédie Française, will perform his one-man play about Molière and will participate in causeries with the Académie Lafayette and the Alliance Française de Kansas City.
May 2022
15 May. 3:30-5:00pm. Ensemble Correspondances presented by The Friends of Chamber Music. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
June 2022
10 & 12 June. Tartuffe, the opera by Kirk Mechem. Landlocked Opera.
2-11 June. Secrets & Lies, a contemporary African American adaptation by Nicole Hodges Persley of Molière's Sganarelle, ou le Cocu imaginaire. Kansas City Melting Pot Theatre.
updated 27 October 2021