Music may be the first thing people associate with Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine District, but this summer theater is taking center stage as two productions bring Black history, culture and storytelling to life just steps from one another.
At the historic Blue Room inside the American Jazz Museum, audiences still have a few chances to catch Electric Renaissance, a family-friendly production celebrating the artists, writers and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance. Just down the street, the newly renovated Boone Theater is preparing to open Sarah Rector: The Untold Story, a one-woman performance about one of the most remarkable yet overlooked figures in Black American history.
Together, the productions showcase a growing role of live theater in a district best known for jazz.
Harlem Renaissance Comes Alive at the Blue Room
A special collaboration between The Coterie Theatre and the American Jazz Museum, Electric Renaissance transforms the Blue Room into a journey through one of the most influential periods in American culture.
Written and directed by Kansas City playwright Teresa Leggard, the production features actor Robert E. Coppage III and musician Amber “Flutienastiness” Underwood. Through poetry, stories and live music, the pair bring the voices of Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay and Nella Larsen to life.
The show reflects The Coterie’s mission of engaging young people and diverse communities through theater and education. Designed for audiences ages 10 and older, the approximately 60-minute production offers an accessible introduction to the Harlem Renaissance and its lasting influence on American culture, jazz and Black artistic expression.
Only three performances remain: June 7 at 2 p.m., June 11 at 7 p.m. and June 14 at 2 p.m.
The Blue Room is located at the west end of the American Jazz Museum, 1616 E. 18th St., KCMO. Get tickets at https://thecoterie.org/
A New Chapter for the Boone Theater
As Electric Renaissance closes, another production is preparing to open nearby.
Beginning June 13, the Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City will present Sarah Rector: The Untold Story at the newly reopened Boone Theater.
The production tells the true story of Sarah Rector, an 11-year-old Black girl whose Oklahoma land allotment unexpectedly made her a millionaire after oil was discovered on the property in 1913. Her story drew national attention and highlighted both the opportunities and challenges Black Americans faced during the early 20th century.
The one-woman performance stars Kansas City artist Karen E. Griffin, recently named the Missouri Arts Council’s 2025 Individual Artist of the Year. Griffin is known nationally as a visual artist, storyteller, educator and performer whose work explores African American history, identity and culture.
The show is among the first major theatrical productions to be staged in the Boone Theater following its $8.7 million renovation. The restored venue, located at 1701 E. 18th St., now serves as the permanent home of the Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City and adds another cultural anchor to the district.
Performances are scheduled for June 13, June 19, June 26, July 2, July 5 and July 12. General admission tickets range from $40 to $65, with a VIP option that includes a reception and post-show meet-and-greet with Griffin. Tickets can be purchased ad https://www.brtkc.org/
More Than Jazz
These two productions demonstrate how the district continues to evolve, offering audiences opportunities to experience Black history not only through music but also through theater, literature and storytelling.
