Electric Poe

The Coterie Theatre is bringing Electric Poe to Union Cemetery starting tomorrow, October 14, for a run of sunset performances that goes through November 1. It's a stage adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's work, written by R.H. Wilhoit, with music written and performed by Spencer Thut and direction by Matt Rapport. On stage, Erdin Schultz-Bever takes on the role of the actor and Thut provides the music.

This isn't the first time Wilhoit has brought Poe to the stage. He's put on acclaimed productions of Electric Poe every year from 2020 through 2025, and he directed the very first one at The Coterie back in 2009. The show has also toured as a stage production for students and educators, so it's a piece that's been around the block and refined over time.

The venue is part of the draw. Union Cemetery is Kansas City's oldest public cemetery, founded in 1857 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These outdoor performances are staged in front of the Holding Vault, which was built that same year. The Coterie is co-producing with the cemetery, and the sunset timing puts the whole thing in a pretty specific light.

For a bit of background on the company, The Coterie Theatre is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit professional company founded in 1979. They're nationally recognized for their Theatre for Young Audiences programming and have put on more than 50 world or American premieres over the last 47 years. Electric Poe had its indoor run at The Coterie from September 14 through October 2 before moving outdoors to the cemetery for this stretch. Performances run from October 14 to November 1 at sunset in front of the Holding Vault at Union Cemetery.