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Over the past few years, local playwright Bill Rogers has quietly discovered how to get independent, thoughtful productions up and running. Rogers, who has written about the Kansas-Missouri border wars (Broken Strings) and generational strife (Collisions), makes a family-inheritance squabble the center of tonight’s world-premiere comedy, Breaking the Trust. In the past, he has tried out new material at the Fringe Festival and in competitions; Breaking the Trust, in fact, won a “Plays in Progress” contest at Rockhurst University. He has activated his own Tara Lane Productions, a small theatrical company, and in association with City Theatre of Independence, has found a director, a venue and an audience. Getting the work out there turns out to be something writers can just do. Inspiring as Rogers’ success might be, what matters most to the audience is that it sees something diverting and illuminating. So far, his plays have been. Breaking the Trust , a comedy, starts tonight at 8 in the basement of the Westport Coffeehouse (4010 Pennsylvania). For tickets, call 800-838-3006. See westportcoffeehouse.com for additional showtimes and information.

Thu., April 15, 8 p.m.; Fri., April 16, 8 p.m.; Sat., April 17, 8 p.m.; Sun., April 18, 2 p.m.; Thu., April 22, 8 p.m.; Fri., April 23, 8 p.m.; Sat., April 24, 8 p.m.; Sun., April 25, 2 p.m., 2010