American Royal pays homage to co-founder Tom Bass in Horse Power with The Coterie Theatre

Photo Courtesy of The Coterie’s Instagram

In collaboration with The Coterie Theatre, the American Royal is celebrating its 125th year anniversary with a one-of-a-kind production, Horse Power—written by award-winning playwright Michelle Tyrene Johnson and directed by Teresa Leggard about the life of Tom Bass, one of their co-founders.

The organization, formerly known as The National Hereford Show, was founded in 1899 in Kansas City. The non-profit organization fosters a diverse community that champions food and agriculture. The American Royal holds national competitive livestock shows, national equine shows, youth and professional rodeos, and the world’s largest barbeque competition. 

Tom Bass was a former slave born in 1859 and became a world-famous horse rider and trainer of show horses. Bass created the ‘Bass Bit’ as a horse bit that prevented the abuse of horses during training and was later inducted into the Missouri Hall of Fame at the Missouri State Capitol in 1999. 

The show tells of the life of Tom Bass and a parallel of a young girl, Natalia (Nate). Both are faced with racism and discrimination from different time periods. Each character struggles as they navigate the emotional journey of confronting and overcoming prejudice in their respective eras.

Amari Lewis—the actor who plays Natalia (Nate)—says she is honored to be able to play a role that will inspire children who look like her. 

“There were a couple of moments in the show where I felt like every little black girl can relate to this. I remember so many moments of my own life, feeling that same frustration. I had a lot of moments where I felt like I see her, I understand her and in turn, she sees me as well,” Lewis says. 

The production utilizes life-size puppet horses created by What If Puppets, to symbolize the deep connection between humans and animals, particularly in the world of equestrianism.

Amanda Kibler–executive artistic director for What If Puppets–worked with The Coterie for over ten years and approaches puppeteering with the mission to foster inclusivity. 

“So much about the arts is creating an environment that’s welcoming to everybody. That’s why most of us get into it. In high school or middle school, often, the theater or the arts become a place where you feel the most accepted, and that has not always translated into professional work,” Kibler says.

“For me, as a leader, one of the things I think about is why we are all doing this. We’re doing it because, at some point, it created a sense of community. And community means inclusion. Everyone’s welcome at the table. So, I’m always thinking about how we are making our organization a place where everybody’s welcome at the table,” she says.

Trae Venerable—an officer with the American Royal and a lifelong horseman—was moved to tears during the performance. For him, the story felt deeply personal, mirroring his own upbringing in a family of ranchers.

“I cried during the performance. Nate was me growing up. My family being horsemen, farming, ranching on both sides, I know exactly what she was going through and I saw myself on that stage,” Venerable says. 

Venerable reflects on the long and challenging road to bringing the production to life. After over a year and a half of planning, fundraising, and gathering resources, the dream finally became a reality.

“It’s a cool thing to see everything come to pass. It almost feels like a dream. We talked about this for over a year and a half. This took a lot of planning, money, and resources. This was not an overnight thing. We were able to partner with The Coterie, and they’ve been awesome all the way through. I’m happy with how it turned out and glad so many people from all walks of life came out to experience it,” says Venerable. 

As the American Royal celebrates its 125th anniversary, Horse Power not only honors the legacy of Tom Bass but also serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength needed to overcome discrimination, both in the past and present. Through the talents of The Coterie Theatre, the artistry of What If Puppets, and the dedication of those involved, the production creates a connection between history and today’s world, showing that the stories of courage and perseverance are timeless.

Production for the play runs until Oct. 6. You can find tickets for the show here.