(The Trunk)

Our Vision - What We Do

Innovative. Inclusive. Passionate.
Professional-level theatre at community theatre prices.

Welcoming & Inclusive: A Family Environment
The White Theatre at The J is a family environment where everyone is accepted, celebrated, and valued. We tell diverse and inclusive stories, foster belonging on and off stage, and ensure that once you’re a part of The White Theatre at The J, you’re a family member for life.

Building Community: Development and Outreach
We are a theatre of and for our community. Through exceptional shared experiences and inclusive programming, we bring people together across generations and backgrounds. We also invest in the future of the arts by training emerging talent and creating opportunities for students and new professionals to learn and thrive.

Enriching Mind, Body & Soul: The Power of Theatre
We believe that live performance has the power to spark conversation, nurture empathy, and uplift the human spirit. We hold ourselves to professional standards and aim to offer every audience member a meaningful, engaging, and emotionally resonant experience.

Passing on Jewish Culture & History: Celebrating Jewish Art
The White Theatre at The J proudly celebrates the richness of Jewish life, values, and storytelling. From staging Jewish works to spotlighting Jewish artists and incorporating Judaic learning into our process, we honor tradition while bringing joy, meaning, and cultural connection to the stage. We are thrilled to provide the Jewish community of Kansas City their theatrical home.

Treating Others As You Wish To Be Treated: Love & Passion
We lead with kindness, respect, and deep love for live performance. Whether in rehearsal, on stage, or in the audience, we strive to create an environment where passion is shared, voices are heard, and every person feels seen and appreciated

(The Roots)
Our History - What We've Done

The White Theatre at The J opened with a production of A Chorus Line in the fall of 2005 and has continued to delight audiences ever since. Memorable past productions include:

• Oliver! (2007)
• Chicago (2011)
• Les Misérables (2014)
• Newsies (2018)
• A Raisin in the Sun (2023)
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2023)
• The Music Man (2024)
• West Side Story (2025)

...and many more to come.

Located in Overland Park, Kansas, The White Theatre at The J is a non-profit theatre company that has delivered outstanding educational and entertainment experiences to the Kansas City region for over 20 years.

Theatre at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City began in 1932 with the Resident Theatre. Historian Richard Piland described the theatre as having “occupied a position of considerable importance in Kansas City’s theatre history.” Before the Resident Theatre, local community and amateur theatre activity in Kansas City was sparse. It was the Resident Theatre that provided the first organized community theatre to the region. Many professional artists got their start at the Resident Theatre, including Richard Carrothers and Dennis Hennessy, owners of the New Theatre Restaurant.

When The J moved to its current location in south Johnson County, the Resident Theatre at 82nd and Holmes sadly closed. On the JCC’s Board of Directors at the time was a 24-year-old Scott Slabotsky, the youngest board member, who played a key role in ensuring theatre returned to the new campus.

In 1992, Slabotsky drafted early floor plans for a theatre, but it was not until October 30, 2005, that The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre officially opened its doors. Slabotsky was instrumental in leading the extensive fundraising effort, which ultimately collected $13 million for the theatre - $10 million for construction and an additional $3 million endowment to fund the theatre's operation and maintenance costs for years to come.

The theatre was named after the late Lewis White, a founding partner of Copaken, White & Blitt, and his widow Shirley, who provided the initial seed funding. Though Lewis passed away before the project began, Shirley, with Slabotsky and many other generous donors, brought the dream of a state-of-the-art theatre at The J to life.