Unicorn Looks to the Future with Personnel Changes

This past spring Unicorn Theatre Managing Director Jason Kralicek stepped down from his position after 10 years, to focus on his snow cone business (Tropical Sno) with partner Seth Golay. Unicorn Theatre has also promoted Ian R. Crawford, who has served as the Development Director for three years, to the new position of Associate Artistic Director.

Producing Artistic Director Cynthia Levin said "The Unicorn is about change and growth. We expect this with our business, our productions, and with our employees. People move on and move up. I am inspired by the opportunity to explore new voices and additional energy as we move towards our 45th season".

Ian R. Crawford is a California Bay Area native who came to Kansas City after nine years in New York City. Ian is an alumnus of the La Mama Umbria Directors' Symposium and a graduate of Fordham College at Lincoln Center. He has directed and designed multiple Unicorn Theatre productions, including The Ghosts of Lote Bravo, which was featured on the cover of American Theatre Magazine this past February. Crawford's latest directing project is Hir, which runs at Unicorn until June 24th.

Raleigh Miller has taken over the role as the Development Director. Raleigh grew up in Kansas City, left for fifteen years, and then came home. He's worked in nonprofit administration and development at United Way of Central Ohio and United Way of Wyandotte County. He has been attending Unicorn shows as often as possible since high school, and his first production here was The Laramie Project on September 11, 2001. Raleigh's passion is empowering people to shape their community through engagement, activism, and philanthropy.

Kansas City native, Kimberly Washington has stepped into the role of Business Manager. She graduated from Mid-America Nazarene University with a B.A in Management & Human Relations and a M.A. in Organizational Administration & Leadership. Before joining the Unicorn Theatre team, Kimberly was employed at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City for five years as a Business Director with the Head Start program. During Kimberly's spare time she is a mother of four young men and spends a lot of time at the football field.

Unicorn Theatre staff and Board of Directors could not be more excited with our new team members. Board President Dr. Winnie Dunn says "Just as many of our plays invite our audiences to chart new territory, our board and staff at the Unicorn Theatre is entering into a new phase in our evolution. We have 2 new staff with incredible experience. It is clear that they have been working their way to us for many years, and we are so happy they found Unicorn their home."

Founded in 1974, Unicorn Theatre enhances the Kansas City community by developing and producing high-quality, thought-provoking plays that have never been seen in the region. We illuminate social issues by shining a light on diversity and inclusive stories which include race, religion and gender identity. Unicorn creates opportunities for the advancement of emerging and established actors, directors, playwrights, designers, technicians and administrative staff. Unicorn Theatre is under the artistic and executive leadership of Producing Artistic Director Cynthia Levin, who joined the company in 1979. From a newly expanded home in the Midtown neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, the Unicorn houses two stages-The Levin Stage (formerly The Main Stage) and The Jerome Stage (added in 2008). After a year-long capital campaign Unicorn Theatre was able to purchase the building outright in 2014. A fully professional not-for-profit theatre, the theatre operates under agreement with Actor's Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. The Unicorn is a founding member of the National New Play Network, an alliance of not-for-profit professional theatres that champions the development, production and continued life of new plays for the American theatre; and is a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Inc., the national service organization for the not-for-profit professional theatre. Financial assistance for this theatre has been provided by The National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; corporate and foundation gifts; and the generous individuals throughout the community we serve.

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