The William Inge Theater Festival was established at Independence Community College in 1981 by Margaret Goheen, a theater professor at ICC. With continued college support over the decades, It has grown into the acclaimed Festival that celebrates playwrights and playwriting. In 2003, ICC began year-round artistic programmings, such as playwright residencies and educational outreach. ICC then created the William Inge Center for the Arts to better reflect this added breadth of activity, of which the William Inge Theater Festival remains its signature event. In 2010, the Kansas State Legislature designated it the Official Theatre Festival of the State of Kansas. Independence Community College continues to support the William Inge Center for the Arts as a vital and unique generator of outstanding theater and playwright support in rural America.
We would like to thank our Sponsors. With your support, the William Inge Theatre Festival continues a tradition of honoring playwrights in a playwright’s town.
Annual Sponsors provide direct support for the William Inge Theatre Festival. Such as guest artists, production expenses, and youth arts education.
Producer ($5,000+)
Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Independence Community College, Independence Chamber of Commerce, Independence Community College Foundation, Independence Convention and Tourism Bureau, Consolidated Management
The William Inge Festival Foundation, The William Inge Family Estate
Executive Producer Level ($1,000+)
Best Beverage Sales, Express Employment Professionals, First Oak Bank, Hugo’s Industrial, Jim Hayward & Rhonda Clark, Quality Toyota, Roman’s Motor Company
Director Level ($550)
Ane Mae’s, Labette Health, Textron Aviation, Winklemann’s Garden Center, Wood’s Lumber, Todd Young (Bill White Realty),
Writer Level ($400)
Standard Motor Products
Patron level ($200)
Booth Hotel, Coldwell Bank, Independence Summer Children’s Theatre, Independence High School, Neewollah, Shanks Oil Company, Sonic of Independence, Thomas H Sewell, Hasslemann’s Floral & Gifts
Advertising Partners
Equity Bank, Derailed Commodity, Dynamite Tax Service H&R Block, Independence Daily Reporter, Lee’s Heating and Cooling, Magnolia Scents by Design, Reynold’s Family Dentistry, Turbo’s, Yerkes and Michels
In-Kind Donors
Ken and Becky Brown; Cornerstone Fitness; Independence Community College; Independence Public Library; Kym Kays, Quality Motors, Romans Motors; Ron Osborn; Sonic of Independence, Tom Sewell CPA; Hasselmann’s, Twigs Floral, Winkleman’s, O’Malley Equipment
2023 William Inge Foundation Donors
- Wilma Andrews
- Gigi Bolt
- Jackson Bryer
- Scott Capes
- Judy & Dan Carroll
- Leo & Ruth Carvalho
- Hoite Caston
- Val DeFever
- Epsilon Sigma Alpha
- Tim and Barb Emert
- Lorraine Emmot
- Buddy Farmer
- Eric Fitzgrald
- Edward Funston
- Rick & Ellen Goheen
- John & Judy Houston
- Hannah Joyce
- Mary & Mike Kadel
- Kym & Mark Kays
- Jim & Eloise Kelly
- Andy & Vera Livingston
- Coleman McCollum
- Patty McCormick
- Jo Ann McDowell
- Becky Miessler
- Sharron Miller
- Liz Moore
- Aubrey Near
- Bill & Jacque Oakes
- Ronald Osborn
- Bruce Peterson
- Ryan Ripley
- Barbara Schmidt
- Scovel Family Trust
- Tom & Kathy Sewell
- Lea & Kevin Shepard
- Cynthia Sherwood
- Leseley Simpson
- John Lloyd Stafford, III
- Thomas Snyder
- Mary Teitelbaum
- Janet Tucker
- Gunner & Margaret Way
- Blake & Laurel Webster
- Lisa Wilson
- Gail Woltkamp
- Walter Wulf
- Todd Young
In Memory Donors
The Kaplan Family – in memory of Ralph Voss