Wichita Children’s Theatre & Dance Center is continuing Monica Flynn’s legacy

When Monica Flynn retired after 43 years as executive director of Wichita Children’s Theatre & Dance Center at the end of 2025, she insisted on no hoopla.

She reneged a bit during the last performance of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” — a WCTDC tradition for the past 41 years — as the audience included former board members and staff members from the organization, where she was presented with a bouquet and a short tribute.

“There would not be a Wichita Children’s Theatre if it weren’t for her,” said Kelly Wonsetler Staiger, Flynn’s associate director for the past 39 ½ years and successor as executive director.

WCTDC traces its roots back to the 1940s and was a part of Music Theatre Wichita until 1983, with productions including a touring production of “A Christmas Carol.” Flynn was the mother of young performers in the group.

“They were going to let the children’s portion of their program dissolve, and Monica did not want to see that happen, so she basically took it over, found a board of directors, found a building to rent and started programming,” Staiger said.

A partnership with a dance school came soon, and “It just grew from there,” she added.

Its first home was the former education building at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, at Second and Ohio, and moved into its current location, the former Christian Challenge of Wichita high school, in the early 1990s.

“We took this big old shell of a gym and turned it into a makeshift theater and with each year made improvements and will turn it into a really nice theater one day, if we can ever find the funding,” Staiger said.

While students did have to pay for classes, Staiger said, Flynn insisted that the children not be charged to participate in productions.

“It makes our shows accessible across all socio-economic backgrounds,” she said. “That was super important to her. She never really turned a child away.”

Even those who couldn’t pay for classes would be told to volunteer at WCTDC to get in. For others, Flynn would seek benefactors to underwrite their tuition.

“She was always trying to make a way for them to be here,” Staiger said.

Flynn told an interviewer: “Here we are, training, education and entertaining our future adults, our future theatergoers. We give them the opportunity not only for theater, but an appreciation for the performing arts and other arts throughout the community.”

Flynn grew up in Kansas City, Staiger said, where her father was the historian for the Kansas City Star during the day and ran the Starlight Theatre box office at night, where she regularly watched shows and even performed on its legendary outdoor stage.

After graduating from Benedictine College with an education major and a theater minor, Flynn taught second grade for several years.

“She had a background and history in theater, but she obviously had a great deal of love for young people in Wichita and was constantly working to come up with new programming and partnerships and opportunities,” Staiger said.

Flynn’s legacy continues at WCTDC with three more “Once Upon a Time” productions — “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus,” “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and “Pinkalicious” — before the end of the school year; two dance recitals and a Heather Muller Black Box Theatre production of Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” featuring a cast of high school and college-age performers, later this year. Staiger said WCTDC had to get permission from the playwright’s estate to edit the language for younger actors.

Summer programs at WCTDC have been averaging 400 enrollments in the past few years, Staiger said, and the year will conclude as others have for four decades with “Best Christmas Pageant.”

Staiger said Flynn’s influence will always be a part of WCDTC, while as the new executive director, she’ll start investigating new paths.

“We just see ourselves building upon her legacy but making sure we’re current,” Staiger said. “We have new ideas for programming, for our dance programming for summer, maybe some things that haven’t been working great as of late that we’re going to improve upon.”

The departure of Flynn – who turns 86 this weekend – means no additional personnel added to the WCTDC staff said. The staff, including longtime Wichita actor Kyle Vespestad, a 29-year veteran of the company, is being restructured with new titles and new responsibilities.

Flynn has been available to consult and answer questions since her departure, Staiger said.

“She is a wonderful resource to have, and we will be continuing to pick her brain about things,” Staiger said. “She’ll always be an important part of this place.”