Rodman, Ellen.

Ellen Rodman wrote her Ph. D. dissertation on the King-Coit School and Children's Theatre of New York. The thesis, written for New York University's School of Education, Health, Nursing, and Arts, was completed in 1979.

Edith King (1884-1975) and Dorothy Coit (1889-1976) founded the King-Coit School and Children's Theatre in New York City in 1923, and taught various aspects of theatrical production to young people for over thirty-five years.

The King-Coit School offered Arts programs to young people (5-15 years old) on weekday afternoons and weekends. King taught drawing and painting, and was responsible for stage set designs, while Coit taught acting and dancing. Theater studies were geared towards the full production of plays, to which the public was invited. Students studied the historical period and culture relevant to each play selected, and learned the scripts thoroughly before roles were assigned. Because ticket sales alone were insufficient to fund the program, the King-Coit School relied heavily on grants and private donations throughout its existence. Many children of the rich and famous attended the school, and its famous alumnae included author Madeleine L'Engle and actresses Anne Baxter and Lee Remick. The King-Coit School and Children's Theatre closed in 1959 when health concerns caused Edith King's retirement. Dorothy continued to teach classes at other schools through the 1960s.