Palmer, Prudence Taylor

Edith King (1884-1975) and Dorothy Coit (1889-1976) first collaborated on children's theater productions while they were both employed at the Buckingham School in Massachusetts. The success of these productions led them to open their own school and children's theater in New York City in 1923. The King-Coit School and Children's Theatre offered arts programs for children (5-15 years old) on weekday afternoons and weekends. King taught drawing and painting classes, while Coit was responsible for acting and dancing. The student body included many children of the rich and famous, and included such notables as Anne Baxter, Madeleine L'Engle, and Lee Remick. The plays were well reviewed and popular, but were performed for short runs in small theaters, and ticket sales did not supply much funding. The school and theater relied heavily on grants and private donations throughout its existence. It finally closed in 1959 when health concerns led to King's retirement.

From the guide to the King Coit School and Children's Theatre papers, 1934-2003, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

...