Theater director Jeff Church found dead following sex abuse allegations - New York Post

A longtime children’s theatre manager successful Kansas City was recovered dormant connected Christmas Eve — days aft helium resigned amid allegations of intersexual abuse.

Jeff Church, 63, who had led the Coterie Theatre for implicit 30 years, was recovered dormant astatine his location connected Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Star reported.

The origin of decease has not been released.

On Thursday, KKFI 90.1 vigor big Mark Manning accused Church connected Facebook of assaulting him successful 1991 erstwhile helium was 27.

He came guardant by sharing a since-deleted video by Deshawn Young, a Florida-based histrion who antecedently lived successful Kansas City, successful which helium described an assault.

“I americium sharing this video testimonial from my friend Dashawn Young. Please beryllium careful. This is precise hard to ticker and hear,” Manning wrote.

“My affectional musculus representation was triggered successful a mode I did not afloat expect. I mislaid it. I became truthful affectional that I wondered if I could adjacent bash my vigor show,” helium continued.

Mark Manning, a Kansas City vigor host, said helium was sexually abused by Church successful 1991 astatine property 27.Facebook/Mark Manning

Manning went connected to recount however Church allegedly assaulted him astatine the director’s location during a enactment aft the accumulation of “Dinosaurs.”

“I recovered myself pushed backmost connected the bed, his rima was connected my assemblage parts, my covering seemed to disappear, and precise rapidly the manager had penetrated me,” helium wrote.

“It felt similar my assemblage was being used. How did this happen?” Manning said, adding that helium had heard of galore akin accounts of intersexual maltreatment astatine the hands of the theatre honcho.

Actor Deshawn Young posted a since-deleted video connected Facebook alleging the maltreatment helium suffered astatine the hands of Coterie Theatre manager Jeff Church.Instagram/@thatsit.thatsme

Manning told the Star that the sickening acts had been “going connected for implicit 30 years.”

“Most of these radical were young theatre artists trying to find their mode done their theatrical vocation and a idiosyncratic successful a precise large authorization presumption of directing them and deciding who gets paid and who gets the occupation [was] interfering successful people’s lives,” helium told the paper.

He said that aft helium shared the lengthy post, 3 different radical reached retired to him to stock their akin experiences.

On Friday, the Kansas City Pitch archetypal published much shocking allegations against Church from much than a twelve people.

Jeff Church was the Coterie’s manager for 30 years.The Coterie

KC Comeaux, an histrion who worked for Church successful his aboriginal 20s, besides spoke retired connected Facebook.

“I was sexually assaulted by Jeff Church. Many of you successful Kansas City had nary thought of this man’s behavior. Many of you had heard rumors. But I’m present to archer you that helium is simply a predator,” he wrote.

“He has groomed, abused, and assaulted, galore young men implicit the people of 30+ years. Myself included,” Comeaux wrote. “…this man, who has utilized his presumption of powerfulness arsenic an Artistic Director of a renowned children’s theatre, for manipulation and enactment exploitation.”

Young’s station prompted others to talk retired astir their experiences with the precocious director.Instagram/@thatsit.thatsme

On Saturday afternoon, the theatre announced that it had accepted Church’s resignation and planned to analyse the aggregate allegations.

“We privation you to cognize that we are taking these allegations highly earnestly and volition determination guardant with the probe immediately, contempt the impending holidays,” it said successful a statement.

Manning called the lurid substance a “tragedy for our community.”

“I don’t privation to spot a full theatre institution beryllium destroyed due to the fact that of 1 idiosyncratic and the horrible things that they did implicit a agelong play of clip to a batch of antithetic people, some men and women,” helium told the paper.

The Coterie Theatre released a connection pursuing the accusations.Instagram/thecoterietheatre

Church’s decease comes a period aft the Coterie’s enforcement director, Joette Pelster, died successful her slumber astatine property 71 — a week aft she announced her intentions to discontinue aft astir 30 years.

“Her achievements were galore and her interaction connected the performing arts successful Kansas City was immense,” theatre rep David Golston told the Star past month.

It has not been confirmed whether others astatine the theatre had known astir the allegations against Church, the insubstantial noted.