Kate takes the stage for the very first time with OpenStage in DANCE NATION!
Tell us about yourself! What theatre or other experiences did you have in this discipline before working on this show?
I caught the theatre bug at an early age and began performing and studying acting at Flint Youth Theatre at the age of 11. Having set my sights on pursuing a career in theater I attended Ball State University, receiving my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting and later receiving Master of Fine Arts degree in Contemporary Performance from Naropa University in Boulder.
As a theater performer, creator and deviser, I am a company member of Band of Toughs, a Theater Collaboratory and I have created and performed numerous shows with them including Under the Stars with Brews and the Bard: As You Like it, Antigonick, Nirvamlet, Bar at the End of the World, and the upcoming, tentatively titled, Punk Rock Brontes, premiering in Denver in July 2024.
What is something you spend your free time doing, outside of theatre?
I'm an avid hiker usually accompanied by my two dogs, a Goldendoodle named Meadow and a Poodle named Juniper.
How did you hear about OpenStage?
I was introduced to OpenStage by Heather Ostberg-Johnson.
What compelled you to audition for this show?
A fantastic and hilarious script directed by Heather!
What has been your favorite part of rehearsals so far?
Play and exploration has been my favorite part so far.
What has been the most challenging aspect of rehearsals for this show?
The most challenging aspect of rehearsal thus far has been improving my physical stamina to take on the energy of a 13 year old!
What is your favorite character from the show (other than your own)? Why is that one your favorite?
Zuzu, because of her journey of self discovery.
Why is Dance Nation important? What do you hope audiences will get out of it?
I hope audiences will walk away with a revived connection to their childhood/teenage self and the play and abandon we often have at that age. I think it is important to tell female stories that explore all aspects of the human experience.
What is your favorite role you’ve played in the past?
One of my favorite roles was, "The Bomb," in a play titled, Daughters of Trinity, about the women of The Manhattan Project, written by my undergraduate playwriting professor.
What is your favorite play or musical?
I'm a fan of postmodern plays and devised new works.
What projects are you working on next? What is your dream role or dream show to work on?
I always thought it would be fun to play Jesus Girl in The Pillowman by Martin McDonag, Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, or Sylvie, the dog, in Sylvie by A. R. Gurney.
By Clare Barron
Directed by Heather Ostberg Johnson
May 11–May 26, 2024
Playing at Outrun Parkour (2026 Bear Mountain Dr #117, Fort Collins)
Come see Kate take the stage in "DANCE NATION" May 11- May 26!
Somewhere in America, an army of pre-teen competitive dancers plots to take over the world. But more is at stake than a first-place trophy: puberty, friendship, rivalry, and girls becoming women, to be exact. Fangs come out as the competition heats up, and the blood, sweat, and tears get very real. Portrayed by adult actors of all ages, these adolescent girls (and one boy) struggle with their tween confusion—and their future adult selves. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Dance Nation is a play about ambition, growing up, and how to find our souls in the heat of it all.
Content Warning: Dance Nation contains gore, coarse language, depictions of self-harm, simulated masturbation, and descriptions of: masturbation, sex, and sexual violence. May not be suitable for patrons under the age of 18.