I spent the holiday season back at the Puppet Co in Glen Echo, MD as an understudy for the Frtiz/Nutcracker track. It was my first time back onstage since having my son in May. I think he enjoyed it just as much as I did.
Category: Update
Listen to 19 the Musical as an Audiobook
You can now listen to the entirety of 19 the Musical in audiobook format. Hear all of the songs and dialogue in this very special rendition of the show, featuring a lot of the original cast. I had a blast returning to Alice Paul and this incredible story for this project. Listen to it wherever you get your audiobooks (I recommend Libro.fm which supports indie bookstores).
Duke Frederick/Amiens – As You Like It w/ Devil’s Isle Shakespeare
A little late in sharing these photos, but here are the production shots from As You Like It as the DC War Memorial back in May. Directed by Seamus Miller.
2024 Projects and Updates
It’s been a very busy fall/winter!
This past October, I understudied two tracks for Macbeth at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, directed by Katie Kedell.
I am currently swinging three tracks for the Puppet Nutcracker at The Puppet Co. in Glen Echo, MD.
And finally, I took my SAFD skills test for Sword and Shield and passed with recommendation! A big thank you to my instructor, Jon Rubin at Fire and Ice Movement Arts.
DC Arts & Humanities Fellowship
I am thrilled to announce that I was named a recipient of the DC Arts & Humanities Fellowship for this fiscal year.
The Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program offers fellowships to individuals whose excellence contributes to the District of Columbia as a world-class cultural capital. AHFP recognizes the impact of individuals within the District of Columbia. And the program supports the vitality that those practitioners bring to the local community.
DC Commission on Arts & Humanities
I am proud to call DC my artistic home. This fellowship is an incredible honor. The grant will go towards professional development and making more art (stay tuned)! Congratulations to all my fellow recipients. You can find a full list and more about the program here.
As You Like It & 19 the Musical Audiobook
I am beyond excited to have two projects that started this January.
As You Like It – STC Academy Alum Production
I have officially started rehearsals for As You Like It, a production that is being produced and performed entirely by alums of Shakespeare Theatre Academy (including director Seamus Miller). I will be portraying the usurping Duke Frederick. Mark your calendars for May 5th, 6th, 12th, and 13th. This outdoor show will be performed at the DC War Memorial!
19 the Musical the Audiobook – Coming Soon to Audible
It’s hard to believe it’s been 6 years since I’ve first started working on Alice Paul, and 4 years since the world premiere of 19 the Musical. The pandemic unfortunately shut down its grand plans. But the creators are trying something new! An “audiobook” version of the ENTIRE musical.
We have reunited some of the original cast, as well as a few new faces, and we are going to be recording in February. I am glad to have another crack at Alice and I can’t wait for you to hear this new version! Learn more and sign up for the newsletter at 19themusical.com.
Staged Reading: First Ladies & the Big White Lie
I am thrilled to be a part of the staged reading of this new play, which will be performing at the Woman’s National Democratic Club later this month. First Ladies & the Big White Lie by Janine Sternlieb with Lennie Dean, brings together several famous First Ladies in the afterlife. I will be playing Varina Davis, the only First Lady of the Confederacy (a slightly different personality than the last historical figure I portrayed, Alice Paul). Details on the performances are below.
First Ladies & the Big White Lie by Janine Sternlieb with Lennie Dean
Directed by Shanara Gabrielle
At the Women’s National Democratic Club
1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20036
Wednesday September 20th at 2pm
Thursday September 21st at 6pm
Twelfth Night/ Measure for Measure @ STC Academy
finished my year at STC Academy with two shows in repertory. I played Sister Fransisca in Measure for Measure, directed by John Miller-Stephany, as well as Maria in a musical adaptation of Twelfth Night, directed by Shanara Gabrielle. I am officially done my course work for my MFA, and only a paper stands between me and the degree. This cumulative project was certainly an extraordinary end to an intense year.
Twelfth Night
a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub
Music and Lyrics by Shaina Taub
Design Team
Director – Shanara Gabrielle
Assistant Director/ Choreographer – Jay Frisby
Music Director – Emily Erickson
Stage Manager – Regina Vitale
Assistant Stage Manager – Angela Vivaldi
Costume Designer – Taylor Gray Burke
Assistant Costume Designer – Ashlynn Ludwig
Lighting Designer – Minjoo Kim
Sound Designer – Justin Schmitz
Text and Vocal Coach – Lisa Beley
Associate Producer – Charlotte La Nasa
Coordinator – Emily Whittaker
Fight Director – Robb Hunter
Props Director – Pauline Lamb
Intimacy Director – Sierra Young
Cast
Malvolio – Geoffrey Besser
Curio – Catie Carlisle
Officer – Colton Chaney
Olivia – Yihong Chen
Toby Belch – Robyn Cohen
Feste – Lucy Redmon Connell
Orsina – Sarah Cushman
Maria – Katie Ganem
Antonio – Selah Kreeger
Sebastian – Gil Mitchell
Attendant – Jessica Murillo Kemp
Andrew Augecheek – Jackson Knight Pierce
Captain – Gabriel Alejandro
Officiant – Rachel Sanderson
Fabian – Kira Simmons
Valentine – Mallory Trice
Viola – Emma Wirthwein
Measure for Measure
By William Shakespeare
Design Team
Director – John Miller-Stephany
Assistant Director – Shayna Freedman
Stage Manager – Regina Vitale
Assistant Stage Manager – Angela Vivaldi
Composer – Andrew Cooke
Costume Designer – Taylor Gray Burke
Assistant Costume Designer – Ashlynn Ludwig
Lighting Designer – Minjoo Kim
Sound Designer – Justin Schmitz
Text and Vocal Coach – Lisa Beley
Associate Producer – Charlotte La Nasa
Coordinator – Emily Whittaker
Fight Director – Robb Hunter
Props Director – Pauline Lamb
Intimacy Director – Sierra Young
Cast
Froth/ Barnadine – Geoffrey Besser
Elbow/ Kate Keepdown – Catie Carlisle
Claudio – Colton Chaney
Julietta – Yihong Chen
Escalus – Robyn Cohen
Gentelmen/ Guard/ Handmaiden – Lucy Redmon Connell
Mariana – Sarah Cushman
Sister Fransisca/ Attendant – Katie Ganem
Friar Thomas – Selah Kreeger
Angelo – Gil Mitchell
Provost – Jessica Murillo Kemp
Duke Vincentio – Jackson Knight Pierce
Lucio – Gabriel Alejandro
Isabella – Rachel Sanderson
Pompey – Kira Simmons
Mistress Overdone/ Abhorson – Mallory Trice
Justice/ Guard – Emma Wirthwein
All’s Well and Macbeth @ STC Academy
It’s been a busy year for me as I work towards my MFA in Classical Acting at Shakespeare Theatre Academy in DC. In December, I played LaFew in a condensed version of All’s Well That Ends Well directed by Dan Crane. And this semester, my classmates and I, led by Emma Jaster and Marcus Kyd, devised a physical hour long version of Macbeth together. We performed in an empty art gallery at the Corcoran School. Check out the photos from both productions.
All’s Well That Ends Well
Dec 2nd & 3rd, 2022
Directed by Dan Crane
Betram – Gil Mitchell
Helen – Emma Wirthwein
Countess – Robyn Cohen
King – Lucy Connell
LaFew – Katie Ganem
Parolles – Dan Crane
Diana/ Lord 2 – Jessica Murillo Kemp
Widow/ Lord 1 – Catie Carlile
Macbeth
March 10th & 11th, 2023
Directed by Emma Jaster & Marcus Kyd, Devised by the Ensemble
Macbeth – Gabriel Alejandro
Lady Macbeth – Mallory Trice
Banquo – Sarah Cushman
Ross – Colton Chaney
Duncan – Katie Ganem
Malcolm – Catie Carlile
Donalbain/ Gentlewoman – Lucy Connell
Doctor – Robyn Cohen
Macduff – Geoffrey Boesser
Lady Macduff – Yihong Chen
Porter – Gil Mitchell
Murderer 1 – Rachel Sanderson
Murderer 2 – Jessica Murillo Kemp
Murderer 3 – Selah Kreiger
Fleance – Kira Simmons
Seyton/ Fight Choreographer – Emma Wirthwein
Lennox – Jackson Knight Pierce
Witches – Ensemble
Starting an MFA
This week, I began my journey towards getting my M.F.A. in Classical Acting. I am super excited to be a part of the class of 2023 at the Academy of Classical Acting in D.C.. Is it going to be an intense year? Yes. Am I already sore from all of the movement classes we had this week? Also, yes. But I am very much looking forward to advancing my training. We will have three different performances over the next year. More details to come!
Katie Ganem 