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

19 at Library of Congress | Photo by John Nelson Photography

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.

Acting Performance Update

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

Tickets can be purchased here

Acting Photos Update

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

Acting Performance Photos Update

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

Update

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!

Photos playwrighting Update

“Any Time Travel Company” at Open Space Arts

Open Space Arts presented my new ten minute play, Any Time Travel Company, as part of their 2022 Summer Playwright’s Festival this August. This was their return to in person program, so I was so delighted to be back participating in this festival.

Director – Liv Eastwood & Carter Spang

Charles – Aaron Reamer

Denise – Beth Morgan

Pat – George Marsalek

Villagers – Benjamin Spang, Carter Spang

Photos by Jennifer Michalak

Read Any Time Travel Company, or any of my other plays at New Play Exchange.

Performance playwrighting Update

The Resting Soul of Galileo at Avant Bard’s Scripts in Play Festival

I’m excited to share that my new play, The Resting Soul of Galileo, has been selected to receive a reading at Avant Bard Theatre’s upcoming Scripts in Play Festival. I will be given the opportunity to incorporate audience feedback into the second reading.

Friday, Oct 8, 7:30 pm; Sunday, Oct. 10, 2:00 pm
At Gunston Arts Center 2 in Arlington, VA
Directed by Aria Velz
Pay What You Can
Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test and face coverings are required for entry

Music Update

Smart: Katie Ganem Sings Charlie Barnett Releases Today

Today is the day! You can now listen to all 9 tracks of my collaboration with Charlie Barnett on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and elsewhere. Charlie pours a lot of heart and humor into his compositions and they were a blast to sing. I hope you can tell how much fun we had making it. Here is the title track. Album art is by CinCin Fang.