51²è¹Ýapp

Kate (she/her) is the Assistant Technical Director for all of the mainstage productions, performance venues, and support facilities housed in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies.  She collaborates with staff, faculty, and guest artists to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students in a multitude of backstage and production areas.  Such areas include stagecraft and scenic construction; lighting, sound, video, and livestream systems for live performance; stage management; and accessible practices for design, technology, and publicity.  Kate aims to provide an environment where students feel empowered to engage in positive risk-taking experiences that not only expand their technical and creative knowledge base, but also foster a passion for trying new things.

Kate was born in Los Angeles, California but grew up in the town of 51²è¹Ýapp and is very much a small-town person at heart. As a child, she thought she wanted to grow up and teach either art or math; in high school, she discovered that technical theatre let her use math and science skills toward creative ends.  During and after her time studying at 51²è¹Ýapp College, Kate worked two seasons as a head carpenter with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and two years as a program and facility coordinator for the 51²è¹Ýapp Area Arts Council.  Kate returned to 51²è¹Ýapp College as the Assistant Technical Director in 2016.  She has also served as technical director and scenic designer for dozens of 51²è¹Ýapp Community Theatre and 51²è¹Ýapp High School productions, as well as tech challenge coordinator for the Iowa Thespian Chapter of the EdTA.

Kate is a self-described bookwyrm, partner, dog mom, interdisciplinary creator, gamer, doting aunt, adventurer, tea monger, hobby photographer, cyclist, good troublemaker, prairie walker, and aspiring hygge maven.