Educator & Director
Karen is a voice teacher, director and performance coach in Washington DC. For over sixteen years, she has brought performers to the stage, creating large scale musicals while building intimate performance opportunities and helping students to develop their performance skills. Karen has served as director, vocal coach, producer, stage manager, technical director, costume and set designer, music director, and choreographer. She was a finalist for the DC Mayor's Arts Award for Excellence in Arts Education in 2020.
Karen is pursuing a Master’s degree in vocal pedagogy with a particular interest in vocal health and acting through song. She holds the Kennedy Center Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) teacher certification, a BA from Vassar College, and a JD from University of Colorado School of Law. In her varied career, she has held the positions of Theater Director, Director of Arts Integration, Producer, Teacher, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Science Director, and Legislative Director. Her experience has made her an effective communicator, a skilled collaborator and project manager, a forward looking and creative leader, and a compassionate coach and mentor.
Karen is pursuing a Master’s degree in vocal pedagogy with a particular interest in vocal health and acting through song. She holds the Kennedy Center Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) teacher certification, a BA from Vassar College, and a JD from University of Colorado School of Law. In her varied career, she has held the positions of Theater Director, Director of Arts Integration, Producer, Teacher, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Science Director, and Legislative Director. Her experience has made her an effective communicator, a skilled collaborator and project manager, a forward looking and creative leader, and a compassionate coach and mentor.
Karen and her program were featured in the Disney+ film
"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?"
"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?"
It's incredible to watch one of Karen's productions come together -- from the casting and direction, to the costumes, sets, props, and everything behind the scenes -- but most importantly, it's amazing to see how Karen brings theater alive for the kids she works with. Over the years, my kids have been in many of her shows, and each one has been a rewarding, growing, empowering and FUN experience for them!
- Rennie Anderson (mother of 3 students)
Les Misérables
Karen has an incredible talent for making performing in musical theater accessible to kids. This talent combined with Karen’s creativity makes for a very fun, special and unique experience for her students.
- Robin Weisman (mother of 2 students)
Working
The Ensemble
My girl. Just one of the ensemble, but never happier.
It made me feel good about her future. Because here’s the thing: sometimes you get to be the lead. Sometimes you get to sing a sad song and capture the hearts of the audience. Sometimes life deals you such beauty or such tragedy that the world can’t look away. Sometimes the spotlight is on you – for better or worse.
But most of life is about being in the ensemble. It’s about dancing in the aisle with a huge smile on your face even though no one may be looking.
- Marjorie Brimley (mother of a student and Author of the blog DC Widow)
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
Karen got both of my kids into theater. It's truly incredible how patient, kind, inclusive and supportive she is with all the kids as a Musical Director. Karen is also a talented actress and singer and is a big inspiration to our family.
- Jenny Russell (mother of 2 students)
The Little Mermaid
Rent
Fiddler on the Roof,
James and the Giant Peach
& Doctor Dolittle
James and the Giant Peach
& Doctor Dolittle
Karen is a modern-day miracle worker. Nobody quite understands how she manages to get large numbers of kids to sing and act and dance in synchronicity. Her courage and can-do attitude mean that hundreds of children have experienced the exhilaration of being part of the creative team effort that is musical theater.
She has a generous policy of finding a part for every child that wants to participate and sometimes this can mean casts of over 100 kids. And yet Karen manages to coordinate them on and off stage and find ways for each one of them to shine. She is a multi-talented Renaissance woman who can also design costumes, build sets, arrange music, and handle the complex technical aspects such as lighting and sound. It has been such a gift to also experience the theatrical works of art Karen creates with music, dance, color, and spectacular storytelling.
- Amy Suardi (mother of 3 students)
Kennedy Center Arts Integration CETA Presentation