KATIE KERWIN-GIELNIAK

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MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Choreographer & Vocal Coach

Musical Theatre Pre-Professional & Performance Program

WSPA Alumni Class 1993

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Katie Kerwin earned her degree in the performing arts, holding a B.F.A. from New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts CAP21 Conservatory.  She has had experience performing professionally and teaching voice and dance for over 25 years. She offers private training in vocal technique, audition, and performances ages 5 to adult. Her vocal background from NYU is classical with training in musical theatre/pop vocal performance. She also teaches classes in Theatre Jazz and Broadway and contemporary tap dance styles from beginner to advanced. Katie is a Bay Area native, but after college joined the artistic staff and acting company at the professional Show Palace Dinner Theatre in Florida in 2003 as an assistant to the Artistic Director.  In 2004, she became the Resident Choreographer for the Show Palace where she directed, choreographed and performed in many shows there. Katie’s teaching expertise is Vocal Technique and Performance, Tap (Broadway and Contemporary), Musical Theatre Performance, and Acting. You may have seen her in TONY award winning director Walter Bobbie and Broadway choreographer Randy Skinners production of Irving

Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS in San Francisco at the Orpheum Theatre in 2005, and subsequent performances at the FOX Theatre in Detroit in 2006, and the Ordway in St. Paul in 2008. You can also hear her singing in the ensemble of the Broadway cast album of the show which was released in the fall of 2006. Katie recently retired from leading the Musical Theatre Department for 7 years at Asawa School of the Arts in San Francisco. She is a proud member of the Actor's Equity Association and is currently the Musical Theatre Director of Westlake School for the Performing Arts in Daly City.