Kate-Caton

Kate Caton comes to us from New York, lecturing, and performing, composing, adjudicating and teaching while acquiring her education certificates in Theatre and Music from New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Kate acquired her love for the theatre through her work in high school with such notables as Harry Chapin, casting manager, David Tochterman, and Broadway’s Craig Schulman. Kate’s performances began during high school and college, from Floyd’s Susannah, Mozart’s Figaro and Menotti’s The Medium to musical theatre and live dramatic stage work. Kate shares the stage as recipient of Commack High School South’s Performing Arts Award along with Craig Schulman and Rosie O’Donnell.

Regional work on Long Island began with Airport Playhouse in musical theatre and continued as performer, conductor, theatrical and musical director for Take One Theatre Arts.

From Neil Simon to Amahl and the Night Visitors, she worked on stage and backstage, while also paralleling her responsibilities as acting music director more frequently than not. Kate single handedly prepared and auditioned Take One’s twenty five voice children’s choir for Broadway revivals and regional performances. Actress Sarah Drew was only ten years young when a member of Kate’s choir and composer/performer Jared Cotter and Rich Ceraulo were students enrolled in her theatre and choral program when teaching at Newfield High School. Out of Take One, she also spearheaded Indigo Blues, a jazz choir filled with artistically talented young adults, (Rich Ceraulo, bass) performing at various venues in the New York area as well as receiving an outstanding rating when presenting for Music Maestro, Please competition in New York City.

While teaching public school in both Huntington and Middle Country Schools, she implemented an “after school performing arts program” of the highest caliber. When teaching at Newfield High School, she penned, presented and implemented a Theatre Curriculum in the third largest school district in New York State which also encompassed students with developmental disabilities. She was also the Faculty Advisor for the International Thespian Society and Drama Club. She clearly values “the craft” as a viable teaching tool and believes that the skills acquired in the study of theatre enables students to become stronger facilitators in their life’s quest for direction and purpose. Kate has extended her casts and crews in working with such professionals as Ted Kastrinos (Commack High School and Take One Theatre Director),Jeff Sanzel (Theatre Three), ZFX Las Vegas, Craig Schulman- (Les Miserables, Jekyl and Hyde, Phantom) Chris McDaniels ( Will Rogers Follies) and Mark Stevick, producer/ director ( History Alive, Cry Innocent) Gordon College, Massachusetts.

As a singer/performer, she had a five year contract with MZA Records, recording five children’s albums and touring throughout the east coast as a children’s concert artist. She has graced the stage under the baton of such notables as Sir David Willcocks (Cambridge), Paul Leddington Wright (Coventry/BBC) and performed for both Her Majesty the Queen and with Barry Manilow. Her passion lies in facilitating a humanistic approach, utilizing theatre and performance art as the fuel behind the fire.

Kate has numerous awards to her credit; Who’s Who Among Americas Teachers for six years consecutively, yet her most cherished award is a glitter wrapped, tiered wish box, given to her by her special needs students during their final performance of Cabaret. Theatre Education can and has changed lives under her direction and guidance. Her quest is to maintain that vision and keep it prosperous and alive, for all, regardless of their age and/or abilities.

Kate was employed as Summer Coordinator of two Theatre Arts Programs for elementary students at both Commack Schools and NY PIE at Hofstra University. Presently, she is working in collaboration with Ted Kastrinos on “The W’holistic Performing Arts Project” that incorporates ministry, education and intrinsic support to the memory impaired through the many practices of Theatre and Performing Arts. Currently, Kate continues to succeed as Choral/ Theatre Educator, MUSE advisor and Assistant Musical Director for Mount Greylock Regional High School and as a new early childhood music teacher at The Williams College Children’s Center. Along with teaching, she is a freelance writer, lecturer, facilitator, NYSSMA adjudicator and performer. Her new book, “da capo” a tribute to the students that made a difference in her life, is in production with a target date of January 2014.

She invites you to browse her website/linkedin account and take a peak and see a glimpse of her soul filled tenacity as a performer, a presenter and a humanitarian.

Theatre Production, Direction, Performance

Comedy and Dramatic Direction

-Amadeus- -Dracula--The Miracle Worker -A Christmas Carol- The Crucible

-Heaven Can Wait - -Father of the Bride- Spoon River Anthology-Cry Innocent

-Last of the Red Hot Lovers- Flowers for Algernon

Broadway Musicals, Opera, Operetta, Musical Revue, Oratorio Direction/Performance

Oklahoma-Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat-Peter Pan- Les Miserables-Annie Get Your Gun -Cinderella-The Marriage of Figaro-Louise, Charpentier-The Mass, Bernstein- Cabaret- The Music Man-South Pacific- My Fair Lady- Guys and Dolls-Amahl and the Night Visitors-Bye, Bye Birdie,Tapestry of Hope--Leader of the Pack- That’s Manhattan -Deja Revue- Handel’s Messiah-Carmina Burana -Mame-Brigadoon-The Mikado- Amahl and The Night Visitors- Leader of the Pack-,Last of the Red Hot Lovers-