Destined for the Neon Lights: A Conversation with Kate McMillan lecture
Presented by the Foundation of Wayne Community College
Join us for a conversation with Kate McMillan, a Goldsboro native, who will share her love of the stage with her hometown and beyond. McMillan has stories and perspectives as an actor and choreographer from her days in StageStruck with talent and persistence all the way to the Big Apple. She also enjoys encouraging many aspiring young performers by providing her knowledge and expertise of the theatre. In these unprecedented times when most theatres are closed, she will explain how the “show must go on” with the prospect of creating art and telling stories remotely, building up the theatrical community, and breaching our current geographical divide. As an added bonus, viewers will have a wonderful opportunity to see her perform two of her favorite show tunes.
Kate McMillan holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). She lives and works in New York as a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and a professional actor and choreographer. She originated the role of Cricket in the world premier of the new musical, “Moonshine – That Hee Haw Musical” at the Dallas Theatre Center (2017 Regional Theatre Tony Award Winner) in Dallas, TX. Other favorite credits include “Les Miserables” (The MUNY), “Smokey Joe’s Café” (Theatre Raleigh), Joanne in the regional premier of “Vanities -the Musical,” and Mona Kent in “Dames at Sea,” among others. Most recently, McMillan choreographed StageStruck: The Young People’s Own Theatre’s production of “White Christmas” in Goldsboro, NC where she has also led their “DramaWorks” summer program, five years running. Other choreographic credits include three plays at Gaston Day School. McMillan also directed/choreographed Actor Conservatory Theatre’s production of “Phantom of the Opera” and later served as the Associate Choreographer for Theatre Raleigh’s production of “The Rocky Horror Show” with Broadway director/choreographer/performer Abbey O’Brien.
