Kate McQuillan

Kate McQuillan is a passionate theater performer hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her journey in the world of theater began at the young age of 6 when she performed in her first show at the Center for Theater Arts under the guidance of artistic director Billy Hartung. It was there that she discovered her profound love for the craft, a sentiment that has fueled her dedication ever since.

Kate's fervor for theater spurred her to participate in a Pre-college program with Pittsburgh Musical Theater. She also engaged in professional-level classes with both the Pittsburgh CLO and The Center for Theater Arts. During her time with these esteemed institutions, she honed her skills in various disciplines, including voice (solo and ensemble work), acting (drawing from the methods of Stanislavsky and Meisner), and dance (jazz, musical theater, ballet, and tap).

Currently, Kate is immersed in a BFA Musical Theater program at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Here, she continues to build upon her previous training while broadening her horizons. Her studies encompass Shakespeare, dialects, stylized acting for the camera, and a plethora of physical acting techniques, including the Alexander technique, Laban, viewpoints, Suzuki, and Lecoq.

Throughout her career, Kate has had the privilege of gracing the stage in numerous conservatory productions. Her impressive credits include memorable roles such as the Wendla in “Spring Awakening”, Narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Sophie Sheridan in "Mamma Mia," Ernestine Blunt in "Votes for Women," Sherrie in "Rock of Ages," and ensemble roles in "Jekyll and Hyde” and “Pippin.” Her professional debut occurred in "Nunsense: the Mega Musical," where she took on the roles of Ensemble and understudied Robert Anne. She was also slated to perform in "A Musical Adaptation of Twelfth Night" (Ensemble) before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the production.

Kate's creative spirit extends to her involvement in new works. She recently made her mark in the world premiere of the musical "Who We Are," originating the role of Rosie. She collaborated closely with the writer, Maryanne Boaz, in creating a shared staged reading. Additionally, Kate played Jeanie Janine in the production of "Lucky Guy" and collaborated with writer Willard Beckham and director Billy Hartung to adapt the show for high school productions.

Kate's remarkable journey in the theater world has allowed her to work alongside and learn from industry professionals such as Norm Lewis, Hugh Panaro, Menina Fortunato, Billy Hartung, Marty Johnson, Christie Jeter, Mike Ceffalo, Sara Kapner, Jane Lanier, Shanesia Davis, Barbra Zahora, Alvin Goldfarb, and many more.

Renowned for her unwavering and passionate dedication to her craft, an indomitable work ethic that knows no bounds, an innate coachability, and an unwavering commitment to professionalism, Kate stands fully prepared to conquer and excel in the industry she so admires.