About Me
My name is Katy Hahn, formerly Katy Slaven. I am a theatre artist who has worked and studied across the United States, currently making my home in the Eastern Iowa Corridor with my husband Bill and our son Jack.
I collaborate with people at all levels of experience to spark creativity, inspire confidence, cultivate empathy, build community, and engage in the greater conversations of life. My primary field of study is performance, and I specialize in voice, speech, and movement for the actor. I have additional expertise in dialect study, musical theatre, Shakespeare, new play development, and theatre for social change. One of my growing passions is reaching diverse learners and underrepresented groups.
I earned my MFA in Acting from Florida Atlantic University, and now teach theatre at the University of Northern Iowa, Coe College, and other academic institutions in Iowa. I am active as a professional director, coach, workshop leader, youth theatre instructor, and actor for stage, screen, and voice over projects. My work is driven by my belief that the arts can expand our minds, connect our hearts, wake up our bodies, and heal our souls…in short, make us better people.
“Growth as an actor and as a human being are synonomous.” – Stella Adler
Acting Résumés
Theatre Résumé (8×10 PDF)
On Camera/Voice Over Résumé (8×10 PDF)
Contact me about availability for 2020.
Recently finished…
Uncle Vanya
Written by Anton Chekhov
Translated by Richard Nelson, Richard Pevear, and Larissa Volokhonsky
Directed by Adam Knight
Riverside Theatre
Iowa City, IA
September 13-October 6, 2019
Press for Uncle Vanya:
Gazette Review
Little Village Review
Press Citizen Article
Daily Iowan Article
Quigley Jeep Adventure Days spot – Mudd Advertising, 2018
Headshots
by Alisabeth Von Presley
Representative Photos
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Current courses I am teaching…
UNI Department of Theatre
Fall 2019: Foundations of Theatre Experience
Coe College Department of Theatre Arts
Fall 2019: Introduction to Theatre, Voice and Diction
Directing Résumé (8×10 PDF)
Contact me about availability for 2020.
Current and upcoming productions I am directing…
The Wolves
Written by Sarah DeLappe
Directed by Katy Hahn
Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA
Kimmel Theatre Stage
December 12 – 15, 2019
CRITIC’S PICK!
“The scary, exhilarating brightness of raw adolescence emanates from every scene of this uncannily assured first play by Sarah DeLappe.”
– The New York Times
Left quad. Right quad. Lunge. A girls indoor soccer team warms up. From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, the team navigates big questions and wages tiny battles with all the vim and vigor of a pack of adolescent warriors. A portrait of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for nine American girls who just want to score some goals.
“The Wolves is a delightful meditation on society, sex, and soccer…DeLappe’s dialogue is hilarious and idiosyncratic, moving swiftly from gross-out humor to pain […] She offers us ninety minutes in a smart, sympathetic, female world. It’s a patch of Astroturf I would gladly set foot on again.”
– The Village Voice
For more information, visit Cornell Theatre’s website.
Legally Blonde the Musical
Book by Heather Hach
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture
Directed by Katy Hahn
City Circle Theatre Company, Coralville, IA
Coralville Center for the Performing Arts
May 1-10, 2020
Harvard’s beloved blonde takes the stage by pink storm in this fun, upbeat story of self-discovery based on the adored movie. Legally Blonde The Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances, this musical is so much fun, it should be illegal.
Tickets go on sale March 3, 2020 at noon. For more information, visit City Circle’s website.
Dialect Coaching Résumé (8×10 PDF)
I believe in approaching dialect study from whatever perspective the student/actor finds most fascinating. Different people gravitate towards different points of entry. Some may love analyzing the lexical sets and learning a symbol they can write for every sound (phonetics), while others do best when they use the circumstances of the character or the feel of the accent as their guide (vibe). Some people seem to succeed by focusing on distinct characteristics like grammar, pace, rhythm, and inflection (words, music), while others need to know what is happening physically to change the way the sound is being made (mechanics). When I coach students/actors, I provide an array of tools and techniques and tailor the work to each individual’s particular strengths, tastes, and needs.
Coaching Services:
Contact me about availability and pricing. Initial consultations available free of charge. We can customize your package based on your needs and budget.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current and upcoming productions I am coaching…
Dracula
Adapted by William McNulty
Directed by Kehry Anson Lane
Theatre Cedar Rapids
Grandon Studio
Cedar Rapids, IA
October 18-November 3, 2019
Cabaret
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by Joe Masteroff
Directed by Amy Osatinski
University of Northern Iowa
Strayer-Wood Theatre
Cedar Falls, IA
November 20-December 8, 2019
Oklahoma!
Written by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Directed by Brian Glick
Revival Theatre Company
Sinclair Auditorium
Cedar Rapids, IA
November 21-23, 2019
You Can’t Take It With You
Directed by Jim Bray
University of Northern Iowa
Strayer-Wood Theatre
Cedar Falls, IA
March 11-29, 2020
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Music and Lyrics by Steven Lutvak
Book and Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman
Directed by Angie Toomsen
Theatre Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA
February 7-23, 2020
Kinky Boots
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Directed by Lisa Kelly
Theatre Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids. IA
May 1-24, 2020
OCTOBER 2019
Jim Bray
One of my newest colleagues had a birthday this month, so I am featuring him here for October 2019! Happy Birthday Jim!
When I first met Jim I was struck by his genuine warmth and friendliness, and as I got to know him better we bonded over a passion for play analysis, Meisner, and Michael Chekhov.
Jim connects with students and holds them accountable, providing the compassion they need while preparing them to succeed in the “real world.” Jim pours himself into his work without an ounce of pretension, and I admire him greatly as an artist, educator, and fellow human.
From the UNI Department of Theatre website:
“Jim Bray received his M.F.A. in Acting from Kent State University. He is a certified instructor of the Sanford Meisner approach to acting, originally training for two years with Don Biehn (graduate of the William Alderson Studio and The Goodman School) in 1997, then receiving his certification to teach under the tutelage of renowned master teacher Larry Silverberg in 2017. Professor Bray has been a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 2001 working as an actor in NYC, with various regional theatres around the country, as well as touring stateside and internationally. He is an award-winning actor and director and can be heard on multiple recordings including the new musical, Sympathy Jones.”