Pictured:
1. A View from the Bridge at Riverside Theatre (photo by Rob Merritt, 2017)
2. The Wolves at Cornell College (photo by Olivia Houchins McCollum, 2019)
3. Aurora at Theatre Cedar Rapids Underground New Play Festival (photo by Rob Merritt, 2019)
Hi there. My name is Katy Hahn and I am a professional theatre artist living in small-town Iowa. I make my home with my husband Bill, our son Jack, and our dog Sam, and I travel all over to teach and make art for a living.
This website focuses on me and my work as an actor, educator, and collaborator. I use my platform to highlight the awesomeness of my friends and colleagues as well, so scroll all the way down to see what artist-friend I am featuring this month!
OVERVIEW
I have trained and worked across Iowa and the U.S. as a theatre instructor, accent/dialect coach, director, and actor for stage, screen, and voice over projects.
EDUCATION
I earned my BA in Theatre: Performance from the University of Northern Iowa in 2010 and my MFA in Acting from Florida Atlantic University in 2015.
CURRENT TEACHING APPOINTMENTS
I currently teach theatre courses at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Coe College in Cedar Rapids, and Nolte Academy/Iowa Conservatory in Coralville.
SPECIALTIES
I specialize in voice, speech, and movement for the actor, with additional expertise in accent and dialect study, Shakespeare, musical theatre, new play development, and theatre for social change.
OBJECTIVE
I work with people at all levels of experience to spark creativity, inspire confidence, cultivate empathy, build community, and engage in the greater conversations of life. I seek to serve and empower people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly diverse learners and underrepresented groups.
“I thought that all of the plays we read this semester had an important element to them and therefore, introduce students to new pieces of theatre that are not always represented, such as topics of race, sexuality, disabilities, etc. I believe all of the plays Katy chose to include this semester benefit student learning and prepare us for other classes and shows in our future."
“Professor Hahn, thank you very much. I was so nervous and worried about this class, but you taught me politely so I could enjoy. I was impressed that you taught me at times other than office hours. Thank you very much. I am glad that I could study with talented classmates and a great professor together.”
"Katy and Jenn both care a lot about this class and making it engaging and productive for the students. They have taken the time to individually get to know each student so as to help them grow in their emphasis. They also addressed all three areas of emphasis in the department. They had good connections with the students and challenged us while still helping us if we needed it."
"We talk about content a lot in class. We always know what is expected of us, and we go over the rules and guidelines for everything, which was really helpful especially when you haven't ever taken a class like this before. I think that Professor Hahn has an advantage because she has been in so many plays and musicals, and she really knows her content. I believe a class like this has students who are either 100% interested in it or not really at all. She did a very good job at making the class more than just lecture every day and got the 'not really at all' students more interested in it."
"Good morning! I just wanted to say thank you. I love that you have Black Lives Matter in the end of all of your emails, I love that you normalize talking about privilege with race, sexuality, gender and everything else, I love that you try to incorporate EVERYONE into your lessons/ talk about things and people/ disabilities that aren’t talked about as much as they should be, etc. I KNEW I’d Love having you as a professor. You’re great!"
"Katy is exceptionally good at classroom management and at articulation of ideas and concepts. Whenever students got off task or began to speak out of turn, she was firm and respectful yet was consistent in making each and every student feel welcome and comfortable in class. Regarding her teaching of content, she put things in ways I had never thought of, and was able to use every single situation as a teaching and learning opportunity. No matter what happened, Katy was always on her toes and ready to use the class events in order to benefit everyone."
Directed by Caroline Price
Filmed by Rob Merritt
Starring Katy Hahn as The Pilot
October 16th-November 1st
A fighter pilot becomes pregnant and is forced to give up her wings. When she is reassigned to piloting a drone for a seemingly endless war, her sense of self — and reality — comes into question. A play about duty, identity, and motherhood.
For more information about Grounded and other titles in Riverside Theatre’s Virtual Stories Series, visit https://www.riversidetheatre.org/virtual
Read our review in the Gazette here!
Read our review in the Daily Iowan here!
Though we won’t be meeting up for a whiskey together this Christmas, December has me thinking warm thoughts about my friend Heather Lawler!
Heather is a vibrant woman with a magnetic personality and a big heart. She is as talented as she is fun!
From her website:
“Theatre and the arts are not only my chosen profession but my true passion in life. I’m most at peace with myself and the world when I am either performing, rehearsing or teaching the next generation about the arts. I believe that being involved in theatre and the arts makes everyone a better person no matter what field you are in.”
I first met Heather in 2011 but didn’t have the pleasure of working with her until the summer of 2014 when we were both acting apprentices at Riverside Theatre in the Park. We performed together in Othello and the “Green Shows” and worked as run crew for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised].
We have shared many adventures since!
Heather has an impressive range of skills and a diverse resume. She earned her MFA in Acting at UMKC and has worked professionally across the US and internationally. For more information about Heather, visit her website.
This year, Heather Lawler started a Facebook group (with last month’s featured friend Noel VanDenBosch) called Quarantine Play Readings :
“Each week we will pick a couple fun scripts, cast them, send out PDF’s of the scripts and invite all of those reading and anyone who wants to listen and be a part of the post reading discussion.”
They have tirelessly organized Zoom readings for no pay at all because they are dedicated to keeping theatre alive during these trying times! Thank you for all the time you give and the work you do!
Also… Heather recently got engaged to Ken Sandberg. Congratulations Heather and Ken! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and a bright future together!
November 2020: Noel VanDenBosch
October 2020: Katie Colletta
September 2020: Mia Fryvecind-Gimenez
August 2020: Jo Jordan
July 2020: S. Benjamin Farrar
June 2020: Crystal Stewart
May 2020: Megan Gogerty
April 2020: Adam Knight
March 2020: Genevieve Trainor
February 2020: Chris Okiishi
January 2020: Cavan Hallman
December 2019: Angie Toomsen
November 2019: Janeve West
October 2019: Jim Bray
September 2019: Caroline Price
August 2019: Jenn Sheshko Wood
July 2019: Sarah Schreiner
June 2019: Kristy Hartsgrove Mooers
May 2019: Rob Merritt
April 2019: Jennifer Fawcett
March 2019: Patrick DuLaney
February 2019: Saffron Henke
January 2019: Amy Osatinski
December 2018: Cara Viner
November 2018: Deanna Downes
October 2018: Alisabeth Von Presley
