About Me & My Work
Hi, my name is Katy, and I used she/her pronouns. I’m originally from Iowa, and before marriage my last name was Slaven, so much of my past work was credited accordingly. I earned my MFA in Acting from Florida Atlantic University, and currently live in the Eastern Iowa Corridor. In addition to teaching theatre at the University of Northern Iowa and Coe College, I work as a director, coach, youth instructor, and actor for stage, screen, and voice over projects.
As a professional artist and teacher based in the Midwest, 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 theatre performance, with specializations in voice, speech, and movement for the actor. I have additional expertise in musical theatre, Shakespeare, dialect study, new play development, and theatre for social change. I focus my work on serving diverse learners and underrepresented groups.
I dedicate my life to the arts because I have seen how they 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
Announcement for SUMMER 2020 coming soon! Stay tuned!
Actor Résumé PDF
Headshots by Alisabeth Von Presley
Recently finished…
Click here for more information this unique theatrical experience!
Translated by Richard Nelson, Richard Pevear, and Larissa Volokhonsky
Directed by Adam Knight
Riverside Theatre
Iowa City, IA
Press for Uncle Vanya:
Gazette Review
Little Village Review
Press Citizen Article
Daily Iowan Article
Quigley Jeep Adventure Days spot – Mudd Advertising, 2018
Representative Photos
Announcements for SUMMER 2020 coming soon! Stay tuned!
Curriculum Vitae PDF
Courses I am currently teaching…
(Now ONLINE due to social distancing)
UNI Department of Theatre
Spring 2020
Foundations of Theatre
Introduction to Reading Playscripts
Coe College Department of Theatre Arts
Spring 2020
Introduction to Theatre
Directing Résumé PDF
Recently finished…
Written by Sarah DeLappe
Directed by Katy Hahn
Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA
Kimmel Theatre Stage
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
Dialect Coaching Résumé PDF
I divide my approach to coaching dialects into what I call “five points of fascination,” which includes the mechanics, phonetics, words, music, and vibe. 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 for current availability and pricing. Initial consultations available free of charge. We can customize your package based on your needs and budget.
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Recently finished…
Directed by Jim Bray
University of Northern Iowa
Strayer-Wood Theatre
Cedar Falls, IA
March 2020
Up next…
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Directed by Lisa Kelly
Theatre Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA
(Rescheduled Performances TBD)
APRIL 2020
ADAM KNIGHT
Riverside Theatre in Iowa City is one of the only professional theatre companies in the state of Iowa, and Adam Knight is the producing artistic director who keeps it surviving and thriving.
Adam is a visionary, a creative problem-solver, and an ideal collaborator. He listens – to artists, to the community, to his own artistic spirit – and he responds with action. He knows local artists consider Riverside a creative home, and he does not take his responsibility to us lightly. Adam brings genuine passion to every project, without fail. It is a joy to make art with him.
I had the pleasure of being directed by Adam in Henry IV Part 1 and Uncle Vanya at Riverside Theatre in 2019. My favorite thing about both experiences was his collaborative spirit. Adam enters into every project as a conversation where artists come together to find the play.
Adam’s directorial choices are always focused on the work, not his own ego. There is a feeling of ease in his style. One of my favorite Adam-isms: “I think what it wants is…” (“It” being a scene, a monologue, a line, a single moment). Those of you who know Adam will recognize this phrase! It is such a gentle way to guide the group in a common direction. I love it.
Riverside Theatre is fortunate to have Adam at the helm, raising the bar for art and artists in Iowa City! As we look forward to Riverside’s upcoming Free Shakespeare production (dates TBD), Check out Riverside Theatre’s 30 days of Shakespeare!