Director of Theatrical Things
Kate Willard is a director of plays and musicals based in New York City. Her work uses the surreal and surprising, grotesque comedy, absurdism, and athletic physicality to engage audiences.
Kate has directed and developed new work with the Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals, the 24 Hour Plays, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s Young Playwrights Festival, Brillig Theatre Company, Le Rebours Residence Artistique, and Compagnie de l’Ogre. Recent productions include EXTRA CRISPY (Joe’s Pub), ALL INCLUSIVE LOVE (LIU Brooklyn), NEVER FORGET THAT JASPER CULLEN WAS A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER (Classic Stage Co., 24 Hour Plays), RHINOCEROS (East Thetford Pavilion), and THE 39 STEPS (Brown Ledge Stock Company).
As Assistant Director: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG (Northern Stage), THE BODY (Town Hall, The 24 Hour Plays, Broadway Gala), WHITE ELEPHANT (Irondale, The 24 Hour Plays, Brooklyn Gala), I’M NOT MIKE WHITE (Brooklyn Art Haus), and THE MINUTES (Shaker Bridge Theater).
She is a member of Krymov Lab NYC, Director’s Lab North, the Directors Unit at The Actors Studio, and an alum of the directing cohort of the 24 Hour Plays: Nationals. Kate is also the current Co-Chair of the Parish Players Board of Trustees.
Kate received her BA in Drama from Vassar College and her Masters in Movement, Mime, and Theater from l’École Internationale de Théàtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She was also a participant in the Laboratoire d’Études du Mouvement. During her time in France she was first the Walter N. Maguire Fellow (sponsored by Vassar College) and subsequently the Jeanne Marandon Fellow (sponsored by La Société des Professeurs Français et Francophone d’Amérique). She also trained at the Moscow Art Theater School.
Kate gives workshops in movement, mime, and presence to students of all ages. Most recently she has led workshops at: Vermont Law and Graduate School, Columbia University, the Vermont Regional Drama Festival, Xavier High School, Parish Players, Thetford Academy, Directors Lab North, Valley Improv, Treasure Trunk Theater, and Le Rebours Residence Artistique.