Katie Broad grew up the youngest of 6 girls in the vibrant art community of Huntsville, Alabama. Because she was homeschooled, Katie had plenty of time to involve herself in the community theater scene, and performed in over 35 productions by the age of 17. Her entire family was involved; a father who worked as a tech director (and eventually became an IATSE rigger), a mother with a talent for costuming, and sisters who acted and found their niches in tech. It was quite a creative childhood. She even played several instruments, what a surprise!
Katie went straight to Circle in the Square Theatre School, where she received a full scholarship and studied with some of New York’s greatest teachers like Jackie Brookes and Moni Yakim. Playing Helena, Peter Quince and Mustardseed in the Ed Berkeley directed production of a Midsummer Night's Dream on the Circle in the Square stage (with the real grass growing for the Norman Conquests set) was an incredible experience for a young actor in the city.
Katie’s professional acting debut was with The Amoralists, working with Adam Rapp in the NY premiere of his play Animals & Plants; the rehearsals were in the basement of an apartment building in the lower east side, very fitting for the plays setting, with a garden outback where they did hours of table work. It was indie theater heaven. Katie continued working with Adam on his next project, Stop the Virgens, a psycho-opera written by and starring Karen O as part Vice’s Creators Project at St Ann’s Warehouse. Katie continued in the next production of Virgens when they toured to the Sydney Opera House for the Vivid Festival. Inspired by KO, Katie found her own voice and began writing songs with her ukulele in a folksy-comedic style.
Katie cares deeply for stories that need to be told, maybe because they show harder parts of ourselves, or maybe because they bring a light to a darkness. Her role in Oblivion by Carly Mensch at Westport Country Playhouse was a beautiful exploration of a young girl needing to find herself and seeking religion. She acted alongside Johanna Day and Reg Rogers, under the nuanced direction of Mark Brokaw. Katie has been in several readings at Playwrights Horizons and recently workshopped a new play with Daniel Aukim and Emily Feldman; she loves the chance to build a character in the room with a playwright and help the director hone their vision.
As a yoga teacher and student, Katie experiences the vast and beautiful benefits that a yoga practice has to the creative mind. Paradoxically she is a huge Stephen King fan, but above all, Katie’s biggest passion is dumplings. From everywhere in the world. Every culture has a version of a dumpling, and Katie loves all that she’s tried so far; living in Queens, they are easy to find!
Connect with Katie on Instagram: @broadkatiebroad