Kathleen Collins: Tell About It

Have a question or comment for Rhonda? Send us a text!Kathleen & Rhonda talk about telling stories, choosing to leave a dream job, teaching the craft, family and career, visiting Germany in the 1980's, the power of the professional reach-out, practical jokes, and so much more.  Please take a moment to share Past the Blue Mailbox with your friends, and be sure to follow on your favorite streaming service to be notified of new episodes!-Kathleen has an M.A. and an M.F.A in Theater from the University of Washington.She was the Artistic Director of the Honolulu Theater for Youth, the only professional theater in the State of Hawaii where she traveled with her company all over the Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, and the New Orleans World Fair.Kathleen and her family then moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where Kathleen headed the Actors Company of Pennsylvania at the Historic Fulton Opera House. Kathleen was in charge of a mainstage season for adults and a Youth Touring season. While at the Fulton, Kathleen helped raise 15 million dollars, did amajor remodel of the Fulton and acquired housing for the New York actors who were cast in the shows.In 1982, Kathleen represented the United States at a conference for Directors in East Berlin. Kathleen returned to Seattle in 1998 where she taught as Professor of Theater in the Original Works Program at Cornish College of the Arts, from which she retired and was awarded Professor Emeritus status.She has directed in the Pacific Northwest at the Seattle Children’s Theater, for the New Century Theater and readings at ACT and Seattle Rep.Kathleen traveled to Russia in 1974 as a performer in the Wizard of Oz with her college production. The Cold War was not over and the power of the arts to bring people together was a life-changing experience where she understood the mantra: Art heals.