Intimacy Director

much ado about nothing 2021 // photo: brett love

As an intimacy/risk choreographer, Kate believes that the key to compelling physical storytelling is consent, bravery, and trust. Her work is defined by levity, clear communication, and ritual structures.

Kate’s practice is informed by Theatrical Intimacy Education, the IDC pillars, and her own experience as an actor, director, and movement-based creator.

Kate is a member of the Pacific Northwest Theatrical Intimacy collective.

When choreographing intimate or risky moments, Kate believes in clearly communicated structure and empowering actors to have autonomy in articulating their inspirations, boundaries, and needs.

Beyond choreography, Kate believes that cultivating a strong and joyful community in the room creates a culture of trust and communication that fosters positive results. She advocates for ritual-based rehearsal rooms to build patterns and muscle memory in connection. In intensely ensemble-based work like the Dice series, she additionally forges trust on an individual basis through laughter-based techniques like silly handshakes to bookend rehearsals for all individuals in the room: actors, creative team, and admin team alike!

metamorphoses 2019 // photo: ben symons

metamorphoses 2019 // photo: ben symons

the moors 2020 // photo credit: brett love

the moors 2020 // photo credit: brett love

Her intimacy direction credits include:

  • SELLING SUNSET (consultation) — Jet City Improv, dir. Erika Lowe

  • DICE KEEPER: TWELFTH NIGHT (in collaboration with the cast) — Dacha Theatre, dir. Mike Lion

  • SWIMMING WHILE DROWNING – ArtsWest, dir. Roy Arauz, September 2022

  • DICE: ROMEO & JULIET – Dacha Theatre, dir. Nansi Dwendi, April 2022

  • QUEENFISHER – The Shattered Glass Project, dir. Helen Gebreamlak, December 2021

  • MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING – Dacha Theatre, dir. Nick O’Leary, December 2021

  • A CHRISTMAS CAROL – ACT Theatre, dir. Julie Beckman, December 2021 – (Associate)

  • THE MOORS — Dacha Theatre, dir. Mike Lion, February 2020

  • PRIDE & PREJUDICE — Dacha Theatre, dir. Nick O’Leary, December 2019

  • METAMORPHOSES — Dacha Theatre, dir. Mike Lion, July/August 2019

  • DICE: AS YOU LIKE IT — Dacha Theatre, dir. Nick O’Leary, April/May 2019

  • DICE: HAMLET — Dacha Theatre, dir. Nick O’Leary, March/April 2018

  • DICE: TWELFTH NIGHT — Dacha Theatre, dir. Kate Drummond (self), March/April 2017

dice: as you like it 2019 // photo credit: adrian padilla

dice: as you like it 2019 // photo credit: adrian padilla

Accountability Partners

While I feel confident in my training and ability, I want to be held accountable for any harm I am responsible for, however unintentional. If you ever feel you have been harmed by me or a colleague of mine, here are a few of your options:

1. Let me know in person or via this feedback form. It’s a vulnerable thing to tell someone when they have hurt you, but bringing awareness to the hurt can keep it from happening again, and begin steps towards repair. If you feel you have the emotional space for it, I hope you take this option.

2. Reach out to my accountability partner. If you would prefer to go through a mediator with your concern, my colleague Claire Stark has volunteered to be my professional accountability partner:

3. If your concern is with something that occurred on an intimacy project, you can also contact the production company directly. ​

*** accountability language from intimacy professionals Cessa Betancourt and J.C. Meyer-Crosby***