S A L T U S M A G A Z I N E
1 7
Rejection comes with the territory of thespians--but fresh off four
months of grueling theatre-school auditions, Deputy Head Girl Katie
Witkowski is sanguine about life on stage. "If you can't handle `No,'
you're going into the wrong business," she laughs. "I'm not afraid of
putting myself out there." Her can-do attitude has landed lead roles
playing a diverse assortment of characters in local productions,
from prostitutes to a princess. Katie can't remember when she
didn't dream of being an actress and has relished participating in
shows like the Gilbert & Sullivan Society's Oliver, the BMDS pan-
tomime Cinderella and Saltus's own 2011 staging of High School
Musical. "I just want to act professionally; I don't mind where or
how," she says. "It's probably the only job where you get to be
all these different people, then come back to yourself."
This year has been crunch time for Katie, who packed 13
onsite auditions into the first four months--a week-long trial
in New York City for five major schools (including DePaul,
Rutgers and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland),
followed by a roadshow (with her Mom in tow) to
institutions up and down the Eastern seaboard.
Easter break saw more tryouts, in Toronto.
"It's the craziest thing," she says of
Manhattan's mass auditions, where hundreds of
hopefuls test their dance steps and monologues
in a series of studios over several days. "You're
sitting in this long hallway with a million girls who
look just like you--I should have dyed my hair
blue!" Callbacks are the grail, but "I give it my
all," says Katie. "My Mom gets more upset at
rejections than I do!"
She hopes for NYU or the Royal Conservatoire in
Glasgow. But if neither pans out, she's ready to pace
herself. "I might do a year studying theatre arts, then
re-audition for BFAs," she says. "I'm young--I have to
keep reminding myself of that. There's always more
than one way to get to your goal."
THE LEADING LADY
Katie Witkowski
FUN FACTS
AP subjects: Psychology, English Literature, English Language,
US History
Heading to: Study drama/acting
Career dream: To work professionally in theatre or film
Listening to: Jamie Cullum, Justin Timberlake
Pet peeves: Messy bedrooms, talking during movies
Favourite book: Wuthering Heights
Weak spot for: Animals
Inspired by: My brother [Matt Witkowski ('09)]
Couldn't live without: My cell phone
Best Saltus memory: Playing Gabriella in High School Musical
Words of wisdom: Never be afraid to try something
`I just want to act
professionally.
I don't mind
where or how'