Karen Bouw Biography

Before I even entered high school, I obtained a love of theater and the performing arts. I have been singing and acting since I was nine, as well as on and off dancing since three. Taking classes at a local theater really introduced me to this interest of mine. When I entered high school, an injury kept me from doing shows. But now I graduate with nine high school shows under my belt, as well as being in multiple community theater productions. Being a part of these shows made me feel a strong sense of belonging, and whether I was an ensemble or lead

As a shy, reserved student, I found myself blossoming through the stage. I fell in love with the stage and auditioned for the middle school's play, A Christmas Carol. Fortunately, I was casted in the performance. I loved the experience so much that I auditioned for the next year's play and musical and got a part in those as well. The more time I spent on stage, the more confident I became. I felt like the stage was where I belonged. I had a passion for theater that began to distinguish like a flame when I entered high school.

I have been in a lot of plays. Since I was little because of church. I have been in scrooge, the Christmas story, and many different Vacation Bible School skits. When I was younger, our teacher just put us in the plays with small parts. For example, in scrooge, I was a child from the Christmas past playing games showing how Christmas was. Then in the Christmas play I got to be Mary. We had a little scripts since we were young to read off of. I was a little nervous, but I was able to do it. There were also numbers so we knew when we were supposed to go. I also got to do some plays in school with my classmates. We did a musical and we also did some square dancing. IT was fun because we all were doing the same thing at the same time. Not only did we do plays at the

I saw my first Broadway show at only seven years old and have seen over ten more since then, due to the fact I live only two hours away from New York City by train. I always enjoyed theatre, but I didn’t grow the deep love I have for it now until acting became a career option. I spent a week of the summer completely in the business world of theatre and came out knowing I had to be an actress. I dived into all things Broadway, bought as many albums as I could, watched as many interviews as possible, saved up to see more shows, but even with all of this love for

In my younger years I was highly involved in show choir and school productions. Any way I could get on stage and strut my stuff I would take it. My sixth grade year of elementary school, the year before I would make the massive leap into middle school, I decided I would perform in my final production. The play was Aladdin and I had my eye on the role for the Genie and I wanted this role so much. I practiced this role day and night from singing to dancing to even some impressions anything that would ensure my little mind that I would get the part.

The first professional show I ever saw was an Off-Broadway production of On the Twentieth Century, starring Kristin Chenoweth. I remember getting swept up and consumed by the music, the dancing, the romance, the comedy, the story, and walking out of the theater astonished by the idea that there are people that do that for a living, there are people that do theater for a career, not just for fun. That is part of the reason that I decided to pursue theater, for the thrill of adventure and I know that I am not going to be doing some boring-ass desk job, but in the future I will get to use the skills that I learn in college to get my degree, and apply these skills to a career that I am excited about. To me, theater means that I get to work with

The crew sets up the stage, you can hear the quiet rambles of the audience, The music starts as the curtain whirls open. That rush you get of being on stage, or putting a production together or just being in the audience and seeing it, is an unexplainable thrill. In my opinion I think think that Freshman should join Theatre because you can meet lots of new people, be apart of many activities of the school and is very entertaining.

I sat in a dark auditorium, watching the magic. Only three, I sat in those red, comfy seats watching as my music teacher mother directed the annual spring musical Singing in the Rain that was coming to life before my eyes. I squinted at the bright glow coming from the stage, not knowing whether it was from the lights or the actors. I was fascinated as the ordinary high school students seemed to transform into experienced, brilliant actors. That very moment started my love for musical theatre.

This was all a gateway into a world I have never seen myself in. Once the show ended I continued to search for ways to be involved in the theatre department, being enrolled in the class wasn't enough for me, I needed more. Quickly I developed a passion for theatre and continued to find new ways to do it. The summer of my freshman year I was involved in a play in the park. During one of our performances a tree fell down onto the area we

Then, it all fell apart. My teacher had left, she didn't tell anyone she was leaving. People cried, whined, and complained. We went through a million substitute teachers, some of them even quit. One of our subs. had a catchphrase of “Stop visiting!”. She looked like a baboon that had its banana taken away. There were a lot more terrible subs, and room 9 was sick of them, but that year I didn't chicken out of play auditions. I didn't know why but I got a sudden burst of confidence. I auditioned for The Music Man and I believe I did amazingly. I got a decent part as Ethel Toffelmeir. She was a pick a little lady and had a speaking and singing role. I was very excited.

If I could be in a TV show or movie I would trust me. As far as stage place and other productions not interested. My mom wants me to help out more at the church and signed me up for a bunch of different things. 5 AM or five arts ministry is our theater part of the church and my mom told them that I could be in the play. I'm not going to lie I had fun.

Somewhere in that span of time, I also discovered musicals movies. I will always remember the first musical movie I have ever seen, Singin’ in the Rain. It was from there, which my journey into the world of theatre began. I started taking voice lessons and going to dance classes in high school. And the most fun of all happened when I started doing shows, like musicals, dance concerts, and vocal concerts. Whenever I am on stage, I just have the time of my life in whatever manner I can be. Back then it was something I just enjoyed, but there was a moment in which the thought of doing this as a career hit me. On the closing night of a production of Urinetown at my high school, I returned to my dressing room and just burst into tears from the amount of happiness I felt from just being able to do what I love. To play pretend on stage, while singing and dancing. What more could a person ask for? So I more intensively started training, and applied to colleges. I graduated high school and attended Florida School of the Arts for two years and got some amazing training there. For a two year program, I received some of the best training and individual attention that I could

I was reluctant in joining the Academy because I was nervous that I wouldn’t get in. But precisely the period before my scheduled audition a ‘frienemy’ encouraged me to try out. I built the courage to walk through the audition doors and left being placed in the intermediate level; which was quite an accomplishment. Since then I have now achieved in reaching the Advance Level of the academy! My favorite memory in the academy is when my second and third period took our first trip to the Manhattan Theater Club in New York City. This trip aided tremendously in team-building and my skills of theater analysis. I am so grateful that I took the plunge and faced my fears because the Performing Arts Academy and Mrs. Baur have made me realize that my true dreams are to become an actor. The Performing Arts floor is a safe haven for many including myself, the people can drive you crazy but that's exactly what families do.

I was not the typical musical theatre kid growing up. Even though from a young age I was convinced I would pursue musical theatre in some degree as an adult, I was not continually involved in dance, voice and acting classes. Being raised in a family of eight created a financial barrier to be involved in an abundance of training. My devoted parents, who run a nonprofit marriage ministry, kept me involved in my passion of theatre as much as possible. It was difficult seeing many of my peers being involved in numerous classes and productions I longed to be a part of. As I entered high school, I had a decision to make. I could either let the negativity and comparison to others I was feeling diminish my passion for musical theatre or I could continually strive towards success to the best of my ability.

Acting has been a part of my life since the young age of six, when I first began acting at the Waldo Theatre in Waldoboro. I have always enjoyed being the center of attention and acting gave me a chance to shine that side of me in front of strangers, family, and friends and show them what I had a natural gift in. Through acting I made multiple friends that I still have friendships with to this day and met many incredible individuals that even pushed me farther down my musical path and helped develop my musical abilities, along with my acting abilities.