Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katie Wickline. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Katie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
This probably sounds very dim-witted and cheesy, but I genuinely want to be known for being a good person. I want to be remembered as someone who was funny, collaborative, and brought joy to every creative space. I’m less concerned about my accomplishments and more on how I made people feel. I hope people will remember me as someone who made them feel seen and celebrated. I definitely mess up a lot and have my bad days, but I try my best to learn from my mistakes and use it as fuel to love people better. My favorite part of the creative process is the company I create with, so that’s what I use as my barometer for success. A legacy for winning an Oscar wouldn’t be too shabby, either.
Katie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Howdy! For folks who don’t know me, I’m an actor, teaching artist, and writer- but my life motto is “if you’re willing to pay me I’m willing to wing it.” Recently, I performed with theaters such as Tipsy Tales, Sketchworks Comedy, and Out Front Theatre. I teach acting, improv, and devising to students of all ages with 7 Stages, Synchronicity Theatre, and with the Alliance Theatre Institute. Sometimes I write songs, sketches, and really melodramatic poetry. I grew up OTP, but decided to move back home after graduating in Theatre from Florida State University. Truthfully, I moved back mostly because I was depressed and could live with my parents rent-free while I figured my life out. Then I interned at 7 Stages Theatre and began doing plays around town, and I realized how much I love the artistic community here! I’ve gotten to work on and witness original projects that are passionate, vulnerable, and thought-provoking. Atlanta theatre has paid me to perform original songs about death, write dick jokes, and collaborate with my favorite people. I couldn’t be more grateful for the life and career I’m building here.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Give us funding! Give us money to pay artists a livable wage and create good work! It’s hard to create art when you’re struggling to pay bills!
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Performance-related books I’ve enjoyed are The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer and I Wanna Be Where the Normal People Are by Rachel Bloom. Jenna Fischer gets very specific, honest, and concrete about building an acting career, it was super helpful when I was fresh out of college. Rachel Bloom is one of my favorite creators right now, and reading about her journey and her process with the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend inspired me to pursue sketch comedy. I also really love the podcast How to Fail. The host interviews actors like Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Minnie Driver to discuss their experiences with failure and rejection. It’s comforting to know that successful people I admire have also struggled and that I’m not alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: katiewickline.com
- Instagram: ktmariewick
Image Credits
Sydney Lee Photography, Jake West, Brian Troxell, Jake Guinn