Kathryn Grace McCarty (born 10 December 1963) is the Artistic Director of Galatean Players Ensemble Theatre Company, a director of plays and musicals, an American playwright, and author of the recently-published Defining Form and Other Plays. Known for her homespun wit, McCarty is the author of numerous plays, including the critically acclaimed comedy, The Fitting Room.
Biography
Early life
Born in Duluth, Minnesota, she spent her early years in Wisconsin, South Carolina, Washington, DC and the Azores, as her father was in the United States Air Force, before the family settled in Benton, Illinois. McCarty is a direct descendant of John Rutledge (signatore of the US Constitution, US Supreme Court, Governor of South Carolina) who was brother to Edward Rutledge (a signatore of the Declaration of Independence and the Governor of South Carolina). McCarty is proud of her Southern heritage. McCarty's hometown of Benton, Illinois is just south of the Mason-Dixon line, and has also produced actor John Malkovich and Doug Collins of NBA fame both of whom also graduated from BCHS.
Professional life
After completing college at Southern Illinois University, McCarty spent a year at the prestigious McCarter Theatre on the campus of Princeton University before moving to Chicago. While in the Windy City, she worked in the offices of "Forbidden Broadway" and for the Payne Levitt Company at the Royal George Theatre and the Palmer House.
Later in Chicago, she directed the likes of the young Andy Dick, Hope Davis, Tom Lennon.
A life on the road enticed her to travel Europe where she performed in the Broadway Musical Company's West Side Story. Afterwards, she returned to Chicago and worked for Casting Director Cherie Mann before moving to California.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, McCarty, and the rogue thespian Calvin Landis, founded Galatean Players Ensemble Theatre, with original ensemble members Rob Knox, Marty Orton, Andrea Chamberlain, and Shari Oret, later joined by Rachel Hauser (Pergamit) and Brian Pergamit. McCarty has received critical acclaim for her work as a writer, director and actress.
Through Galatean Players, she has fostered the writing talents of several area writers including Craig Brewer (Hustle and Flow, Black Snake Moan), Marci Karr (Making Mary, IO), Lucina Paquet-Gabbard (The Wayward Spirit) and Caroline Altman (The Tower, Whiskers).
As a playwright, McCarty has 17 works produced in theaters throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago and Los Angeles. Drawing heavily on life experience, and a life well and happily lived, she crafts comedy from the darkest of circumstances. "In perspective, it's cathartic laughter in dealing with the subjects that all humans must go through."
Contra Costa theatre critics point out that she writes with a unique comic voice, exploring the pitfalls and triumphs of human nature through laughter and wisdom. Her characters illustrate the eccentricities of every day life.
McCarty is also a passionate educator working in both public and private schools, currently on faculty at Contra Costa College.
Plays
* DEFINING FORM (1997)
* CRICKET ON THE HEARTH (1998) (W/Stewart, Nott, Altman, Karr)
* BREAD BAKING TIME* (1998) (One Act Verse Play)
* HENRY EVER AFTER (1999)
* MODERN WOOLY MAMMOTHS** (2002) (Screenplay)
* THE GARDEN CLUB* (2000)
* FAULTY ANGELS* (2000)
* WHEN WE DANCED (2002)
* STAR POLISHER* (2002)
* VIRGIN SACRIFICES* (2002)
* BESSIE! A Celebration of Bessie Smith (2003)
* NOEL (2003)
* THE LAST HOORAH (2003)
* STRAIGHT LACED: A CANTATA (2004)
* THE LADIES QUINTET (2005)
* ON THE VERGE** 2006 (New Screenplay)
*indicates one-act play
**indicates screenplay
Biography
Early life
Born in Duluth, Minnesota, she spent her early years in Wisconsin, South Carolina, Washington, DC and the Azores, as her father was in the United States Air Force, before the family settled in Benton, Illinois. McCarty is a direct descendant of John Rutledge (signatore of the US Constitution, US Supreme Court, Governor of South Carolina) who was brother to Edward Rutledge (a signatore of the Declaration of Independence and the Governor of South Carolina). McCarty is proud of her Southern heritage. McCarty's hometown of Benton, Illinois is just south of the Mason-Dixon line, and has also produced actor John Malkovich and Doug Collins of NBA fame both of whom also graduated from BCHS.
Professional life
After completing college at Southern Illinois University, McCarty spent a year at the prestigious McCarter Theatre on the campus of Princeton University before moving to Chicago. While in the Windy City, she worked in the offices of "Forbidden Broadway" and for the Payne Levitt Company at the Royal George Theatre and the Palmer House.
Later in Chicago, she directed the likes of the young Andy Dick, Hope Davis, Tom Lennon.
A life on the road enticed her to travel Europe where she performed in the Broadway Musical Company's West Side Story. Afterwards, she returned to Chicago and worked for Casting Director Cherie Mann before moving to California.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, McCarty, and the rogue thespian Calvin Landis, founded Galatean Players Ensemble Theatre, with original ensemble members Rob Knox, Marty Orton, Andrea Chamberlain, and Shari Oret, later joined by Rachel Hauser (Pergamit) and Brian Pergamit. McCarty has received critical acclaim for her work as a writer, director and actress.
Through Galatean Players, she has fostered the writing talents of several area writers including Craig Brewer (Hustle and Flow, Black Snake Moan), Marci Karr (Making Mary, IO), Lucina Paquet-Gabbard (The Wayward Spirit) and Caroline Altman (The Tower, Whiskers).
As a playwright, McCarty has 17 works produced in theaters throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago and Los Angeles. Drawing heavily on life experience, and a life well and happily lived, she crafts comedy from the darkest of circumstances. "In perspective, it's cathartic laughter in dealing with the subjects that all humans must go through."
Contra Costa theatre critics point out that she writes with a unique comic voice, exploring the pitfalls and triumphs of human nature through laughter and wisdom. Her characters illustrate the eccentricities of every day life.
McCarty is also a passionate educator working in both public and private schools, currently on faculty at Contra Costa College.
Plays
* DEFINING FORM (1997)
* CRICKET ON THE HEARTH (1998) (W/Stewart, Nott, Altman, Karr)
* BREAD BAKING TIME* (1998) (One Act Verse Play)
* HENRY EVER AFTER (1999)
* MODERN WOOLY MAMMOTHS** (2002) (Screenplay)
* THE GARDEN CLUB* (2000)
* FAULTY ANGELS* (2000)
* WHEN WE DANCED (2002)
* STAR POLISHER* (2002)
* VIRGIN SACRIFICES* (2002)
* BESSIE! A Celebration of Bessie Smith (2003)
* NOEL (2003)
* THE LAST HOORAH (2003)
* STRAIGHT LACED: A CANTATA (2004)
* THE LADIES QUINTET (2005)
* ON THE VERGE** 2006 (New Screenplay)
*indicates one-act play
**indicates screenplay
Sultan Uddin'is a martial artist, the youngest person and first African-American to achieve Master status under Cabales Serrada Eskrima founder Angel Cabales.
Uddin achieved his Master rank before the age of 21. In 1989, he created the International Eskrima Serrada Association with the blessing of Angel Cabales.
Uddin is recognized as one of the fastest stick-fighters, as well as blade-fighters, in the world. The Supreme Council of Grandmasters in the Philippines has also recognized his skills. He conducted the first workshop and demonstration of Eskrima Serrada in Pangasinan, Philippines and was acknowledged by the Philippines Sports Commission.
He also studied Capoeira with some of the most notable Mestres such as:
*Mestre Di Mola, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
*Mestre Cesar Carneiro, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil/S.F.Ca.
*Mestre Zambi, Sao Paulo, Brazil
*James Hundon
Honors, Ranks, & Awards
Uddin is the Weapons Director and West-Coast representative for the Kifaru Jitsu system under Stanford McNeal, Sr. On March 25, 2000, he was inducted into The World Martial Arts Hall of Fame and was nominated for the Outstanding Martial Artist 21st Century Sports Award. On March 23, 2001 Uddin received a Referee Certification from Stanford McNeal Sr., Chairman Referee’s Committee.
On September 20, 2001, he was commissioned as an honorary Kentucky Colonel by Governor Paul E. Patton, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the highest honor afforded by the State. Secretary of State John Y. Brown III also signed this certificate.
TV and Movies
Uddin has applied his skills and talent to the big screen, making an uncredited appearance as one of two “Reptile” characters in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997), and choreographing fight sequences that demonstrate Eskrima Serrada and African martial arts culture in that same film.
He made several guest appearances in the 2000 television series Mortal Kombat: Conquest as Noob Saibot, and a Shadow Priest. His movements were motion-captured for the video game Mortal Kombat 4 which were used for the character of Kai.
Trivia
*Uddin is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
*He enjoys restoring and racing classic cars.
*He currently makes his home in Beverly Hills, California.
Uddin achieved his Master rank before the age of 21. In 1989, he created the International Eskrima Serrada Association with the blessing of Angel Cabales.
Uddin is recognized as one of the fastest stick-fighters, as well as blade-fighters, in the world. The Supreme Council of Grandmasters in the Philippines has also recognized his skills. He conducted the first workshop and demonstration of Eskrima Serrada in Pangasinan, Philippines and was acknowledged by the Philippines Sports Commission.
He also studied Capoeira with some of the most notable Mestres such as:
*Mestre Di Mola, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
*Mestre Cesar Carneiro, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil/S.F.Ca.
*Mestre Zambi, Sao Paulo, Brazil
*James Hundon
Honors, Ranks, & Awards
Uddin is the Weapons Director and West-Coast representative for the Kifaru Jitsu system under Stanford McNeal, Sr. On March 25, 2000, he was inducted into The World Martial Arts Hall of Fame and was nominated for the Outstanding Martial Artist 21st Century Sports Award. On March 23, 2001 Uddin received a Referee Certification from Stanford McNeal Sr., Chairman Referee’s Committee.
On September 20, 2001, he was commissioned as an honorary Kentucky Colonel by Governor Paul E. Patton, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the highest honor afforded by the State. Secretary of State John Y. Brown III also signed this certificate.
TV and Movies
Uddin has applied his skills and talent to the big screen, making an uncredited appearance as one of two “Reptile” characters in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997), and choreographing fight sequences that demonstrate Eskrima Serrada and African martial arts culture in that same film.
He made several guest appearances in the 2000 television series Mortal Kombat: Conquest as Noob Saibot, and a Shadow Priest. His movements were motion-captured for the video game Mortal Kombat 4 which were used for the character of Kai.
Trivia
*Uddin is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
*He enjoys restoring and racing classic cars.
*He currently makes his home in Beverly Hills, California.
Hightower Trail Middle School is a grade 6-8 middle school in Cobb County, Georgia.
It is part of the Cobb County School District. The feeder elementary schools are Tritt, Shallowford Falls, Murdock, and Mountain View. Hightower Trail students go on to Pope High School in Cobb County, Georgia.
This middle school created a new class in 2007 named Media Productions in which students implement Language Arts, Writing, and Technology skills to focus on Journalism, Podcasting, and other skills. It is one of few schools which have this class in Cobb County. Hightower Trail was given a 10 out of 10 for overall great schools and the overall parent rating was 5 stars. This school is officially number 5 in academics in the state of Georgia. Its mascot is the Husky. Other electives that students can attend include Physical Education, Art, Business (keybording), Health, and Family and Consumer Science (FACS). Their music electives are Band, Orchestra, Chorus, and Music Appreciation.
It is part of the Cobb County School District. The feeder elementary schools are Tritt, Shallowford Falls, Murdock, and Mountain View. Hightower Trail students go on to Pope High School in Cobb County, Georgia.
This middle school created a new class in 2007 named Media Productions in which students implement Language Arts, Writing, and Technology skills to focus on Journalism, Podcasting, and other skills. It is one of few schools which have this class in Cobb County. Hightower Trail was given a 10 out of 10 for overall great schools and the overall parent rating was 5 stars. This school is officially number 5 in academics in the state of Georgia. Its mascot is the Husky. Other electives that students can attend include Physical Education, Art, Business (keybording), Health, and Family and Consumer Science (FACS). Their music electives are Band, Orchestra, Chorus, and Music Appreciation.
José Luis Aquino (1974 in Oaxaca – December 6, 2007) was a Mexican trumpetist in a band called Los Conde, based in the southern resort of Puerto Escondido. The band has recorded six albums, and members appeared in the early-1990s film Mafioso pero Gracioso, or "Funny Mobster." He had been in the band for fourteen years, was married and had two children.
Guitar player of the band Francisco Conde said of Aquino:
"He was a good person and never fought with anyone. He didn't smoke or do drugs."
Three days after being reported missing, he was found dead with his hand and feet bound with a nylon bag over his head on December 6, 2007 in San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca.
He had been hit repeatedly on the head, according to a spokesman for the Oaxaca state attorney general's office who prefered to remain anonymous. Aquino was the third popular Mexican musician to be murdered in a week. The deaths of Sergio Gómez and Zayda Peña, as well as Aquino, are all suspected to have organized crime links.
The deaths of Aquino and the other musicians caused concern in mainstream musicians.
Guitar player of the band Francisco Conde said of Aquino:
"He was a good person and never fought with anyone. He didn't smoke or do drugs."
Three days after being reported missing, he was found dead with his hand and feet bound with a nylon bag over his head on December 6, 2007 in San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca.
He had been hit repeatedly on the head, according to a spokesman for the Oaxaca state attorney general's office who prefered to remain anonymous. Aquino was the third popular Mexican musician to be murdered in a week. The deaths of Sergio Gómez and Zayda Peña, as well as Aquino, are all suspected to have organized crime links.
The deaths of Aquino and the other musicians caused concern in mainstream musicians.