2024 Digital Binder – In Person

About
Kaelyn Langer Mendonca is a multi-hyphenate artist with 30 years of experience. She has worked as an actor, director, arts administrator, educator, and artistic leader in New York and Washington State. Her passion lies in creating complex characters and telling important stories that resonate with audiences. A native New Yorker and now based in Seattle Kaelyn thrives in collaborative, open, and brave spaces.

looking forward!

Hello! I am a Seattle based actor, singer and performer.

Back in my home state of Minnesota, I received performance training through Pinnacle Performing Arts, under the guidance of Jana Hirsch, and performed in shows with theaters in southern Minnesota. Growing up, I sang in honor choirs and all-state ensembles, and I have a rich background in classical music and choral performance. I lived in Colorado Springs for a short time and was able to work closely on projects with playwright Jon Marcantoni and performed as Eusebio in the world debut of his play, Puerto Rican Nocturne. In 2021, I was inspired to take a trip to Seattle, and instantly fell in love with the energy and pace of the city.
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With a new found confidence rooted in gratitude and self exploration, Seattle quickly became the spark I needed to jump start my career as a performer. Through my job, I was the featured talent in marketing campaigns, and modeled for the cover of the company news letter. A dream came true when I had the chance to work with HBO Max and was cast as a background extra in Season 2 of The Sex Lives of College Girls. I am also a member of the Seattle Men's Chorus and was honored with the opportunity to be a featured soloist in their 2023 holiday show.

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I am a Seattle actor interested in a variety of types of work from contemporary musical theatre to Shakespeare to children's theatre. I am especially interested in representing my gender non-conforming and neurodivergent identities onstage.

I’ve been financially supporting myself since I was 16. And I have worked for everything I have, so working hard isn’t a question for me. In high school is where I started to view acting as a passion. My teacher at the time Tom Armitage taught me a lot, it’s where I felt like I really understood language and I could make sense of things easier.

In university at Seattle Pacific University under Candace Vance’s tutelage, I gained more expertise and understanding. I learned under her how to do an RP accent properly. I polished my Shakespeare skills. I learned how to focus, and really dive into connecting with the character I was being believably.

I have a lot of room to grow and learn and I want to continue to grow and learn everyday.

In my spare time I make costumes based on media I consume. I’ve taught myself every sewing skill I know and have invested in this hobby well.

Rylie is a queer mom who loves D&D, dancing, road trips, and making up songs with their daughter. She has a degree in theatre and minor in dance from Eastern Washington University and has recently been on stage in local productions such as "Emma" as Harriet and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" both with Centerstage Theatre, and "Hay Fever" as Myra with Burien Actors Theatre. She has also been behind the scenes as a director (Queen City Theatre and Strawshop), choreographer (Arlington High School, Centerstage Theatre, and Eastern Washington University) and assistant director/choreographer (Washington Ensemble Theatre). When Rylie is not actively participating in a production, she works as Marketing Manager and Administrative Assistant for Centerstage Theatre (so…. still actively participating with productions haha). They hope you are all drinking water, eating, and taking care of yourselves, because they know how long these days can get!

Kalea Levy is a recent Graduate of the University of Washington with a BA in Drama: Performance and Education, Communities, and Organizations. Since she began training at a young age at the Zach Theatre Acting Conservatory in Austin, Texas, she has been eager to learn and explore the community through the lens of storytelling and is excited for any opportunity that she can take. During her time at UW, she served as the Outreach Director for the Undergraduate Theatre Society where she also had the opportunity to stage manage, direct, act, and stretch her arts administration skills. Outside of performance, Kalea is a teaching artist for Dandylyon Drama and recently just earned her NASM Personal Trainer Certification and hopes to bring elements of performance and storytelling to the health and wellness industry.

Like many, I first stepped onstage in a kindergarten Christmas pageant as a nativity star. I uttered one Biblical line in awestruck terror and was smitten. So began my lifelong passion for performance. Acting was a gift, an exciting outlet for expression and escape from a challenging childhood. Repertory in high school. Daring, experimental fringe. Plum roles with regional theaters in Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Chicago. My own company and award-winning plays. Fleeting brushes with Hollywood breaks. But being an unapologetic queer man in a very discriminatory era came at a casting price. In my 30s, my partner and I had the chance to adopt a daughter facing developmental disabilities. I embraced the blessing of fatherhood and tabled my career until she was an adult. I’ve since returned to the stage to some acclaim and have resigned my corporate career to commit myself to finally realizing my potential as an actor.

I always put the funniest word at the end of the sentence underpants.

Thank you!