KRISTEN MENGELKOCH

Kristen Mengelkoch is a Kansas native who has called New York home for almost two decades. In addition to her work with Flourish Performing Arts, Kristen teaches with the Musical Theatre Faculty at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City and serves as a Dramatic Coach with Orfeo Vocal Arts in Dresden, Germany. As an Equity actor, she appeared in the First National Tour of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and has worked Off-Broadway in multiple editions of Forbidden Broadway and NEWSical the Musical. Kristen has also utilized her love of physical comedy in some exciting world premiere plays over the years and has starred in musicals throughout the United States. In television, she appeared on Veronica Mars. As a producer, she was the co-founder of NYC’s Ampersand Theatre Company. 

Teaching has long been part of Kristen's DNA, both in the university classroom and as a performing guest artist for master classes. As an educator, she believes in and encourages a fusion of acting, vocal, and physical work to help all performers find full ownership of themselves and their art. Above all, she aims to empower students to enjoy their craft and thrive in this ever-changing, ever-exciting professional world.

DEGREES

M.F.A., Musical Theatre, San Diego State University
B.F.A., Theatre Arts, Emporia State University

Teaching Philosophy

In a world where most needs are exponentially met with a click online, the art of communication is more important than ever to preserve, nurture, and celebrate. To study and work in theatre is to study and work in collaboration with each other, and that is why it is worth teaching. My classroom is a practice of this creative communication between teacher and student.

In approaching any role, I firmly believe “an informed decision is the best decision.” Good instincts get you in the room- preparation gets you the job. In my classroom, the  joy and work is in the text analysis, the musical analysis, and the character development, so once rehearsals are complete, all that is left is to live honestly in performance, as only you can. 

I love what I do for a living and wish all my students to do the same. It is a privilege to teach as it is a privilege to work in professional theatre. I feel exceedingly fortunate to do both and look forward to sharing this joy with future generations…future artists…my collaborators.