Kaitlin Hopkins is Head of the Musical Theatre program and brings with her over 25 years of experience working on and off Broadway, regional theatre, film, television, opera and radio. Kaitlin has a half dozen cast album credits to her name, originating the roles of Meredith Parker in the critically acclaimed Bat Boy-the Musical, for which she received Drama Desk and Ovation award nominations, Claire in the cult-hit Bare;a pop opera, Jeannie in The Great American Trailer Park Musical and Diane in Disney’s On The Record.  She has toured the country, not only as an award-winning actress and director, but also as an educator, teaching master classes at colleges and universities from coast to coast. She is a past panel member for NFAA Young Arts week and has served as a frequent regional judge for the American College Theatre Festival’s Irene Ryan awards, including the national finals held at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Kaitlin has spent her whole life in the entertainment industry and comes from a long line of working professionals. Her mother is award-winning actress Shirley Knight (www.shirleyknight.net), her father is long-time Broadway theatre and film producer Gene Persson, and her step-father is award-winning playwright, film and television writer John. R. Hopkins.  Her close, on-going connection to New York, Los Angeles and regional theatre communities provides a professional pipeline for outgoing students long after they leave San Marcos. Broadway credits include Noises Off, Anything Goes (2002/Lincoln Center) and originating the role of Mama Who in How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Other favorite theater credits include originating the role of Tiffany in the international tour of John Adams’ opera I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw The Sky directed by Peter Sellars; starring in She Loves Me with Rebecca Luker for the Reprise Series for which she received an Ovation nomination; originating roles in Nicky Silver's Beautiful Child and originating the role of Margorie in the national tour of Dirty Dancing. Kaitlin has appeared in over 50 television shows including three years on Another World as Dr. Kelsey Harrison, 11 feature films and recorded over 20 radio plays.  She has also produced for the theater, television and radio. Kaitlin currently serves on the board for The William Inge Foundation and helped found The Pasadena Playhouse Outreach Program. She also served as Co-Artistic Director for The Ojai Playwright's Conference. For more of her credits visit www.KaitlinHopkins.com.