Karen is a freelance Actress, and Hair Stylist originally from Kansas City now living in Chicago. She has a diverse background in fashion, animals, and the theatrical arts, namely acting. She is currently working on her stylist portfolio that will be up on line soon.

Upon moving to Chicago Karen began training in high end hair with Mario Tricocci's acclaimed Artistic Director Anthony Christiano. She went on to train with the highly creative Kathy Simon(Mekka Systems), and the Aveda Institute. She has worked such venues as Guess Fashion Shows, Jenny Jones Shows, and is currently doing photo shoot work with actors and models in Chicago. She works out of a unique LOFT style Salon Spa in the Kinzie Corridor Warehouse district. Karen spent part of her childhood on a small farm that included horses, which soon became one of her greatest passions. She went on to break and raise her own horses in which she competed in the 'show' circuit. Later, her interests in competing shifted to the theatrical venue. She is highly skilled at handling, training, and caring for a variety of animals. She always looks back and says "Kansas City used to be a horse town or rather a ~cow town~ as they call it now, and justly so for a reason; it's one of the select places (besides Texas) that you see steer horns glued to the hood of a purple Cadillac, and in the city proper! There is no place like HOME."

As for the theatrical arts, Karen has been involved with them off and on for the past fourteen years. She received her degree in theatre performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She trained with an incredible faculty at UMKC. The University worked in conjunction with Missouri Repertory Theatre(currently Kansas City Repertory Theatre). The training curriculum was a diverse array of classic period theatre. The range of acting styles and genres that were taught and touched on included, realism, French Farce, Restoration, Commedia dell' Arte, and Shakespeare was a heavy emphasis. The faculty consists of Dr. Jennifer Martin(Movement/Choreographer of Heart of America Shakespeare Theatre~ Kansas City), Dr. Felicia Londre(World Renowned Theatre Historian/Dramaturg for Heart of America Shakespeare Theatre)' Joseph Price(A Founding Memeber of The Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago, and Associate Head of Acting UMKC)Louis Colianni(Renowned Vocal Coach of Linklater) and  Theodore Swetz(Head of Acting UMKC) who studied with Morris Carnovsky and Stella Adler~ founding members of The Group Theatre. His work as a Director and Actor have been as varied in style as his teaching methods. Some of his regional acting credits include Argan (in Imaginary Invalid)(Missouri Repertory), Max( Laughter on the 23rd Foor), Bottom(Midsummer). A small sample of his directing credits include, The Comedy Errors(Missouri Repertory),Tally's Folly (Kansas City Actor's Theatre), All in the Timing and Mojo in which Karen served as his A.D. at (The Unicorn Theatre) in Kansas City. Karen says" working with Ted Swetz was an incredibly intense education, highly diverse in substance, and an entirely profound experience." 

Currently, Karen is studying with Susan Hart of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre where the folio technique is explored. Susan is one of top five leading ladies in the Chicago area. She is a known for her mastery and passion for the language. As well, she is known as one of the quintessential coaches in the city.

The past two summers Karen has been seen with Groundup Theatre Company in A Midsummer Night’s Dream(Egeus) and The Tempest as the enigmatic (Caliban) performed Open Air. Also, she has worked with The Boxer Rebellion Ensemble(a great ensemble prior to disbanding), Second City, II Roman Senators, Stockyard Theatre Projects, The Women’s Theatre Alliance, & The Salt & Vinegar Theatre Company. The Salt & Vinegar group met while taking classes at Second City, and is focused on new works featuring women’s voices in musical theatre. She looks forward to participating in the development of a new musical called "The Not So Young and the Very Restless" written by Elizabeth Sandoval of Los Angeles, and Musical arrangement by Lynn Hutchinson of Amsterdam.

Some of Karen's favorite Chicago credits include, Caliban in (The Tempest), Polina in (The Seagull), Julia in (The Last Judgement), Lady in (The Peep Hole), and Madame de Volanges in (Les Liaisons Dangereuses).

Karen will be playing LEE in "Marvin's Room" at The Red Twist Theatre (formerly Actor's Workshop Theatre) in Edgewater opening December 18th 2008!