Originally from West Chester, PA, Katie has called Chicago home since 2007. Katie is a multi-faceted performer and educator with credits ranging from musicals to Shakespeare both in the U.S. and abroad.

Katie founded A.B.L.E - Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations in 2016 with the hope of building opportunities for others to find the same confidence, friendships, and joy she has found through the arts. In her tenure with the company, she has produced over 25 stage productions and 2 feature films, and also authored adaptations of 7 plays from the classical canon. She has a soft-spot for A.B.L.E.’s devised shows, like Thereby Hangs a Tale and O for a Muse.

Katie holds a BFA in Drama from Syracuse University and an MA with Distinction in Applied Theatre from The Royal Central School for Speech and Drama in London. Her ongoing research centers on developing creative arts programming for individuals with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and dementia.

In addition to her artistic life, Katie is also a certified Pilates and GYROTONIC® Instructor with over a decade of experience training clients of all ages and abilities to find healing and strength through movement.

Photo credit Joe Mazza/Brave Lux

Originally from Cincinnati, Michelle has always felt at home in Chicago. She fell in love with the city after graduating with a B.A. in Telecommunications from Indiana University and settled here for good in 2011. Michelle is a proven fundraiser with over 10 years of non-profit experience working with organizations that include the Share Foundation in Indiana, the American Cancer Society in Georgia, and Junior Achievement of Chicago. She is active in her children's school and loves serving as the Chairperson for the Scholastic Book Fair and as a Brownie Girl Scout Troop Leader. Michelle recently learned how to knit and also enjoys baking for her friends and family. She stays active by running, cycling and dancing to her favorite party jam "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas.

Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Haley moved to Chicago in 2021, bringing with her a passion for inclusive storytelling and arts education. While her artistic journey began in dance, she became involved in the theatre community by assisting her sister, Dorsey- who has cerebral palsy- in her first play and then was hooked! Because of that, she completed her B.A. in Theatre Studies at Louisiana State University and will receive her M.Ed in Educational Leadership in June 2025. Her career spans performance, directing, choreography, and stage management in addition to her extensive experience in educational theatre across the Southeast and beyond. Some of her favorite credits include Mamma Mia, A Year with Frog and Toad, The Rocky Horror Show, and Avenue Q. When getting back to her dancing roots, Haley loves to turn up "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston.