The energy is palpable, hushed chattering as the crowd waiting within the San Mateo High School Performing Arts Center begins to bubble over with excitement, the curtain about to rise, the show about to start. The lights dim and a spotlight shines, a huge smile plastered on ready to shine, Katie Maupin stands at the center of it all.
Katie has been a part of San Mateo’s drama department all four years of her high school career, a large contribution to her experience as a Bearcat. However, her excellence in theater starts much earlier. Her family has always provided a major source of support as her passion for performing has grown, Maupin explaining how she grew up, “surrounded by music and performing”. Maupin began dabbling in theatre in her fourth grade year, her breakout role as the Candy Man in Willy Wonka Junior.
Her interest in performing was ignited actually initially through dance as these lessons she started at the young age of three, participating in her studio’s annual showcases. This strong dance background allowed for a seamless transition into musical theatre, talents detailed by head of the drama department, Ms. Wozniak, as what the industry considers a triple threat.
While Katie has had the opportunity of taking part in both high school as well as professional productions, she expresses how, “San Mateo has provided me with an incredible group of people who have helped me become the performer that I am today,” contributions from the both the faculty, as well as her peers to push her out of her comfort zone when out on that stage, a stage that is made for her. Ms. Wozniak sharing in these sentiments fondly stating, “Honestly, I just love watching Katie on stage. You can tell it is where she belongs,”. All these adorations definitely come to a forefront for many after watching Maupins incredible display as Sally Bowles in the fall musical Cabaret.
A role considered by Katie as her most impactful throughout her time at San Mateo, expressing gratitude in being able to, “Have been a part of such an important story to tell and serve as a cautionary tale for bystanders.” Ms. Wozniak was in tandem “blown away” by Katie’s display on stage, watching throughout the entire creative process as, “she transformed on that stage into a vulnerable, broken young woman…making some really raw acting choices that ultimately created a truly breathtaking performance.”
Post graduation, Katie is planning on pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in stage performance, in those next four years hoping to grow even further as a performer by learning more about different creative elements of theatre such as writing, directing, and choreographing. At the root of it all, Katie’s family remains in her heart as she moves into this next chapter, detailing how, “their unwavering support is great cause for the motivation I have to continue working hard as a performer because if nothing else comes of it, I hope to make them proud.”