Katie Beck is a creative community builder, director, writer, facilitator, speaker, and artivist who works to build spaces that highlight and prioritize underrepresented voices. Since establishing Gum-Dip Theatre in 2016, Katie has produced or directed nearly 100 performances. GDT creates theatre as a vehicle for practicing different factual and imaginary versions of oneself, for representing the narratives that are often ignored, and for elevating voices and identities that are not included in the mainstream. Recent directing and devising credits include Three Countries, One Mother, Brokers Without Borders, Denied Admission, My North Hill, Imprisoned, Namaste-WHAT?, In Search of Alternative Dreams, and Into the Mold. Some of her playwriting highlights include Obnoxiously Unconstitutional (upcoming), Rebranding the City: a Humanizing Tour of Akron, Into the Mold, and A Town For Us. Katie serves as a Commissioner for the City of Akron’s founding Public Art Commission, co-chair for Firestone CLC’s Performing Arts Academy, and a member of Torchbearers Akron class of 2020. She is a recipient of Greater Akron Chamber’s ’30 for the Future’ Award in 2019, Arts Alive! Outstanding Artist in Theatre Award in 2018, Akron Fellowship for League of Creative Interventionists in 2017, and two Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Awards in 2016 and 2019. Katie holds a Bachelor’s of Art in Theatre, Writing, and Community and Justice Studies from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.
