Conversations with Katierose Donohue Enriquez

Hi Katierose, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

Hi! Thanks for having me! I am the writer and star of “Queen of Fishtown” a one-woman show that I just took on a limited award winning tour around the world. From the Hollywood Fringe Festival, to London at the King’s Head Theatre, the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland, Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York City and in Philadelphia at the historic Play’s and Players Theatre where I performed it in the city that inspired it. I originally wrote it as a TV pilot and then turned it into a play and took it to the Edinburgh Fringe, and that’s what they call the “Reverse Fleabag” and by ‘they’ I mean… just me.

I am an actor, writer, producer, director, and host living in Los Angeles.

I am originally from the Philadelphia area, both of my parents are retired public school teachers.

I am an alum of the New Jersey Governor’s School of the Arts (may this beautiful state funded Arts programs R.I.P.) I have my BA in Fine Arts from Rider University, which I attended on a full tuition scholarship for acting (may that life-changing scholarship make a comeback, someday.)

I received my MFA in Acting from The American Repertory Theater’s Institute at Harvard University and The Moscow Art Theatre (this program has been shuttered.) During that education, I lived in Cambridge, MA and Moscow, Russia. We had classes with the Bolshoi Ballet, the Vakhtangov School and studied and performed regularly at Chehov’s own Moscow Art Theater.

After graduating with my MFA, I spent a short time in NYC and studied improv at UCB (UCB in Los Angeles has been revived!) I quickly booked my first Actor’s Equity gig at the Bristol Riverside Theater and soon after, I worked on my first movie in Allentown, PA. By the end of my first year out of school, I made the move across the country to sunny California.

When I got to Los Angeles, I began studying and performing at LA’s premiere sketch and improv theater, The Groundlings where I was eventually invited to perform in the Sunday Company. The Sunday Co. writes and performs a brand new show every week. My solo sketch showcase, “THAT WOMAN!” was directed and mentored by “Saturday Night Live’s” Mikey Day

I am married to Alex Enriquez, we met on a Tinder date despite having 108 friends in common on Facebook and following each other on all social media platforms. We got married in 2019 in Los Angeles in our best friend’s backyard. We have three dogs: George, Millie and Lupo.

My TV credits include: 2 Broke Girls (CBS), How I Met your Mother (CBS), The Comeback (HBO), Future Man (HULU), American Crime (ABC), Astronomy Club (NETFLIX) and more than a dozen national commercials – notably the Geico ‘Pig on a Plane’ ad that was quite possibly the most fun thing to shoot… ever.

I am also a Voice Actor and I provided the English language dub for several awesome Netflix movies and TV series including Money Heist (aka “La Casa De Papel”), Love & Anarchy, King of Stonks, BIG BUG (by Jean-Pierre Jeunet), YARA, BLACK BEACH, MINIONS OF MIDAS, GONE FOR GOOD, and FÉRIA.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Oh yeah! It’s been so super easy and smooth! I mean, rent in LA is VERY AFFORDABLE and the landlords here LOVE owning and caring for historic property. Our apartment is one of those ‘unique to LA bungalow courts’ and our landlords would never dream of trying to force us out in order to tear it down or triple the rent! 

… comedy is hard.

One of the biggest struggles of living in Los Angeles is housing. We have been so lucky to navigate our way through that hell-scape with the people we share the struggle with –our incredible neighbors. All of the bungalow courts in Hollywood were built for people just like us. The people who help to make the industry of this city possible – set painters, teamsters, costume designers, trombone players, SAG-AFTRA union workers and of course, writers and actors. During the pandemic we were a fun and creative pod! 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I have always created my own work, and this past year I enjoyed quite the ride with “Queen of Fishtown”. It is a character-driven solo show set on a stoop in Philadelphia, where humor is a defense mechanism and self-care is a punchline.

The main character, Kathleen Burke’s not mad that her Fishtown neighborhood has gentrified around her, but when she gets the surprise of her life at her 40th birthday party it triggers a high-stakes battle to maintain her authenticity while facing even more inevitable change. Profound and profane, Queen of Fishtown is a love letter to the historically overlooked and unappreciated city of brotherly love and working-class women everywhere and it’s all done in a thick, distinctive Philly dialect audiences can’t get enough of right now. When I performed it in London at the King’s Head Theatre in Islington, I liked how they advertised it, “Mare of Easttown but funny and with zero murder.”

Writing and performing “Queen of Fishtown” has been a transcendent experience. Self-producing is a beast and an incredible masterclass. I feel so grateful to tell the story of Kathleen Burke and Fishtown, Philadelphia. Where they’ll crack a joke or crack a beer, but they’ll never crack.

“Queen of Fishtown” combines the training I received in comedy with my extensive theater background. My dramatic work has always been tinged with levity, and when I’m more focused on comedy, I bring a bit of gravity. I use entertainment to trick people into feeling deeply because sometimes that’s what it takes. I love it when jokes have a purpose and the story has a point. That in-between vulnerability is my sweet spot and that is where Queen resides.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?