Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathie Barnes.
Hi Kathie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am an actress. It’s what I do. And I love it. Lloyd J. Schwartz called me one day and said he was writing a one-person play on Dr. Mary Walker that I am going be doing. I was a bit shocked, and responded that I had no idea who she was, and more importantly, I had no desire to do a solo show – but thank you. He then sent me a short article on Dr. Walker that he found in a History Magazine. I read it and fell in love with her. As a woman, I am aware that women are not given the same place in history that men are. Dr, Walker is the only woman, out of over 3500 recipients to receive The Congressional Medal of Honor, one of the first women to wear pants, the first female surgeon in the US, and a woman in the late 1800s when women had no voice and were actually treated as possessions – to Roar! and most people don’t know who she is – and that had to change.
The show is called INDEPENDENCE – The True Story of Dr. Mary Walker. We call it INDEPENDENCE for short – and for Certain! We went into rehearsal and research, I met with her historians in Oswego, NY and this solo show continues to be performed in Theaters, Universities and High Schools around the country. Along with our Producer, Tina Dwyer, we work with STEM and Girl Up giving workshops about taking your power and speaking out as a female. Many women have held my hand, telling me that the same thing that Dr. Walker experienced they experienced as well and seeing this play was empowering and sometimes cathartic for them. This is why I am an actress – to make a difference for the Better. This play gives me the opportunity to do that.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of the roads has been smooth, but certainly there have been bumps! When people who are booking for the venues know who Dr. Walker is it can be easy to book the show. When they don’t know who she is, it is difficult and they have to be convinced.
Also, theaters make their money on selling tickets and are sometimes fearful of lack of ticket sales. We have never had a venue who lost money on booking the show. In fact, we often sell out!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an actress in TV, film, commercials and stage. What sets me apart is that I am not a glamour actress – much more of a character actress. In fact, my looks are fairly ‘off center’. It took me years to come to terms with not being the one who immediately gets cast in commercials and as the cute girl in episodic. I am So Good with all of that now. It also makes me more aware and accepting of who I am.
I was a dancer as well for years. That was another field in which I was ‘off center’! For most Broadway auditions, the casting notices would say – must be 5’7” – 5’9”. I am 5’2”! I would go anyway and usually get typed out before even dancing, There were a few times I was allowed to dance in the audition and I even booked a few jobs. One producer liked me so much that while I was on tour with a show and was in Dallas, he sent his choreographer to Dallas to audition me for his next show – and I booked the job.
I find it takes simply not listening to ‘No’. Just like Dr. Walker!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a smart kid and spoke my mind, much to the frustration as well as the joy of my parents. My parents were strong people and encouraged us to be the same and to speak our truth. Sometimes, in my youth, my ‘truth’ was long-winded and opinionated. I was the oldest and took that seriously – always protecting my younger brother and sister from whatever may arise. Most of the time, nothing arose, but I was always on guard. One day a boy in school hit my sister for no reason. So, I hit him! He was shocked and never bothered either of us again. I was not a shrinking violet. Dad had a job that sometimes relocated us for a bit. One time we lived in France. I fell in love with France, learned French, minored in French in college and I love France to this day. We also moved for a bit to Hawai’i. I fell in love with Hawai’i and learned as much as I could in that culture. I love Hawai’i and all of Polynesia to this day! I like to immerse myself in other cultures, to see how others live – especially if I love that location. At a young age, I fell in love with Tigers. To this day I sponsor tigers, love tigers and went to India to live with tigers in their habitat in the wild. To me, they are one of God’s greatest Gifts.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://independencedrmarywalker.com
- Facebook: Independence: The True Story of Doctor Mary Walker
Image Credits
Eve Zausner
