Interview: KATIE MILLIGAN Displays Great Diversity

There are those people that just get your attention when they are on stage. Katie Milligan has done that every time I have seen her perform. The first time I saw her was in SHE KILLS MONSTERS at Theatre Downtown. I took my son, the former professional gamer, to the play with me because I was afraid I wouldn't understand the Dungeons and Dragons references. (The play was easier to understand than I had expected.) I walked away a Katie Milligan fan.

It turns out that Katie has a love for video games as well and during the interview I once again had to consult my son to understand what she was talking about. "I'm a complete and total nerd," admits Katie. "I basically inhale books. I have four tattoos - all of which have some literary theme. I'm a sucker for video games (MMO, RPG...not a first-person shooter kind of person...unless it's Borderlands). I could go on and on about gaming and books. I'm currently playing Tales of Zestiria on PS4 in hopes that it will help me with the live action gaming system that will be in the Final Fantasy XV game. Um, and the remake of Final Fantasy VII = one of my ultimate dreams come true. Oh, and I'm obsessed with pugs."

(For those of you as illiterate about gaming as I am, MMO stands for Massively Multiplayer Online and RPG stands for Role Playing Games. My son further explained, "PUG stands for Pick Up Group, unless she meant the dog." Judging from a later comment, I think she meant the dog, but with Katie, she could have meant both!))

All of that to prove that Katie Milligan is a very diverse and interesting character.

Introduced to theatre in the second grade, Katie later found theatre to be an outlet during some turbulent times in her teen years. Giving up on theatre during her college years, Katie got a BA in political science at UAB and continued her education in paralegal studies at Samford. But once bitten by the theatre bug it is hard to get over it and eventually Katie came back. Even now, the avid reader and learner is considering heading back to school again to study theatre formally at UAB.

"... though I took a long hiatus from theatre while I was in college, I never lost interest. Eight years had passed when I auditioned for "Lucy" in "Mr. Marmalade" at Theatre Downtown. Jumping back into the local theatre scene in a new place was a scary prospect, but everyone made sure that I felt right at home. The great thing about theatre is that it can be whatever you make it. It's a place where fantasy becomes reality and your wildest dreams can come true, if only for a moment. I'm so grateful to be a part of this community and work with so many amazing people. I truly feel that I've found my calling and my second home."

Some of her favorite roles have been Margot in THE DIARY OF Anne Frank and Hermia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, both in Huntsville, Lucy in MR. MARMALADE at Theatre Downtown and Elaine Harper in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE at South City Theatre. I thoroughly enjoyed her portrayal of Deidre McDavey in I HATE HAMLET, also at SCT.

Soon to play one of her dream roles as Corie Bratter in BAREFOOT IN THE PARK at Covered Bridge Players, Katie will also play the dream role of Shelby in STEEL MAGNOLIAS when SCT competes at ACTfest '17 Community Theatre Festival.

Married to Steven Milligan in 2014, Katie had to win over another convert to the theatre. "He (husband Steven) had never been to a show until I was in one. I have to give him a shout out - for never being a part of theatre, he's been the most understanding partner I could have ever asked for. He is truly my biggest cheerleader."

Katie feels like she is living the dream. "I have a wonderful job and coworkers, an amazing husband who's working to obtain his Masters as a Physician Assistant, a beautiful cat and a grumpy pug, and I have the privilege of being an actress in our wonderful community."

With all that this diverse young woman has going for her, she still dreams of more. "I've contemplated (a lot) about opening a non-profit organization for both children and adults where I could use theatre as therapy. I would like to use theatre as a tool to help and heal others as much as it did for me. I'm still in the beginning stages of planning this, but it remains an important dream of mine."

I believe that Katie Milligan can do anything she puts her mind to. When you talk to her, you feel like she is the kind of person you want as a friend, full of excitement and ideas. I have enjoyed seeing Katie on stage and look forward to seeing her in more productions soon.

Photo Credit- Steven Ross

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