Karen Prunzik

Member of Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Radio and Television Artists.
Karen Prunzik originated the Ginger Rogers role of Anytime Annie in Gower Champions blockbuster Broadway sensation “42nd Street” This was the first audition Karen attended when she arrived in New York City at the age of 22.
Karen is hailed in the industry as “One of the best tap dancers in the world!” Paul Draper said “You can do anything I can do, only prettier” Gene Kelly said, “No auditions necessary, I know her work.” Gregory Hines said, “She is one of the best tap dancers I have ever seen.” John Kenley said, “She’s BETTER than Ann Miller!” Ginger Rogers said, “I feel like I’ve known you all my life!” Katherine Hepburn said, “That girl has SPARK!” Gower Champion said, “Honey, you are not a dancer, you’re an artist!”Sammy Davis, Jr. said, “Haven’t seen tapping like that in years!”
A native of Pittsburgh, Karen began her dance training at the age of 4. At the age of 10, Karen was chosen as one of the first twelve company members of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater where she was a featured dancer in “The Nutcracker” “Swan Lake” Les Sylphides” and more.
She earned her Equity Card when she was only 15 years old after auditioning for the Kenley Players Summer Stock Theater in Warren, Ohio. Her first summer she performed in “Can Can” with Ann Miller, “Oklahoma” with John Davidson, and “Milk and Honey”, with Molly Picon and Gordon MaCrae. For the next 5 summers, Karen had the honor and the privilege of performing in over 20 shows with the Kenley Players working with such stars as Gene Kelly, Mickey Rooney, Tommy Tune, Vicki Lawrence, Gale Gordon, Alexis Smith, Ken Berry, Meredith Baxter Birney, Jane Powell, Gordon MaCrae, Virginia Mayo, Carol Lawrence and Pittsburgh’s own Shirley Jones.
Her National and International Tours include “My One and Only” with Tommy Tune and Sandy Duncan, “42nd Street” first European Tour, “A Chorus Line” in Hawaii. Through the years, she has appeared in local productions with Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theater and has performed all over the world in her own Critically acclaimed one woman show “Musical Feat” directed by Tony Award winner Thommie Walsh.
Her movie credits include “A Chorus Line, the Movie” with Michael Douglas, and “Tap” with Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Karen has been teaching around the globe for the last 2 decades. Her teaching experiences include, Broadway Dance Center in New York City, Steps, in New York City, New Dance Group in New York City, as well as Master Classes in Vienna Austria, Munich Germany, Paris France, and Amsterdam Holland. She has toured with Tremaine Conventions as a teacher and judge, along with Hoctor’s Dance Caravan and has been a guest teacher and judge at Dance Educators of America and Dance Masters Association. Karen is an adjunct faculty member of Carnegie Mellon University teaching tap to the Senior Musical Theater Students.