‘Catastrophe’ and ‘Ibb’ to feature talented actor Katelyn Gravel

Ghostbird Theatre Company will produce two short plays on May 4 during Art Walk in the Langford-Kingston Home. The first is Samuel Beckett’s Catastrophe. The other is Barry Cavin’s Ibb, which is an acronym for “inspired by Beckett.” Katelyn Gravel will perform in both plays.

Gravel is an actor, singer, songwriter and poet. She was last seen in the role of Angel in Ghostbird’s production of ORBS! at Koreshan State Park. She also performed in the Langford-Kingston Home last November in Ghostbird’s production of Writing Shadows, in which Katelyn played the part of Eva.

Also an accomplished make-up artist, costume designer and stage manager, Gravel recently expanded her repertoire by partnering with Barry Cavin on her first playwriting project, No. 27. She is a huge fan of Cavin’s, who also wrote both ORBS! and Writing Shadows.

Katelyn credits her mom for inculcating her love of theater. Not only did she encourage her daughter’s involvement in theater from an early age, she also took her frequently to Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. One instance was seminal in her decision to make theater part of her adult life.

“[Mom took us] to the Annie Christmas show,” Katelyn recounted in an interview for another blog. “I was sitting up front and they picked me to come up on stage. I got to be in the cast for a minute … [T]hat was my first time in a professional theater on stage. I was nervous as hell and … had hives [by the time] I got off the stage. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is what I want to do. This is SO cool.’ I felt totally scared, but I loved the feeling. That feeling is what made me realize I really love this. This is something that ignites me and excites me.”

Katelyn graduated in 2012 from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre. That May, she partnered with Brittney Brady, Jim Brock and Philip Heubeck to form Ghostbird Theater Group. Since that time, she has performed in Ghostbird productions (including Antigonick, The Chicken Play and No. 27), stage managed and lent her expertise in make-up and hair (she owns and operates Bare Roots Salon and Apothecary).

You can see this multi-talented actor, playwright, singer/songwriter and poet in one of Fort Myers’ most historical venues in both Catastrophe and Ibbs. But get there early. Sitting is limited and the performance will take place during Art Walk when there are lots of folks downtown.