Molly Katanga ‘ 24
HER LOVE OF ACTING SHOWS
Molly Katanga is a dynamo . Friendly , energetic , enthusiastic , and born to be on stage .
The Thornton Junior is a regular in TA Players productions . She stopped the show as the haunting Fruma Sarah in last year ' s popular Fiddler on the Roof . Switching gears , she played Athena in the fall production of The Odyssey , a role that required her to learn 349 pages of script . “ It took about two months to get it down , “ she says .
Up next , you ’ ll see her as Finch in the TA production of Newsies , opening on March 30 .
“ The stage is the place where I can be myself ,” she says .” It ’ s a different world , where I can block out everything and focus on what I love to do .”
Molly ' s family came to the U . S . from South Sudan before her birth . She is the second to attend TA , and gives the instructors in our Performing Arts program a great deal of credit for her growth .
“ Molly has made a lasting impression on all of the performing arts faculty here at TA ,” says Emma
( Arenstam ) Campbell ‘ 04 , Chair of the TA Arts Department . “ Most days after school , you can hear Molly belting a song from an upcoming musical , practicing a new dance skill , or memorizing lines for a performance or speech competition . She is as humble as she is talented , and is the first to cheer on her peers in any capacity . Molly is the kind of student that affirms why we do what we do .”
Molly has also made her mark on the Speech and Debate team , taking first place as a Sophomore in the Novice Poetry category with her reading of “ Perfect ” by Maia Mayor . “ Your goal is to make the audience feel what you ’ re feeling ,” says Molly , who worked hard to translate the poem ’ s emotion to her presentation . This year , Molly moved to the larger Dramatic Interpretation category and took 6th place in the state .
In addition to her academic work and performances at TA , Molly participates in programs at Engine , the Biddeford-based community arts organization . Her goal is to major in Performing Arts in college . But before then , we can ’ t wait to see her next role !
Students Beyond The Classroom
Feline Fuerst ' 25 , Fagan Gray ' 24 , and Claire Hiedelbaugh ' 23 joined teacher Brandon Parise at the State House in Augusta to speak with legislators about independent schools in Maine .
The group attended an event in the Hall of Flags and shared their thoughts about the student experience at TA and our diverse and unique student population . “ They even had us officially recognized during sessions in their respective chambers ,” says Brandon . The kids thought that was pretty cool .”
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Pictured , from left : Senator Donna Bailey , Fagan , Senator Henry Ingwersen , Claire , and Feline .