Profiles
11
Profiles
May 2022
Kate McCracken:Actress Extraordinaire Kate McCracken shares her love for theater
McCracken and her director, Matt Cosper, right after she won the 2021 Blumey award for Best Actress. Photo by Abbe McCracken
The lights go up, the crowd roars, clapping is heard all around the stage. This is what Kate McCracken experiences when she gets to experience the arts. For McCracken, the stage becomes a place where she can share her love for storytelling through acting, singing and even dancing. And while technically her ability to incorporate all
three of these skills in the theater makes her a “triple threat,” McCracken humbly disagrees. “I would say I am a strong-mover–not a strong dancer.” However countless Latin audiences might just disagree. McCracken has been into singing her whole life and also plays guitar. McCracken often likes to share her skills by creating songs on guitar
and singing them for her family and friends. McCracken started acting at the young age of five. “I played the little orphan Molly at an acting camp at the YMCA,” McCracken said. McCracken doesn’t just act at Charlotte Latin and sometimes will act at Jay stage or Mathew’s Playhouse during the summer. During an average week while a show is going on, McCracken will spend upwards of twenty hours a week practicing her acting, singing and dancing. While McCracken has performed in many different shows, her favorite is her most recent, “Bright Star.” McCracken said it was her favorite because it was her first show without masks. “I relate to Alice Murphy and being able to play her was very healing for me and takes cake as my favorite. Alice taught me a lot about what it means to be free and playful. She really loves life, and that attitude rubbed off on me.” Coming from a family that obviously was invested in the arts, McCracken learned early that sharing this experience brought
people together. “Theater is important because it brings people together and can be used to do different things. It is healing and takes a group of people and brings them together and it only happens once so it pushes people together.” All actors have one coveted role they can see themselves in, and McCracken is no different. She has already made a name for herself having won a Blumey for Best Actress in 2021 so she has a very strong sense of
who she is as an actress. “My dream role of the already existing musicals is definitely Zoe Murphy from ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’” McCracken said. “But I would also love to originate a role and make it unique to me!” Kate thinks the most important thing for the young, upcoming actors and actresses is to find what makes them unique. “I would say it’s really important to lean into what makes you special–find what makes you unique and don’t dim it. Lean into the things you love about yourself whatever makes you, you!” Many people love the Latin arts for different reasons, it may be the stage or the costumes but McCracken loves the community the most. “Amy Morris and Matt Cosper are my mentors. I am privileged to work with them. I also love how the art is supported by Latin; Julie Derrick ‘22, Anna Wasko ‘24 and Belle Nabors everyone is willing to ‘23 (the spirits) watch over McCracken. Photo by Amy Nabors support the arts.”
Sliding into His New Home Plate: Dave Mosrie reflects on althetic memories as a Hawk By Tommy Beason
day to push the limits and attain my goals, a big one being to play baseball in college,” Mosrie said. All of his hard work has paid off: he heads to Williams Mosrie works to take down his opponent during the 2022 state College next wrestling championship. year where he will continue his academic “Fundamental, loyal and and athletic career, playing tough.” These are the three baseball. From a Hawk in attributes that Dave MosCharlotte, North Carolina rie, the three-sport senior to an Eph in Williamstown, Hawk, used to describe Massachusetts, he will take himself. From the classroom to the gridiron to the with him the memories that he will keep for a lifetime. wrestling mats and finally As a Latin Lifer, Mosrie to the baseball field, what has 13 years of countless does he not do? Not only is he a phenomenal athlete, memories from the school that he has called home but he is also a superior for many years. He recalls student. his favorite memory as his Mosrie always had the 37 yard field goal to win goal of playing baseball against Charlotte Christian at the next level, with his during this year’s football inspiration coming from season. “That’s probably his parents. “I have always one of the coolest moments looked up to my parents of my life,” Mosrie said. and they inspire me every-
Mosrie throws out a runner against Metrolina Christian on March 9th of the 2021 baseball season.
The reactions from the crowd and the importance of the moment support that this clutch, game-winning field goal will remain un-
forgettable for Mosrie. Mosrie has had to deal with a lot of adversity over his years at Latin, especially in Upper School with CO-
VID. Many of his precious seasons were cut or shortened due to the pandemic. He always makes sure to make the best of every second. “With all of the time lost due to the pandemic,” Mosrie said, “this year I’ve had to make up for the time by taking every day one at a time.” Mosrie always appreciated the care that his teammates, teachers, coaches, classmates and fans gave to the baseball team; he believed the support was unmatched. “My favorite thing about Latin is the strong sense of community and the support that I receive all across the board,” Mosrie said. Mosrie expressed bittersweet emotions regarding his farewell tour at Charlotte Latin. “It’s tough realizing that it is coming to an end,” Mosrie said. But there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Mosrie will go out with a bang. With all of his achievements, there is no question that there will be more to hear from the tough and loyal Hawk.
