An actress many Kansas City area theatergoers know from musical theater performances has died. Karen Errington died early Tuesday, March 1, 2011, after her second bout with breast cancer.
By Laura Spencer
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-955205.mp3
Kansas City, Mo. – Karen Errington was a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan where her father was a school superintendent. And, in a 2008 interview with KCUR, Errington said it was her father who cast her in her first role.
"My dad was actually a director when I was kid and he put me in my first show," said Errington. "He put me in several shows from then on. And then after that, I was on my own. I went for it. I could never not do it."
After studying musical theater at Marshall University in West Virginia, Errington headed to New York City where she lived for more than a decade. It was a summer stock job at Arrow Rock, Missouri that led her to Kansas City.
And since the early 1990s, she performed on most local stages - including the American Heartland Theatre, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Actors Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Musical Theater Heritage, Quality Hill Playhouse, and Unicorn Theatre - in musicals, revues and plays.
"I have worked with some of the most amazing professional performers in this town, people who live in this town," said Errington. "I've been able to have a life."
Services for Karen Errington:
Friday, March 4, 2011, 1 pm
Heartland Community Church
12175 South Strang Line Road, Olathe
Kansas City Actors Theatre created a fund to help with medical costs. Find out more here.
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