Kate Lumpkin

Director & Choreographer

narratives that demand conversation

My Creative Lens

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    Theatrical worlds that are immersive, visually striking, and emotionally resonant.

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    A focus on productions that invite rich discussion, dynamic casting, and heightened theatricality.

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    Story-First & Actor-Driven: I prioritize deep character work and layered storytelling, ensuring every performer understands their emotional and narrative function in the piece.

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    Immersive & Innovative: I want to break traditional staging to make a show feel immediate and experiential.

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    Theatrical but Grounded: I lean into the heightened worlds of musicals but always ensures that the emotional core remains honest and compelling.

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    Physicality as Character: My choreography is deeply tied to who the characters are and what they’re experiencing. Whether it’s fluid and lyrical or sharp and percussive, it is always expressive, not just technical.

Direction and Choreography Samples

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

Director & Choreographer, James Madison University

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical

Director, James Madison University

Choreography by Beau Harmon

Rent

Director & Co-Choreographer, James Madison University

Co-Choreography by Mel Comeau

Once

Director & Choreographer, James Madison University

Who I Am

Who I Am

Recently named one of the Broadway Women’s Fund’s " 50 Women to Watch on Broadway," Kate Lumpkin (she/her) is the Founder of and Lead Casting Director at Kate Lumpkin Casting, CSA. Collectively, as a casting professional, she has worked on over 40 TV/Film productions and 90 theatrical productions in New York City and across the USA including shows at The Kennedy Center, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, The A.R.T, NYTW, and many others.

Kate is also a Director/Choreographer and teaches workshops in New York and at numerous Colleges + Universities. She was recently named an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at James Madison University. She has a degree in Anthropology and Folklore from Indiana University and is a graduate of the acting program at the William Esper Studios in NYC.

  • Curiosity, Integrity, Diverse Perspectives, Collaboration, Respect, Boundaries, Equity, Growth, Opportunity, Inclusivity + Truthfulness

  • Theatre that focuses on the communal aspects of storytelling, delving into the art of transformative and illuminating experience for an audience. I am deeply committed to creating projects that resonate on a profound level with theatergoers and engage all of their senses.

    Whether it's exploring untold stories from history or shining a light on contemporary social injustice, I approach each creative process with a sense of reverence for the material and a dedication to finding actors who can authentically embody the characters and themes at hand, while engaging audience members in a way that both challenges them and remains safe.

  • These are the Standards of Practice that I will hold myself, and all of my employees, responsible to for as long as I am working.

    -I will serve creatives with integrity, usefulness, privacy, and responsiveness.

    -I will show respect for all creatives by creating clean, safe, focused, prepped, and engaging spaces.

    -I will not touch a creative collaborator without verbal consent. Nor will I use harassing, inappropriate, or invasive language. I will provide a safe space for others to tell me if they feel uncomfortable in any way and will attempt to make any changes necessary to ensure they feel safe.

    -I will avoid conflicts of interest between creatives whenever possible.

    -I will forego the gratification of ego for the demands of the work.

    -I will not engage in caustic criticism of another creative’s work from an urge to increase my own prestige. I will engage in thoughtful conversation that pushes the art form forward.

    -I will observe courtesy and shall comport myself in strict compliance with industry standards, best practices, and union rules.

    -I will create environments and pathways for equitable access to services, resources and decision‑making.

    -I shall direct my efforts in such a manner that when I leave the industry it will stand as a greater, more equitable, inclusive, and more truthful institution for my having labored there.