Today we’d like to introduce you to MacKenzie Kern
Hi MacKenzie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised in Dallas Texas, I grew up singing in choir at school and church and putting on shows in my parent’s house. I’ve always had a passion for performing and entertaining and my mom was quick to look for outlets to channel all this energy. At eight years old, I went and nervously auditioned for my first production in Plano Children’s Theater’s “Annie” and was instantly hooked. The small theater in the back alley of a run down shopping center looked like a heaven. I fell in love with the arts, singing, dancing, and began finding myself as a person. I couldn’t escape the stage and continued on to perform in over 30 productions around the DFW Metroplex at theaters such as Dallas Children’s Theater, Arts Center Theater, Outcry Youth Theater and more up until high school. Plano Children’s Theater grew to become North Texas Performing Arts – the largest Youth Theater in the Southern United States with over five satellite locations and eleven different types of troupes. It’s the first in this area to have a Starcatcher’s special needs theater program for students with disabilities and Deaf Theater program as well. I befriended people I will consider family for life and was able to overcome my own struggles by being on the stage. As the size of the theater itself grew, as did my commitment to the arts and wanting to be a professional performer. College auditions soon rolled around and I decided I was going to make this full-time hobby into a career – which most people don’t risk. But knowing the odds, I graduated with my Bachelor in Arts from The University of Texas at Dallas studying visual and performing arts. There, I starred as Casey in “First Date” and Whatshername in “Green Day’s American Idiot” and entertained in improv shows for my school. A lot of fellow peers always ask the question, what do you do with a performing arts degree? How are you going to find a job? Isn’t that a waste of time and money? It isn’t the safest career choice, that was for sure, but it was my career choice. Using the same passion and drive that allowed me to choose this path for college, I got hired straight after graduation in May 2023 at North Texas Performing Arts – the same theater I had first auditioned for all those years ago. I had the opportunity to become their youngest Resident Director as a proud alumni of their programs. Fifteen years in the making. In my first month back as an employee, I starred as Nellie Forbush in “South Pacific” and Directed “Annie Kids’ ‘ alongside my fellow director and mentor Zayde Vetter. I’ve always had a love for working with kids and bettering the next generation of youth for the Dallas community. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work in therapeutic arts that can positively impact students the way I was when I was younger. I don’t know what I would have done with my life without theater. I have since Directed Seussical Jr, Frozen Kids, Jungle Book, and choreographed Footloose all within my first year. It is long hours and late nights of technical rehearsals, stage building, and teaching casts of kids, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. There is something so rewarding and fulfilling about teaching children and seeing them discover their love for something the same way I did. I believe in pushing my young actors in my shows to reach their full potential and work hard to reach their goals. I’mso grateful and blessed to have been given the opportunities I have and build off of them. There were so many times when I was discouraged or told to change career paths and I am so glad I didn’t listen to the negative voices. When I’m not busy directing shows or teaching at the theater; I enjoy freelance modeling, photography, and singing in local events around the Dallas metroplex.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The life of artists is never an easy one. Any self made creative who carved their own path faces numerous struggles. That being self doubt, depression, and confliction in wondering if you made the right decisions for yourself. Not everyone is cut out for a more unique life-style involving unstable jobs and challenges. Friends and family have tried to discourage me from being in theater for fear I would end up as a cliche starving artist who never uses their degree. I’m proud to be amongst the lucky ones that has gotten a full-time career out of my hobby I couldn’t shake. It’s a big leap in Dallas especially to not follow the road more traveled and ignore the haters but I am very glad I did.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My official title is Resident Director of North Texas Performing Arts. My favorite things this job entails is teaching the next generation of youth acting, singing, dancing, and more. I’m known for setting higher goals for children and pushing them to be the best performer they can possibly be. I think actors or any age should be given the same opportunities to achieve self fulfillment as artists and learn how to perform professionally on a stage. I’m proud of all of my kids and actors that have come through our theater’s doors and decided they have wanted to do this forever the same way I have. I think what set’s me apart from other Directors is that despite my age, I already have sixteen years of experience under my belt when it comes to performing and knowing how children’s theater works. There is a lot of pressure directing at the largest youth theater in the southern United States but I make sure I am always giving my 100%. When I’m not on the stage, I’m on the runway modeling in local shows and shooting with local photographers. I love visual arts and fashion as well and like to keep myself busy by doing as much as I can. Art heals and I hope more people invest in their creative hobbies and passions.
What are your plans for the future?
Every actor dreams of going to New York or LA and catching their “big break”. I’m pretty content with the sweet gig I have right now but wouldn’t be opposed to going somewhere else in the future. Dallas will always be my home and have a very special place in my heart but I’ll never say no to an opportunity. I will be directing multiple productions through the 2024-2025 NTPA season and walking in more fashion shows. My podcast episode with NTPA “Ace Up Your Sleeve” is available on Apple Music to listen to me talk more about my career in directing. I am also featured in the Hommage Magazine May 2024 issue as a model and I recently was seen this past year on the runway in Dallas Fashion Week. I love connecting with local artists and sharing resrouces amongst fellow creatives because there is something special to me about bonding with others who chose similar paths. I have other artistic outlets I enjoy exploring so would always be open to seeing what else there is in store which is the beauty of being a creative.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ntpa.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mac_kern/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.kern.3/
Image Credits
Adrian Lopez, ShinStyle Media, Adam Davis, North Texas Performing Arts, Sharron Jordan, Thomas Garza, Danny Campbell
