OUR MISSION
The mission of RING OF KEYS is two-fold: a visible, supportive community, as well as a hiring resource for those looking to work with professional artists who self-identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, femme, trans, non-binary, and the diversity of genders that queerness contains.
We strive to kick (ball-change) the closet door open to create a vibrant, diverse musical theatre landscape for the future.
Key Beliefs
• We believe that disparities within our industry are intersectional.
• We believe that our diversity is an asset to the musical theatre landscape.
• We believe that by elevating queer women+, trans, and gender non-conforming artists in our industry, we give conscious and subconscious permission to future queer artists to elevate themselves.
• We believe in making space for marginalized voices within our own queer community.
Disclaimer:
*We believe in inclusion, and use a plus (“+”) after “women” or “woman,” to ensure that all identities feel welcomed.
“You have to see it to be it.”
ABOUT US
Our friendship was born out of the realization that while we inhabit a professional space that is LGBTQ+ friendly, we as queer women are underrepresented within that space. We look forward to a Ring of Keys future with diversified leadership. We strive to make space for marginalized voices within our own queer community and welcome your voices and feedback.
ANDREA PRESTINARIO (co-founder)
Andrea Prestinario (she/her) is a queer soprano who is NYC-based and Chicago-grown. Her mother always said she had a low tolerance for pain, but she prefers to frame it as a high tolerance to feel. (Ow! Wow!) She received her BFA from Ball State University in Musical Theatre and Gender Studies and is a graduate of The School at Steppenwolf. Her queer claim-to-fame is having the privilege of singing Edie Windsor’s memorial service. As an artist and activist, she strives to push society forward through women’s advocacy in the theatre. WWW.ANDREAPRESTINARIO.COM
ROYER BOCKUS (co-founder)
Royer Bockus (she/her) is a musical theatre lesbian. Laurey Williams in the queerest Oklahoma! you’ve ever seen, coming to Oregon Shakes this spring. Started in Texas, college’d at Northwestern, and has since worked near both oceans and many lakes. As an artist she strives to bring her whole feminist self onstage in canonical roles. http://www.royerbockus.com/
HOLLY MARIE DUNN (web design)
Holly (she/her) is a singer/actress based in NYC and a proud gay lady in musical theatre. She is a graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy musical theatre conservatory program and continued her studies with many years of private vocal training (keep that belt healthy, team!). She moonlights in web design, e-commerce, email marketing and social media management and is so excited to be a part of this wonderful 'Ring of Keys' adventure. http://hollymariedunn.com/
ADDITIONAL KEY MEMBER VOLUNTEERS
KAT GRIFFIN (Profile Manager & Social Media Coordinator)
Kat (They/She/He) is a small, spunky, gay & nonbinary NYC based performer with their BA in Acting/Minor in Gender Studies from Baldwin Wallace University. You might have seen them in concert with Trans Voices Cabaret, at Joes Pub, 54Below - or just re-reading Harry Potter for the 20th time on a bench somewhere in NYC. A classically trained actor who will belt your face off - among their dream roles are Hamlet & Judas (Jesus Christ Superstar). https://www.katgriffin-actor.com/
KIRSTYN HIPPIE (Digital Marketing & Email Coordinator)
Kirstyn Hippe (she/her) is a queer, NYC-based singer/songwriter with a passion for social media and musical theatre. Kirstyn has a BA from The King's College in Media, Culture & the Arts with a Theatre emphasis. She wrote spunky nerd-rock songs for the short film "I Ship It" and the CW Seed webseries of the same name, and has also toured the country thrice playing music about Harry Potter. (Yes, really.) Nowadays, she spends her time curating Instagram feeds, writing catchy caption copy, and crying over Fun Home. You can find her original tunes at http://kirstyn.net and elsewhere online at @kirstynhippe.
MORGAN DEAN (Social Media Coordinator)
Morgan (she/they) is an actor/writer/singer from Queens. Morgan graduated from The Hartt School with a BFA in Music Theater and has been in various plays, musicals, films, and cabarets since graduating. Her poetry has been performed by herself and others across NYC and she recently presented a staged reading of her first play, THEM, that she began writing in April. Morgan is also active in politics and has worked for and with multiple national campaigns since 2015 (it’s also where she got her start in social media management). Visit morganrosedean.com and say hi!
KATHRYN LYNN MORGEN (Profile Manager)
Kathryn Lynn Morgen (they/them/she/her) is a theatre artist and graphic designer based in Bellingham, WA. Kathryn founded New Theatre Magazine and Publishing in October 2017. They formerly served as Artistic Director of Whidbey Children's Theatre (2016-2017) and co-founded Queer Pride on Whidbey in 2014.
“We are learning that the more we open our mouths, the more we become a choir. And the more we are a choir, the more the tune is forced to change.”
Logo design by Emily Schleier