A 2022 graduate of Belmont’s musical theatre program, alumna Katie Yeomans recently wrapped her role as Cady Heron in the North American tour of “Mean Girls.” Yeomans credits her Belmont education with providing her both technical and professional foundations to thrive in the industry.
Growing up in Music City, Yeomans has loved to tell stories for as long as she can remember. “I was six years old when I started in youth theatre. From there, I caught the “theatre-bug,” she explained. Always feeling at home on stage and in the arts community, Yeomans’ passion for the arts flourished in middle and high school, leading her to pursue a career in musical theatre at Belmont.
Reminiscing on her time in the program, Yeomans credits her role as Dorothy Brock in “42nd Street” (pictured) for guiding her toward self-empowerment as a performer, leading her out of her comfort zone and proving she could be more than what she usually boxed herself into.
“Getting to play a powerful Broadway diva empowered me and gave me confidence as an artist,” she explained. “I was able to explore new vocal styles, physical movement and in-depth scene work. The entire experience on the Fisher Center stage deeply impacted me and helped me grow into my professional self.”
Yeomans’ journey to the national tour began in the spring of 2023, originally submitting to the virtual open call. Fast forward almost a year later, Yeomans received her dream call: an in-person callback for ‘Mean Girls’ in New York.
Flying home from Tokyo where she was docked for her cruise contract, Yeomans did the callback the next day. Six months later, she woke up to the offer of Cady’s temporary replacement.
“I was in total disbelief that my dream had actually manifested itself in my inbox,” Yeomans reminisced. “That month was a whirlwind, but I left the ship and joined the tour immediately. I learned the show in a few weeks, had two onstage rehearsals and debuted in Anchorage, Alaska. A month later I was offered the full-time role!”
Emphasizing the musical theatre program’s pillars of technique, professionalism and respect, Yeomans explained it was her training at Belmont that enabled her to be successful in playing Cady. “On tour, we performed 7-8 shows a week, and I was onstage for most of the show,” she said. “I had the tools and stamina to maintain my vocal health and sing the role with relative ease. In a professional sense, Belmont taught me proper etiquette and ethic for contracts: bring a positive attitude, be prepared, do the work and respect others.”
When asked what advice she would give to current and prospective musical theatre students, Yeomans emphasized the mindset to keep pushing –– claiming your dreams and working toward them. Her journey to her dream role spanned almost two years, but it was her belief in herself and her dream that led her through, trusting the timing of her life.
“There is so much in our industry that we cannot control and most opportunities occur when the stars align,” she explained. “Focus on what you can control: your preparedness, your skill and your persistence. Keep showing up and try not to compare your journey to anyone else’s.”
As Yeomans navigates her journey in the theatre world, she continues to hold on to the memories made and lessons learned during her undergrad experience. Referencing a song by Cody Fry, Yeomans embodied her nostalgia for the program through “Photograph.”
“I have so many amazing memories from college, all thanks to the incredible friends I made there," she said. "Before graduating, I’d listen to ‘Photograph’ and reflect on all the moments Belmont gave me –– wishing I could relive so many of them.”
Photos from the tour of "Mean Girls" taken by Jeremy Daniel Photography.
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