Author Profile:  Kristin Ettinger

Kristin Ettinger doesn’t really think of herself as a playwright yet, but someday hopes to earn the title by writing a play of her own.  For now, she’s just an editor who had the pleasure of adapting the musical The Wishing Tree (written by the founder of Pioneer Drama Service, Shubert Fendrich, with lyrics by Steve Fendrich and music by Bill Francoeur) into a non-musical with more characters:  A Mall and the Night Visitor (title compliments of Shubert).

Kristin’s first brush with the theatrical came in her pre-teen years, when she’d dress up like an old lady (complete with pillow and Koosh balls as “stuffing”) and ride her bike as fast as she could down the street just to make the neighbors wonder.  The old lady would also wander into backyard BBQs from time to time.  She became more formally acquainted with theatre in college through a couple Shakespeare classes, where she was thrilled to play the role of Caliban in The Tempest.  The show bug didn’t bite hard enough, though, and Kristin found herself dropping her first true acting class the day of her first classroom performance (which was to lip sync a song while acting it out).  After burning the midnight oil blocking the Beatles song “I’m So Tired,” Kristin was a no-show. 

But theatre would soon make an appearance in her life again.  With a bachelor’s in literature and a year of substitute teaching under her belt, she found a “behind the scenes” job as assistant editor for Pioneer Drama Service after moving west from Illinois to Colorado.  At Pioneer Drama she found an environment that not only nurtures her natural tendency toward bad jokes and puns but also puts her skills as a hair-splitting perfectionist to good use.  She enjoys working with funny and talented writers, brainstorming play ideas and titles with the editorial staff and partaking in the occasional spontaneous dramatic reading at the office.

When she’s not at work, you can find Kristin at the local Iyengar yoga studio or playing a little ultimate frisbee in the park.  She also enjoys rummaging for treasures at garage sales, playing piano and taking care of her three cats — Murray, George and Delphi — furry responsibilities which she happily shares with her fiancé, Daniel Marsh.  Kristin and Daniel are the proud owners of a new home in Lakewood, Colorado, where they plan to mow the lawn for many years to come.

Kristin looks forward to responding to your emails.