Biography/Curriculum Vitae
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Karin McKie has been working in public relations, marketing, community outreach and special events planning since 1987. She has helmed Tree Falls Productions since 1993, providing these services - as well as writing, editing and producing tasks - primarily for non-profit arts organizations and authors. Karin also teaches arts and theater marketing at universities and a variety of venues. She was honored as one of Today's Chicago Women Magazine's 100 Women Making a Difference for her HIV/AIDS education promotional work, and has received a PBS Advertising and Promotion Award, and a Capital Region Emmy Award.
As an actor, some of the theatres she performed with in Chicago include Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, American Theater Company, The Hypocrites, Stage Left, Famous Door, WBEZ's Stories on Stage, and Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, in addition to the feature films "The Lucky Ones" with Tim Robbins, and "The Promotion" with John C. Reilly. Karin is also a director, violence designer, and writer.
Lectures/Panels
- Chicago Public Radio, "Theatre Public Relations and Marketing" panelist (CD available) listen
- Community Media Workshop, "Arts Promotion Toolkit" and "Making Media Connections"
- San José State University, School of Journalism/Mass Communications, arts PR lectures
- DePaul University, "Careers in Public Relations & Advertising" panelist DePaul University, performing arts management class panelist
- Roosevelt University, annual fall "Theatre PR" lecture James Madison University, "Theatre and Public Relations"
- North Park University, Media Writing lectures Arts Management Project at the Athenaeum, "Critics Choice: Developing Media Relationships That Get You Covered" panelist and "Marketing Tips You Can Use" lecturer/teacher
- Fernwork Arts Incubator, "PR for the Arts" class (2), and "How to Talk About Your Work"
Awards
- Washington, DC, Council of Governments Recycling Award, 1990
- PBS Advertising and Promotion Award, "Nine Months," 1991
- Capital Region Emmy Award, "Part of Me: A World of Difference," 1992
- Today's Chicago Woman magazine's "100 Women Making a Difference," for HIV/AIDS education promotional work, 1995
- Rufus Thomas "Funky Chicken" EU Champion, 1996
- Newcity's Best Original Musical Production Directing Recognition, "The Wicked and the Sexed", 1997
- Time Magazine "Person of the Year" 2006