Kristy Cates - Early Life and Education

Early Life and Education

Cates started her performing career at 3 years old, singing songs and presenting self-written musicals on the hearth of her family's fireplace. In the second grade, her talents were recognized by the director of her grammar school musical who heard Cates "crowing" at the roosters who took up residence next to the playground. She was immediately cast as the singing rooster in the Christmas pageant. Cates attended Justin-Siena High School in Napa, California.

She performed in many community theater productions around her native Northern California, spending 7 years with the Pinole Young Actors group. At age 17, she was cast in her first professional production and made the decision to pursue a career in theater. She auditioned for, and was accepted to, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she spent four years, graduating with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre in 1999. Ironically, she was roommates and friends with Shoshana Bean, a fellow Wicked alum. Upon graduation, Cates was cast in two productions at the St. Louis MUNY and was fortunate enough to move to New York City with her Actor's Equity card in hand.