Kathy Renna has been in the Arts since she was 11 years old. Coming from a theatrical family, her father was a well-known actor, writer and director. Kathy's home has been on stage and in front of the camera since her adolescent years. Ms. Renna is a three-time National Video Award Winner and has studied dance, drama, and singing with many distinguished New York teachers Earning a B. A. in Theater Arts and Speech from Rutgers University, she combined her professional dance experience and theatrical talents while performing in musicals in dinner theaters, summer stock companies and touring productions throughout the Country. . She has taught at Broadway Dance Center and Steps in NYC. Ms. Renna has performed with dance and acting partners John Travolta and Jimmy Brennan.
In 1984 Ms Renna founded KATHY'S CABLE KIDS, a non-profit organization Dedicated to Drug and Violence Prevention Education through the Arts and Children’s Theater performing in over 100 live, video and TV spots. Ms. Renna then went on to develop live programming for schools, conferences, and special events while winning grants from the NJ Department Of Health, Division Of Alcoholism and Addictive Services and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: NJ Health Initiatives to replicate her theater projects in urban and suburban areas of need.
In 1998, Ms. Renna renamed KCK to APPLAUSE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, a non-profit organization dedicated to training a student with a comprehensive theater arts education in all 3 disciplines: acting singing, and dancing. Ms. Renna has devoted her energies to combining her creative talents with her love of working with and inspiring children to believe in themselves. Because of her diversified theatrical and dance background she is a highly innovative director-choreographer and a thrilling on-stage performer. Her productions have provided dazzling entertainment for thousands of North Jersey and Tri-State residents. Audiences, young and old, have marveled at the incredible shows throughout the past years: ANNIE, ANNIE JUNIOR, THE WIZARD OF OZ, BYE BYE BIRDIE, GREASE, A CHORUS LINE, THE MUSIC MAN, Disney’s JUNGLEBOOK, FAME, STARS OF TOMORROW , IT’S A MATTER OF PRIDE, BROADWAY KIDS, Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL (1 Act), HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL2……just to name a few!
