Whiz Kid: Kathryn Brunner

Kathryn Brunner has many passions in her life. Her passion for the theater has taken the Upper Moreland High School student to New York City.

Brunner is playing the part of Maria in an off-Broadway production of The Sound of Music.

Brunner has come full circle from her first moment on stage as a first-grader who heard about an audition for a play about one of her favorite stories.

“The high school in my town was doing The Sound of Music when I was in first grade,” said Brunner.  “That’s my favorite show.  The movie I always watched when I was little was The Sound of Music. I went to the audition and was cast as the youngest one, Gretl, in the Von Trapp family.”

Brunner has had plenty of work on stage in between her two Sound of Music performances. She is part of a company that helps children find acting work, which is often difficult at the high school level.

“I’m a part of the Kids Theater Company,” Brunner said. “It’s a really great environment for kids and teenagers. You can grow so much. I started there when I was 14. I did A Chorus Line and Annie Junior before I started with The Sound of Music.”

When Brunner isn’t working in New York City, she can often be found in Langhorne at Sesame Place. Brunner works as one of the performers in various stage plays, as well as other activities. 

Sometimes, Brunner is out of costume dancing at the daily parade.  Other times, she is wearing a costume of one of the Sesame Street characters and braving the blazing hot temperatures to bring smiles to the faces of children.

“I always love working with kids,” said Brunner. “When I was little, I was always telling my mom that I wanted to be a teacher because I love kids so much.  Some days, it’s so hot, but you go out there and you see the kids’ faces, it makes it so worth it because they’re so cute.”

Brunner keeps herself busy outside of the theater and is extremely active with extracurricular events at Upper Moreland. Brunner plays field hockey and lacrosse and is also a member of the Key Club, Ski Club and the National Honor Society.

“I love Upper Moreland so much,” Brunner said. “It’s really great to get involved.  I have a lot of interests. There are a lot of different things you can do at Upper Moreland, and I guess that’s what I’m so involved.”

Brunner is a member of the class council at Upper Moreland and has assumed a leadership role, which is no surprise considering Brunner’s enthusiasm for getting involved, something which does not go unnoticed by her classmates.

“My class is really awesome,” said Brunner. "We’re all friends, and we’re all school spirited.  I’m really excited for my senior year.”

Brunner will graduate from Upper Moreland next spring. She is beginning her search for the right college, and her impressive list of activities, combined with her strong grades, is sure to give her plenty of choices. 

While teaching is one option for Brunner, she wants to stay involved with children while still spending time in the theater. The theater is one passion Brunner will never be able to shake, she said.

“I feel like I’m going to have to keep the theater in my life,” Brunner said. “I have such a passion for it.  I’m visiting a lot of different colleges now. Something I will do will be working with kids.”