Meet The Team

Dr. Turner is the Assistant Director of the School of Theatre, Television, and Film at San Diego State University, where she teaches acting, history, and literature courses. She won the Outstanding Faculty Award at SDSU in 2020, 2023, and 2024. Katie is a Designated Meisner Teacher (Meisner Institute) and a graduate of the MCIAT Comprehensive Training course. She is a Theatre Generalist, but her passion is working with actors, both as an acting teacher and as a director. Aside from the Meisner and Chekhov techniques, Katie is a also a specialist in Improvisational Acting, Devised Theatre, Script Analysis, Standard Patient Acting, Theatre History, and Dramaturgy.  Katie is also a playwright and producer. In addition to dozens of productions and company affiliations over the years, Katie ran her own theatre company, Turnkey Theatre, from 2020-2022, which specialized in original interactive plays. Her choose-your-own-adventure Gothic Melodrama Iris and the Axe won the "Outside the Box" award at the 2022 San Diego International Fringe Festival. Find Turnkey Theatre's work on YouTube.

Natalie McClure is an educator, actor, director and writer. She holds an MFA from San Diego State University and a BFA from Western Michigan University.  Natalie has performed in the Broadway sit-down of Mamma Mia! in Las Vegas; multiple roles in New York, Chicago, and regional theaters across the US; in television and films; and in various national commercials. Natalie co-founded an all female production team called Trick Candle Productions in New York City where she created, produced, and starred in an award winning web series called Kid Friendly*. Kid Friendly*  was featured at Catalyst, Brooklyn Web Fest, Miami Web Fest, Lancaster International Short Film, and Top Shot film festivals. Most notably, Kid Friendly* was one of three finalists to be chosen for the Storycentral LABS/CBS Interactive Accelerator Challenge in which Natalie and team presented a new pitch in front of a live audience and for esteemed judges. Natalie and the team won the challenge and they were awarded with a CBS Network Interactive development prize.  Natalie is an educator who values teaching the realities of the industry to her students to help them create their own sustainable practices for a lifelong career in performance. She helped to start the Education wing of the Portland Area Theatre Alliance (PATA) as the Education Chair of the organization. Natalie has since coached voice, acting, self tape techniques, and "The Business of Acting" courses and workshops at San Diego State University, Portland State University, PATA, San Diego Musical Theatre, MCIAT, and in her own studio.  www.nataliemcclure.net ig: @natalie.actor.teacher

Synai (They/He) is in his last semester at SDSU majoring in graphic design with a minor in theater. They are very excited to be a part of this team and they look forward to bringing you more cool Actor’s Place content!