Alumni Review with Karlee Witherite!

1. How has your experience at Mountain City Center for the Arts influenced you?

MCCA taught me to be unapologetically me! At MCCA I was welcomed into a safe, welcoming environment where I could be myself and grow into a confident young woman. The center showed me the value of surrounding myself with kind, genuine, and up-lifting people.

2. Can you share some memorable moments or experiences during your time at Mountain City Center for the Arts?

I could talk for days about my time at MCCA! One of my absolute favorite experiences was attending the Junior Theater Festival. I attended JTF in 2017 and 2018. I remember riding the elevator at the Cobb Galleria Center and sneaking onto the 14th floor where myself and other MCCA cast met a few Broadway professionals! JTF is such an extraordinary experience.

Another fond memory I have is performing in “A Mountain City Christmas.” The Christmas show was full of magic, and the cast developed such a strong bond! It was the first show I ever had to dance with a boy. Miss Coty and I still laugh about that routine, because 12-year-old Karlee was not particularly thrilled to do the dance.

In 2018, I had the opportunity to choreograph the Halloween parade performance. It was the first time that I was granted the freedom to choreograph a show! I will forever cherish that experience!

I spent much of my late nights at the studio with Miss Jess. Tap will always be my favorite style of dance, and I feel we developed such a special bond through the art!

3. What do you miss most about MCCA?

I miss the little moments that I took for granted! The late-night dance classes, the long JTF rehearsals, performing on main street for Halloween, going back in time to the 50s for the MCCA Christmas Show, assisting with the pre-teen musical theater class, and so much more! I will forever be thankful for my MCCA family!

4. What was your major in college and why did you choose it?

I am a current junior at the University of South Carolina Honors College where I study Public Health (B.S.) with a pre-medicine focus. On top of my major studies, I am also a dance minor. Since kindergarten I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. My freshman year of high school I started to reflect on my values in life which included leadership and service. Both qualities are important for a physician to possess because physicians commit to a career full of leading by example and serving others.

5. What are you loving about college?!

I have absolutely LOVED college. Attending an SEC school my highlights include the school spirit, good food, warm weather, and southern hospitality. You will most likely find me in the student section at a football, basketball, and/or baseball game. Go Gamecocks!!!

6. What are your goals after college?

After college I will be attending medical school to pursue an MD. Currently, I am interested in specializing in women’s health, pediatrics, or sports medicine.

7. Are you still participating in the arts?

Yes! I have danced since I was two years old, and I always knew that I would continue dancing in college. So, I declared a dance minor my freshman year. It is a rare occasion that I am home but when I am I do my best to support my MCCA Family!

8. Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

On top of the performing arts, I committed most of my time to martial arts. I am an Adult Blackbelt at Kick Masters Karate!

Be sure to come see Karlee make a special appearance at our 2024 10 Year Spring Concert! We are beyond excited she is able to come back and celebrate with us!