An accomplished stage and TV actress, theatre educator, and singer who originated the Broadway roles of Vanessa in In The Heights and Satine in the stage adaptation of Moulin Rouge! She portrayed Angelica Schyler in the Chicago production of Hamilton and received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Anita in West Side Story. Today she reveals what it means to be a “Swing” in a Broadway show, the intensity of performances once you are nominated for a Tony and she explains how important it is for her students to discover the intention in the material that leads to the passion and ultimately better performance. Whether she is performing, teaching, or engaging in activism, Karen Olivo knows how to shine.