Cathy Taylor Public Relations has impressively grown to handle publicity for many of the major theaters in the city. Whether the cast of Black Ensemble’s “The Other Cinderella” is performing live on WGN or recent Chicago Shakespeare actor (and Star Wars Emperor Palpatine) Ian McDiarmid is being interviewed by the Tribune, Cathy can likely be found hovering nearby, in total control of the situation but always keeping the atmosphere pleasant and light. Despite her firm’s formidable roster of clients, each receives concentrated, individualized attention. From an outsider’s perspective, one would never realize that theaters as artistically divergent as A Red Orchid and Court don’t have their own in-house publicist. That’s where Cathy Taylor comes in. Pay no attention to the publicist behind the curtain!”
“The Players: The 50 People Who Really Perform in Chicago” by Johnny Oleksinski
Cathy Taylor, Founder and President
Cathy has been working with leading performing arts organizations since moving to Chicago in 1999 and opened CTPR in March 2007. She has a background in arts administration, arts marketing and theater and has a reputation as an expert communications specialist and media relations professional for the city’s best theaters.
Cathy spent more than five years at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as publicist and, ultimately, publicity and communications director. She was vice president of The Silverman Group for two years. Prior to moving to Chicago, Cathy worked at Indiana University, Bloomington, as director of audience development for the Department of Theatre and Drama and was responsible for all marketing, public relations and communications activities for the department’s three theatres, academic programs and alumni newsletter. She also spent time at Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Education Department where she worked with Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis on the first-ever Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition.
Cathy holds a B.A. in Theatre from The College of Wooster and an M.A. in Arts Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington. She is a former board member and cultural committee co-chair of the Chicago Chapter of the Indiana University Alumni Association and a founding board member of the IU Outdoor Adventure Alumni Association. She shares her Lincoln Square office with Kelsey, Samara and a rescue dog named Mattie.
Kelsey Moorhouse, Vice President
Kelsey Moorhouse joined Cathy Taylor Public Relations in 2013. Her passion and appreciation for live theater drew her to publicity as her way to support an art form she deeply loves. As a publicist representing some of Chicago’s finest arts and entertainment organizations, she develops and executes dynamic publicity plans to maximize each client’s exposure across print, radio, television and digital media. Her clients range from intimate storefronts to major commercial institutions. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
Outside of the office, Kelsey enjoys exploring the city’s amazing museums and restaurants with her husband and son, listening to true crime podcasts, traveling to new cities around the world, and using her very patient friends as culinary guinea pigs on game night.
Samara Harand, Publicity Associate
Samara Harand has had a continued presence at Cathy Taylor Public Relations since 2011. Following internships with Fox, Miramax, and the Cannes Film Festival, Samara launched her Chicago public relations career at The Silverman Group, where she worked for nearly seven years representing performing arts clients including The Chicago Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and more. She then moved to NYC to earn her M.F.A. in Arts Management from Brooklyn College while also holding positions at Roundabout Theatre Company, The Producing Office (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) and the Tony Awards. She has also done freelance public relations work for local theater companies as well as internet sensation Team StarKid.
Samara currently helps manage her family’s 65-year-old musical theater camp – Harand Camp of Theatre Arts – and also directs and choreographs for area schools and education programs. Samara has been a musical theater geek since birth, as her mother went into labor while watching South Pacific on television.
Matilda “Mattie” Taylor
Mattie joined CTPR in 2015 and serves as the company’s main source of stress relief. She spends most of her days lounging on the office floor or curled up next to Cathy. She enjoys long walks, playing fetch and begging for food at lunchtime. Mattie graduated with an advanced degree in obedience before being expelled from daycare for herding other dogs.
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