Learning about Emilie makes you wonder who else has been forgotten. Who else has made incredible contributions that we have forgotten about, but that their work needs to be honored. ~ Katy Werlin, Actress,
Katy Werlin, Actress, Costume Design, & Dramaturgy
Katy Werlin as a historian and actress admired the character of Emilie Du Châtelet in Jyl Bonaguro’s play Urania as a woman who embraced life and lived it to the fullest. Emilie explored the gamut of the intellectual to the emotional in a very modern way that was highly unusual for an 18th century woman. It begs the question of how many other women and their stories remain to be told? Katy feels it’s important to bring to light and discover other women and their stories and contributions that have been neglected by history.
Katy Werlin is a professional fashion and textile historian specializing in the interplay of politics, philosophy, and design in 18th century Europe. She has an MA in Visual Culture: Costume Studies from New York University and has worked at several museums including the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and as a curatorial assistant at the Chicago History Museum. In addition to her work as a historian, Katy has served as costume designer for a number of productions including The Tempest and the world premier of Blue (Burning Coal Theatre Company), The Secret Garden and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Pauper Players), and L’Egisto (UNC-CH Opera Workshop). Many thanks to Jyl and Eileen for allowing her to indulge and share her passion and knowledge for the 18th century with the cast and crew of Urania!