Kim Hanley, a fine actor, singer, costumer and dancer, trained and danced from an early age with the School of American Ballet and the Eglevsky Ballet in New York, as well as with the visiting Bolshoi Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet. Ms. Hanley danced through high school and in community theatre productions. She credits her dance background and in-depth high school acting courses, including daily vocal labs and onstage work, for her ability to rise to any occasion when performing. Later in Ms. Hanley’s dance career she studied Modern, Jazz and Theater Dance, her primary teachers being Bill Hastings and Chet Walker. Kim’s dance research includes medieval, early English country and 18th century dance. In addition to her dance background, Ms. Hanley is an accomplished costumer whose speciality is historical fashion. She includes among her bigger clients The Philly Phanatic. Kim’s academic training includes a BFA in Restoration and History of Applied Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York. In developing first person characterization, she has found that the same research for object studies and restoration objects applies to creating historically accurate costumes and characters: the same utilization of materials, the same exploration of historical context.

When Ms. Hanley met Bill Sommerfield, AHT’s Artistic Director, she was interpreting Martha Washington. But Pam Sommerfield, AHT’s Producing Director, recognized Kim was better suited to portraying an excellent Abigail Adams. Kim began interpreting Abigail with AHT from 1997 and joined AHT’s staff as Associate Producer in 1998.  Portraying Abigail Adams, Betsy Ross, Molly Pitcher, Alice Roosevelt and Annie Oakley, the versatile Ms. Hanley has appeared in venues that include the White House Visitors Center, National Archives, National Portrait Gallery, Frazier Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute, Liberty Museum, Constitution Center, Independence Visitors Center, Freedoms Foundation, Pennsylvania Historical Society, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, Delaware Humanities Chautauqua and libraries throughout New Jersey and the greater Philadelphia area.

Characters portrayed by Kim Hanley:

Abigail Adams, Colonial Woman, Annie Oakley, Molly Pitcher, Alice Roosevelt, Betsy Ross