Goguen recognized by EKDAS; play to premiere at Kentucky State Fair

Hard work certainly paid off for former high school drama teacher Catherine Rhoden Goguen, who was recently recognized by the Eastern Kentucky Dramatic Arts Society (EKDAS) for her outstanding commitment and contribution to theatre in the Appalachian mountain region.

Catherine Rhoden Goguen

Catherine was presented The Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year at a University of the Cumberlands based conference.

Despite many obstacles, Catherine has continued to make an impact upon the area’s performing arts community, where drama and theatre arts are often overlooked.

The former Whitley County High School and University of the Cumberlands graduate taught English, drama and journalism at Knox Central High School school for 20 years and obtained the National Board of Certification in 2006.

She began her career of writing plays while still in high school, having articles published in HiCall and Straight Talk. Her plays have been performed at colleges, community theatres and on high school stages. Developing quality high school scripts has been her passion.

“It’s very nice to be recognized and to feel like somebody did notice the work I did was important.” she commented. “A Lifetime Achievement in a way can make you feel old and that you’re at the end of your life. But I feel like it’s…not the end of my involvement in the arts.”

She has written countless plays, with two of them being published: “May I have Your Attention, Please?” (Pioneer Drama) and “Looking for Mr. Right” (Brooklyn Publishing). The play entitled “Boxes” was co-written with Michael Radford and was runner-up in Roots of the Bluegrass New Plays.

Her most recent work, entitled “RE DO IT” will premiere at the Fifth Annual Kentucky New Play Series at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville on Monday, August 22, and will also be a part of the Middlesboro Night of One Acts to be held September 9-11.

Being a winner of the KNPS contest, she will have full production of her works on the Performing Arts Stage, North Wing of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.

This is the first time the play series is truly a Kentucky-wide event, including playwrights from Barbourville, Columbia, Covington, Lexington, Louisville, Richmond and Somerset. The producing directors are from Columbia, Lexington, Louisville, and Somerset.

The winning plays were all 10-minute comedies with no more than three characters, and had other requirements that had to be met to be entered into the contest.

Catherine, who lives in Barbourville, continues to focus her energy on what she loves most – to write from her home, and she spends her spare time with her son, husband, and a cat.