Katherine "Lashe" Neslund
Production Stage Manager, Lighting Designer,
Burlesque Performer and Producer,
Geek, and Benevolent Dictator.
MUAH/Photography: Kelly Wiley of Pinup Girl Cosmetics, Costumes by DeeDee Chmielewski
Heads by Shane Morton
Katherine Neslund was born in Knoxville, TN on March 31st. She took ballet classes at the Knoxville School of Ballet Arts and took a summer clown and mime workshop at The Oakridge Playhouse. In 6th grade, she moved to Chattanooga, TN with her father. After discovering a love of performing at a very early age through dance classes, theater classes, school plays, talent shows, etc... it was no surprise that she would audition for the theater program at the Chattanooga High School for Padeia and Performing Arts Pheonix III, which is now the Centre for Creative Arts. Once she arrived and read for her audition it was noted that she had been in the chorus at her middle school and was asked to sing for the musical theater department. Shortly there after she was accepted and began her freshman year as a musical theater major.
During her time at the performing arts high school she was in dance, voice, scene study and other movement classes. With regular productions and touring shows, Katherine was able to spend a great deal of time on stage and develop her craft. Her love of theater also evolved into her helping with the lighting, sound and costuming on many productions for the dance and theater departments. Katherine's ability to sew was noticed by the head of the performing arts department which led to an internship at The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association as a dresser and costuming assistant. Around this time she was also becoming a regular at the Chattanooga Little Theater, which is now the Chattanooga Theater Center.
Once a student of the Chattanooga Theater Centre summer camps, Katherine became a regular on their stage as well as a camp counselor and teacher for their younger actors. She also served as an assistant director and costume assistant on many of their productions for their youth theater series. Moving from the student stage to the adult theater with the production of Romeo and Juliet, Katherine followed her love of the stage while juggling both her school shows and the community theater shows before moving to Atlanta to pursue her dream.
Since moving to Atlanta she has been in multiple television shows, movies, theater and stage productions. She was introduced to the glitz and glamour of burlesque by opening for Dita von Teese in 2003 with a local performance art group. This same year she did her Atlanta debut as a stage manager for Straightaway Dangerous by Gene-Gabriel Moore's company, Not Mearly Players, which was directed by David Klien. In 2007 she helped found Syrens of the South Productions. Since it's inception, she has been performing as burlesque star Katherine Lashe, teaching burlesque and producing shows all over the country in addition to her regular film and theater work. Katherine was the #1 Fan Choice to be picked to compete for Miss Viva Las Vegas 2008, the same year she competed at The Burlesque Hall of Fame. Since then she has competed and been featured in burlesque festivals and shows all over the country.
In 2012, Katherine joined the 7 Stages family by stage managing Dracula: The Rock Opera, directed by Del Hamilton. In 2013 she debuted as a lighting designer for Lady Lay directed by Heidi S. Howard, also at 7 Stages. Since then she has worked as a production stage manager, lighting designer, costume designer, video designer, and everything else you can think of for them. Having worked on over two dozen shows at 7 Stages, she hopes to be there for years to come! She has also worked with many of the rental companies that have come into 7 Stages, many times becoming their regular tech for shows both in and out of the space.
In 2013 she went back to school and 2014 graduated with honors from the Theatre department of Georgia Perimeter Collage with a focus in Technical Theatre. Also in 2014 she began working as the house stage manager for Ferst Center of the Arts at GATech for both their season and rental shows until 2018. She still occasionally an be found there when they need an extra hand and she has free time from 7 Stages and her company, Syrens of the South. She is thrilled to be able to work on amazing shows with such wonderful people from both all over Atlanta and the world thank to the many opportunities she has been given through 7 Stages.
During her time at the performing arts high school she was in dance, voice, scene study and other movement classes. With regular productions and touring shows, Katherine was able to spend a great deal of time on stage and develop her craft. Her love of theater also evolved into her helping with the lighting, sound and costuming on many productions for the dance and theater departments. Katherine's ability to sew was noticed by the head of the performing arts department which led to an internship at The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association as a dresser and costuming assistant. Around this time she was also becoming a regular at the Chattanooga Little Theater, which is now the Chattanooga Theater Center.
Once a student of the Chattanooga Theater Centre summer camps, Katherine became a regular on their stage as well as a camp counselor and teacher for their younger actors. She also served as an assistant director and costume assistant on many of their productions for their youth theater series. Moving from the student stage to the adult theater with the production of Romeo and Juliet, Katherine followed her love of the stage while juggling both her school shows and the community theater shows before moving to Atlanta to pursue her dream.
Since moving to Atlanta she has been in multiple television shows, movies, theater and stage productions. She was introduced to the glitz and glamour of burlesque by opening for Dita von Teese in 2003 with a local performance art group. This same year she did her Atlanta debut as a stage manager for Straightaway Dangerous by Gene-Gabriel Moore's company, Not Mearly Players, which was directed by David Klien. In 2007 she helped found Syrens of the South Productions. Since it's inception, she has been performing as burlesque star Katherine Lashe, teaching burlesque and producing shows all over the country in addition to her regular film and theater work. Katherine was the #1 Fan Choice to be picked to compete for Miss Viva Las Vegas 2008, the same year she competed at The Burlesque Hall of Fame. Since then she has competed and been featured in burlesque festivals and shows all over the country.
In 2012, Katherine joined the 7 Stages family by stage managing Dracula: The Rock Opera, directed by Del Hamilton. In 2013 she debuted as a lighting designer for Lady Lay directed by Heidi S. Howard, also at 7 Stages. Since then she has worked as a production stage manager, lighting designer, costume designer, video designer, and everything else you can think of for them. Having worked on over two dozen shows at 7 Stages, she hopes to be there for years to come! She has also worked with many of the rental companies that have come into 7 Stages, many times becoming their regular tech for shows both in and out of the space.
In 2013 she went back to school and 2014 graduated with honors from the Theatre department of Georgia Perimeter Collage with a focus in Technical Theatre. Also in 2014 she began working as the house stage manager for Ferst Center of the Arts at GATech for both their season and rental shows until 2018. She still occasionally an be found there when they need an extra hand and she has free time from 7 Stages and her company, Syrens of the South. She is thrilled to be able to work on amazing shows with such wonderful people from both all over Atlanta and the world thank to the many opportunities she has been given through 7 Stages.
