Residents in many North communities are familiar with John Pippy, the Republican state senator from Moon whose 37th District covers a wide swath of territory in the northern and western suburbs of Allegheny County.
A national audience tuning into cable television's USA Network Aug. 26 had a chance to become acquainted with his daughter, Katelyn.
The 12-year-old from Moon was a guest star on the season finale of "Monk."
A photograph of Katelyn also appeared on the first page of TV Guide that week, and the role earned her a credit on www.imdb.com, a Web site listing film actors and workers.
Earlier in August, she and her mother, Kathy Pippy, were in Los Angeles preparing for a live studio taping of an episode of the Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody."
During a cell phone from Beverly Hills, Katelyn said politics isn't her cup of tea, but acting and politics demand similar qualities.
"You have to be funny and stuff and make friends," Katelyn said. "You can't be that shy person or you won't make it very far."
Katelyn has garnered stage experience in Pittsburgh and New York and earned television and film roles this year via auditions in Los Angeles. She taped "Monk" there in April.
"I'd like to get a big movie or something," Katelyn said. "If not, I had a great experience and lots of fun."
Even though Katelyn's name was not published in TV Guide, she called her surprise picture in the Aug. 21-27 issue "pretty cool." She is shown in a full-color photo as part of a "Moment of the Week" spread about "Monk."
"Monk" is a comedy series centered on San Francisco detective Adrian Monk, played by Tony Shalhoub, an actor known for his role as taxi driver Antonio Scarpacci on the NBC sitcom "Wings" from 1991 to 1997.
The summer season finale, "Mr. Monk and Little Monk," depicted Monk's middle school experiences with flashbacks. Katelyn played eighth-grader Sherry Judd, young Monk's crush who fancies a different boy. "She was popular but nice," Katelyn said, describing her character.
In the spring, Katelyn taped the short film, "Maybe It's in the Water," starring Shalhoub, who later recommended Katelyn for the part in "Monk," Kathy Pippy said.
Kathy Pippy, a businesswoman, said she is not a stage mom and she didn't push her daughter into becoming a Hollywood actress. "If she wants to do that whenever she grows up, that's her choice," she said.
Labor laws limit hours for child actors. When taping "Monk," Katelyn was allowed to be on set nine hours each day and work no more than six.
Singing gospel music at St. James Church in Sewickley kicked off Katelyn's performance pursuits. At age 9, she began learning to act and dance at Sewickley School of Performing Arts.
"She had a kid-Broadway voice and a certain kind of spark," recalled Lou Valenzi, director of music ministries at St. James and former director of the drama school at Sewickley Performing Arts. "I have never come across someone that exceptional."
Valenzi, who had a 15-year career in professional theater, gave Katelyn private voice lessons and helped her family navigate agents and auditions in New York City.
"I really believe in Katelyn," Valenzi said. "She's going to be a star."
Katelyn, an eighth-grader, is starting her third year with Laurel Springs, a travel-friendly, private cyber school based in California that allows students to correspond with teachers via e-mail. Back in Moon, she and her brother, Sean, 14, like playing ice hockey.
Her arts education has included summers at StageDoor Manor, a theater camp in the Catskills of New York, vocal coaching in New York City and acting instruction in Los Angeles.
The Pippy family works with a bicoastal agent who helps to arrange auditions in New York and Los Angeles. Katelyn said she enjoys traveling but misses Pittsburgh sometimes. "It's definitely my favorite of all cities," she said.
Katelyn's resume includes dozens of performances, including stage and film productions, commercials and voice-overs. Locally, she has played the role of Pepper in Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's version of the musical "Annie," starring Sally Struthers, and the lead role of Annie at the Comtra Theatre in Cranberry.
Although she's young, Katelyn already has developed an ethic for performance work and beyond. "It's hard, but you have to love what you do or you would just be bored all the time," she said. "Follow your dreams. Do what you love to do. Have fun."
First Published: September 8, 2005, 4:00 a.m.
