Caitlin Renée was born in Sutton, the geographic center of the State of West Virginia. She fell in love with acting at 7 when she and her mother would watch PBS Classics of the Royal Shakespeare Company following along in their Shakespeare collection. As a High School Junior she attended Northwestern University’s National High School Institute where her acting desires were cemented after attending the original productions of True West and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You and The Actors Nightmare.
Accepted at Syracuse and Northwestern for her BFA, she accepted a scholarship at West Virginia University opting to stay in her home state close to family, rooting on the Mountaineers, while studying with Angela D’Ambrosia and Edward T. Herendeen (Founder of The Contemporary American Theatre Festival in Shepherdstown, WV). At WVU she originated roles in Frank Gagliano’s Bodoni County Songbook Anthology (Irene Ryan Award performance), Doug Grissom’s Tocoi Light, while writing and performing with the comedy troupe Five Neat Chicks and Their Lampshades.
Upon receiving her BFA she received a scholarship from California Institute of the Arts and packed her bags for California. She studied for a year at CalArts and then opted for real-work experience in the industry. While learning the ropes, she worked as an Assistant to a Celebrity Agent, Contract Administrator for several agencies keeping talent up to date with the unions, and dealt black jack to pay the bills. Studying with William Ball, Armin Shimmerman and Jim Belushi.
Renée completed her MFA in a joint MFA program with Carnegie Mellon University and the Moscow Art Theatre which included three residencies: six weeks in Cambridge, MA, five months in Pittsburgh, PA, and five months in Moscow, Russia; learning Russian and living and performing in Moscow was a life changing adventure.
Upon graduating she landed in NYC and stayed to beat the streets of the Big Apple where she booked TV work on Guiding Light, followed byLaw & Order: SVU, in addition to productions at SoHo Rep, LaMama, HERE Space to name a few. In NY She studied at UCB, with Daniela Varon, Walton Wilson and long form improv with Shira Piven. The call of sand and sunshine brought her back to Los Angeles where she has been busy acting, producing and studying with Larry Moss, Aaron McPherson, Denise Woods, Bjorn Johnson and Margie Haber.
Her love for creating and little desire for waiting to be hired led her to producing theatre and film, as well as creative and episodic writing. She has produced for the stage with Open Fist and Anteaus; independently she has produced for Aquila Morong Studio, 80 West Productions, Amedeo Productions among others. Most recent independent film producing/1st AD includes Teacher of the Year, Retreat, Fully Loaded and CAPTAIN to name a few.Projects in development include: The Shortcut, a short film she will produce and star in that will be shot in West Virginia; LOVE.COM, a short film about internet dating and unknowingly meeting a porn star; Tastes Like Chicken, a comedy web series about a vegetarian cooking show, its host and crew; and a one woman show My Seven Day Engagement, with Jane Morris at Fanatic Salon.
cRc is an Open Fist Theatre company member, and a founding member of the Dillon Street Players in Los Angeles, and the Landmark Studio for the Arts in her hometown of Sutton. She is President and Festival Director for the WV FILMmakers Festival held each year in October.
Renée resides in Santa Monica, CA.