On Broadway

Hamilton drummer Katie Steinhauer discusses what it’s like to play for major Broadway productions.

By Jasmine Bourgeois | Photo by Hayden Oliver

Though only 31 years old, Katie Steinhauer has been drumming for almost her entire life. Since picking up her first pair of sticks 20 years ago, she’s toured internationally through numerous musical projects, including the stage shows of Bring It On: The Musical, Guys and Dolls, The Producers, and Annie, as well as a number of bands and ensembles. Currently, Katie’s a touring percussionist with Hamilton: An American Musical.

Since graduating from the Roosevelt School of the Arts in her hometown of Fresno, California, in 2005, Steinhauer has played all over the globe and mastered her skills in a wide range of styles. Tom Tom caught up with the drummer to speak about what it’s like to play for Broadway musicals and hotel pranks.

Percussion is fun for musicals, because you get to add color and personality to the show. Playing percussion for Hamilton is its own beat."

Tom Tom: How did you get into drumming?

Katie Steinhauer: I decided to copy my younger sister—a flip from the usual! I remember going to a music store with my family, and my sister found a bin of drum sticks. She wanted a pair, and I decided I wanted a pair, too! On the car ride home, I was tapping on the back seat to every song that came on the radio. When I got home, I started tapping along to all the songs on my CDs. From there, my love and passion for drums and percussion took off!

Tom Tom: Do you work on other projects? What's it like doing percussion for musicals?

Katie Steinhauer: Yes! Before I started touring with Hamilton, I was playing with a lot of different local bands. Rock, pop, ska, jazz, Latin, orchestral, musicals, even an Amy Winehouse tribute band. I spent a lot of time teaching group and private lessons, as well. I had a cruise-ship gig and toured with four other Broadway national tours. Now that I’m on Hamilton, it’s what I do! In my free time, I go sightseeing, find new favorite restaurants, sleep, and work on transcriptions.

Playing drums or percussion for musicals is so much fun! In any show, you can play a variety of styles at any given moment. Percussion is fun for musicals, because you get to add color and personality to the show. Playing percussion for Hamilton is its own beast. I have an array of acoustic and electronic instruments, plus the Ableton program, which triggers the click track and other effects. I’m basically the drum machine for the show. It’s unlike any other percussion book out there!

Tom Tom: What do you like about drumming?

Katie Steinhauer: I enjoy the fact that there are so many colors and textures with drums and percussion. You can bring out any and every human emotion in whatever music you’re playing. Something as simple as a cymbal roll can cause excitement, anticipation, tears, happiness, sadness, etc. There is so much power in drums and percussion, and I try to find the emotion in everything that I play so that I can properly convey that to whoever is listening.

Tom Tom: What goes through your head while you’re playing?

Katie Steinhauer: [Laughs.] What a question! Well, for Hamilton, the percussion book is the hot seat. I have to be on top of the Ableton triggers, as well as synch up my “drum beats” with our drummer. So, basically, what goes through my mind is, “Don’t mess up!” I have a lot to think about: trigger Ableton here, advance DTX patches here, turn pages there, switch to mallets during this rest, etc. I’ve been playing the show for six months now, and I feel like I’m still learning it!

Tom Tom: What's the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you while touring?

Katie Steinhauer: On my very first tour, Bring It On: The Musical, I was staying in a very creepy hotel—imagine The Shining. I got out of the shower one day and saw “redrum” written on the mirror. I went into full on freak-out mode and ran out of the bathroom, only to see my roommate doubled over with laughter. Unbeknownst to me at the time, she was a bit of a prankster and took advantage of the fact that our hotel had the super creepy, murder vibe. I never trusted her after that!

Tom Tom: What's one fun fact about you?

Katie Steinhauer: Fun fact. I moonlighted as a magician’s assistant in college! I quit, because I was burned when a human barbecue illusion went very wrong.