Katherine McNamara: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's 24th Annual "A Time For Heroes"

Los Angeles, California - Seventeen year old Katherine McNamara looked beautiful in a green dress as she attended Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's 24th Annual "A Time For Heroes" at Century Park on June 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.

Katherine McNamara is an up and coming seventeen year old actress, singer, dancer, songwriter, and an avid student. Although now more focused on film and television, McNamara began her career on Broadway at the age of 13 as 'Fredrika Armfeldt' in A Little Night Music, starring opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury. She was fortunate to continue as 'Fredrika' with the second ALNM Broadway cast of Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch as well. Her other theater roles include 'Esther Jane' in the pre-Broadway world premiere of A Christmas Story, the Musical! as well as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Crucible, Inherit the Wind, Annie, The Secret Garden, and Galileo. She has also been cast in a number of Equity readings, including PAN, which was created by the In the Heights creative team.

McNamara's love for acting stretches beyond the stage, with credits in television and film productions. Katherine will make her big screen debut this year in the Warner Brothers Picture "New Year's Eve," where she portrays 'Lily.' In addition, Katherine will star as 'Becky Thatcher' in the re-make of "Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" alongside Joel Courtney and Jake T. Austin which will be released late 2012 or early 2013. Television credits include "Law and Order: SVU," "Drop Dead Diva," "30 Rock," "Late Night with David Letterman," "Good Morning America," and PBS's "Sondheim! The Birthday Concert."

She balances acting with her dedication to education. At the age of 14, she graduated with honors from high school, and pursued an undergraduate degree in Business with an emphasis in Finance at Drexel University's Le Bow School of Business online program. Kat graduated this spring with her Bachelor's degree.

Kat is also a member of the Actors Equity Young Performers Committee, a reader for the Blank Theater's New Play Development Reading Committee, an ambassador for Stomp Out Bullying and The Lollipop Theater Network, a Girl Scout, and a volunteer for the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

Katherine has a passion for all forms of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, waltz and hula. She also plays the guitar and piano and enjoys singing and songwriting. Katherine plans to share her passion for music with the world this year and is recording a few original pop songs. She resides in Los Angeles, California and her hometown is Kansas City, Missouri.

Photos Credit: Getty Images