About Forward Theater Company
Mission
To provide a home base for Wisconsin theater professionals that will expand the economic and cultural life of the greater Madison area.
What is Forward Theater Company?
Forward Theater Company is a not-for-profit professional theater company founded to provide exceptional theater experiences for area audiences and give professional actors, designers, and directors an artistic home.
Why Forward?
This company was founded on a commitment to the civic life of our community. The Madison area, home to the University of Wisconsin and the state government, deserves locally produced, professional theater that can add to the cultural fabric of our city.
There is a vibrant community of professional theater artists living in and around Madison, but over the last decade, the lack of places to work forced many to leave town or the profession. Forward Theater Company is committed to creating jobs for many of these artists, supporting the work of Wisconsin playwrights, and providing hands-on experience for students in area college theater programs.
We are proud to partner with groups like Wisconsin Wrights, Overture Center for the Arts, the University of Wisconsin - Madison Department of Theatre and Drama, American Players Theatre,The Wisconsin Story Project, Wisconsin Public Radio, Dane County Libraries, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and Milwaukee Chamber Theatre to bring exciting, engaging, and challenging theater experiences to an ever increasing audience.
Why now?
In times of transition, the arts become even more essential in our communities.
“The arts help you see the transience of crisis, remove you to more pleasant spots, help you believe that everything will be all right. And they get you all fired up and ready to take a risk…. And the arts that matter most in the Midwest are the arts that live in the Midwest. They are our sources of education, enlightenment and (perhaps most important of all) pride in our hometowns. For the arts that live in your town don't just invite passive consumption…they demand an intoxicating blend of listening, participating, conversing.”
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
Madison and its surrounding communities have always been supportive of the arts in many forms — theater, music, dance and visual arts presented by amateur, semi-professional, and professional organizations. Forward Theater Company is proud to take its place as a resident organization in the beautiful Overture Center for the Arts, providing opportunities for artists to come together with audiences to explore great dramas and provoke conversations about the issues that matter the most.
Organizational Structure
Forward Theater Company has a unique three-branch organizational structure, created to reflect our core belief in the importance of communication and maintaining a balance between the artistic choices and financial health of our company.
The first branch is our administrative staff which is responsible for the daily operations of the theater.
The second branch is our board of directors which is responsible for financial oversight of FTC and long-term fiscal planning.
The third branch is our advisory company, made up of local professional theater artists, which is responsible for guiding FTC’s long-term artistic plans.
Our bylaws have mandated paths of communication between these three branches and a system of checks and balances to keep FTC strong, focused on our artistic role in the community and fiscally responsible.
Staff
Artistic Director
Jennifer Uphoff Gray most recently directed A Thousand Words, by Gwendolyn Rice, for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Love’s Labour’s Lost for Milwaukee Shakespeare (“Best of 2008”) and The Diary of Anne Frank for Madison Repertory Theatre (“Best of 2008”). She produced (and directed for) the Madison Rep’s 2007 New Play Festival. Other credits include: the National Tour of Copenhagen, Associate Director of Copenhagen, Cabaret, The Blue Room (starring Nicole Kidman) and The Life on Broadway. Off-Broadway, she directed the world premiere of the musical Suburb. Her work has also been seen at Second Stage, Musical Theater Works, Ensemble Studio Theater, HERE (all in New York City) and the Chunchon International Theater Festival in South Korea. She holds a degree in Dramatic Literature and Stage History from Harvard College. Jen was born and raised in the Madison area and is now raising her family on the near West Side.
You can email Jennifer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
General Manager
Sarah Marty oversees the business functions of the company and serves as FTC's production manager. She is the 2008 recipient of the Bartell Award for Excellence in the Arts. She has a Master’s degree in Business from the Bolz Center for Arts Administration, an MS in Curriculum & Instruction, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from UW-Madison. Sarah is a Program Coordinator UW-Madison Continuing Studies (Wisconsin Wrights New Play Development Project, Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival, Wisconsin Theatre Auditions and Technical Interviews). In addition she works with several of arts organizations in the Madison area including Four Seasons Theatre, UW Varsity Band Spring Concert, Madison Early Music Festival, and Madison Opera.
Director of Communications
Gwendolyn Rice manages marketing, public relations, and outreach programs for the company. She holds a Master’s degree in Theater Literature, History, and Criticism from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Gwen has worked in marketing, communications, and fundraising for a variety of non-profit arts organizations including First Stage Milwaukee, the Friends of the Coronado, and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. She is also the author of A Thousand Words, which FTC produced in its 2011-2012 season.
You can email Gwendolyn at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Forward Theater Company has a unique three-branch organizational structure, created to reflect our core belief in the importance of communication and maintaining a balance between the artistic choices and financial health of our company.
The first branch is our Administrative Staff, led by the Artistic Director and Managing Director, and responsible for the daily operations of the theater.
The second branch is our Board of Directors, which is responsible for financial oversight of FTC and long-term fiscal planning.
The third branch is our Advisory Company, made up of local professional theater artists, and responsible for guiding FTC’s long-term artistic plans.
Our bylaws have mandated paths of communication between these three branches and a system of checks and balances to keep FTC strong, focused on our artistic role in the community and fiscally responsible.
Director of Advancement
Julia Nicholas manages community engagement, individual giving, sponsorships and audience services. Julia has a Master’s degree in arts administration from the Bolz Center as well as an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She previously led marketing and public relations efforts for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and marketing research for Lands’ End. In addition, she’s worked in marketing and public relations for the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival at Yale’s Summer School of Music and at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.
You can email Julia at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Company Manager
Celia A. Klehr started her professional life as a non-Equity actor in 1976. Because she believes that theater is most relevant when it is for, by, and of a community, Celia has made Madison her home, both professionally and personally. She was a founding member of Forward Theater Company and the Madison Repertory Theatre Acting Company. During her 14 years with the Rep she appeared in more than 20 productions, served as company manager for three years, and earned her Equity status. She has played leading roles in three feature-length films and several documentaries, and has served on the Madison Arts Commission, Madison Sesquicentennial Committee and the State Street Committee. Celia is dedicated to creating work for theater professionals in Madison and strongly believes that theater is a vital part of Madison’s culture.
You can email Celia at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Artistic Associate
Frank Honts works behind the scenes doing historical research, organizing pre-show talks, and discussing issues raised in the texts, in addition to assistant directing many of FTC's productions. He also coordinates auditions and works with the literary committee of the advisory company. Frank served as the assistant director for Madison Opera’s recent production of The Threepenny Opera. In spring 2011, Frank directed and served as a reader for the Madison Young Playwrights Festival. He also contributed his talents as dramaturg to a staged reading of October, Before I Was Born for the Wisconsin Wrights New Play Project. Frank received his Bachelor's degree in history and educational studies from Brown University, taught high school history in Massachusetts, and worked as a researcher and professional development coach for nearly a decade.
You can email Frank at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Business Manager
Alex Moskoff handles bookkeeping, maintains FTC's database, and manages the office. He has a Bachelor's degree in legal studies (and studied film and television) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Most recently, Alex was a production accountant at Warner Bros. Television in Los Angeles, where he also worked in the finance and post-production departments. A native Madisonian, Alex just moved back to the area with his fiancee, a professional chef/baker.
You can email Alex at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Board of Directors
Responsible for financial oversight of Forward Theater Company.
Chad Bartell is thrilled to be making his debut serving on the FTC board of directors. Chad’s past "roles" include a corporate attorney at a major Milwaukee-based law firm; an instrumentalist in various music ensembles performing around Madison; and Tiny Tim in Children’s Theater of Madison’s A Christmas Carol. He is also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin’s law and business schools, Wesleyan University, and Madison's West High School. When not supporting local fine arts organizations through his attendance at performances, Chad is the Associate General Counsel of the Springs Window Fashions Company in Middleton, and the father of two rather theatrical little boys.
Donna Beestman is a seasoned career strategist and executive career coach. She is the founder of Career Success Strategies, LLC, based in Madison, and has more than 20 years of experience helping clients successfully address career issues and challenges.
Prior to founding her company, Donna worked for regional and international career management firms as a career and executive coach, general manager, business developer, and international Liaison. On the East Coast, she was a senior vice president and managing director for a consulting firm with more than 20 offices. Earlier in her career, she worked as a performance improvement business consultant, non-profit executive director, and educator.
Donna grew up in Madison and earned degrees from Macalester College and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. During her many years living and working in Missouri and Delaware, she served on non-profit boards dealing with business education initiatives, public radio, church governance, and regional public policy. She was also active in Junior Achievement, the Forum of Executive Women, and the Delaware Repertory Theater.
Since returning to Madison, her community involvement has included the Wisconsin Alumni Association (board of directors); Downtown Madison Rotary (board of directors); Oakwood Foundation; and TEMPO Madison, the network of 250 women leaders (board member and president).
Jane Elder is the executive director of the Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. She has been actively engaged in communicating about environmental issues and advocating for protection of the natural world and human well-being over the last 30 years. She was the founding director of Biodiversity Project – a non-profit communications organization dedicated to raising public awareness about the diversity of life on earth, and the urgent need to take action to protect it. In 2002 she received a Bay Foundation Biodiversity Leadership Award given to “individuals with proven capacity to help stem the loss of biological diversity.” Previously, Jane worked for the Sierra Club, heading up its Midwest office for many years, where she founded the Sierra Club’s Great Lakes program, and later served as the national director of Ecoregion Programs. She holds degrees from Michigan State University (BA, communications) and the University of Wisconsin, (MS, land resources). Her background includes extensive experience in non-profit management, program development, and social change strategies. She currently consults on strategic communications for social change, with an emphasis on complex environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, global warming, ecosystem restoration, and the role of participatory democracy in achieving effective solutions.
The arts have always been an important part of Jane’s life. She was an active member of the Friends of APT and the theater’s advisory group for many years. Jane is also involved with modern dance, enjoys music and the visual arts, and dabbles in watercolor painting and quilting. She enjoys writing, from song lyrics to policy analysis, and recently completed a manuscript for a book about the challenge of protecting the Great Lakes ecosystems.
Ellen Foley is vice president of corporate communications at WPS. She has combined work as a communications professional, journalist, and college administrator with community service for more than two decades. She worked in Philadelphia, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula before joining the Wisconsin State Journal as editor-in-chief in 2004.
Ellen is an active member of Tempo Madison, holds a seat on the board of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, and works as a volunteer with the University of Wisconsin, Madison’s Center for Journalism Ethics at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Ellen is also committed to raising awareness and funds for cancer efforts, including plans for Hope Lodge, a short-term residential facility for patients undergoing chemotherapy in Madison, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She continues her journalism efforts with a column, “Foley at Large,” published on Channel3000.com, and also consults with small companies and non-profits on communication strategy.
Ellen and her husband have two grown daughters: Kait, who does collage art in her free time, and Maura, who performs improvisational comedy in Chicago as a hobby. They are teaching Ellen that it’s as much fun to be in the audience as it is to be on stage.
Charles N. Ford is currently UW Emeritus Professor of Surgery in the Division of Otolaryngology, where he served as chair of the department from 1995-2007. His interest in theater dates back to his teenage and early college years, and his academic career has been influenced by a longstanding fascination with the human voice. At the University of Wisconsin he has assembled a world-class team of voice clinicians and scientists. His clinical practice encompasses medical and surgical care of actors, singers, and other voice professionals. Chuck’s research focus is laryngology and voice disorders. Currently he is collaborating with researchers in the application of surgical intervention and tissue engineering approaches to restoring damaged vocal folds. His curriculum vita reflects numerous awards, eponymous lectures, leadership positions in national medical associations, and membership on five leading editorial boards. Dedicated to supporting the arts locally, he recently served on the Madison Symphony board and currently he is an active member of the Madison Opera board of directors.
Marta Gialamas has lived in the greater Madison area her entire life. She has always had a passion for the arts and is delighted at the opportunity to work with Forward Theater Company. Marta graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a degree in political science and has since worked at Gingras, Cates and Luebke, S.C. as the office manager. Currently she lives in Middleton with her husband Aris, and two children, George (age 3) and Candy (age 1). Her husband is the vice president of The Gialamas Company, a family owned commercial real estate development company. Marta is also working with the American Cancer Society to bring a Hope Lodge to Madison.
Gail Kohl joined the board of Forward Theater Company with great joy. She has worked in fundraising for more than 30 years with both local and state-wide organizations, such as American Players Theatre; the Taliesin Preservation Commission; Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Tourism Program; United Cerebral Palsy; The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters; the Seth Peterson Cottage Conservancy; Big Top Chautauqua; and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. She has been responsible for major gifts, project and operations funding, membership development and enhancement, strategic partnerships and alliances, event planning and coordination, special projects, and proposal and grant writing.
Shana Lewis is an attorney with Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. She represents public and private sector employers in the areas of Labor & Employment Law and School & Municipal Law. Shana is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and, before that, she earned a B.A. in political science and a certificate in women’ studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Shana has been involved in theater since the age of 6, when she played the youngest child in the royal family in a community theater production of The King and I. Despite childhood dreams of a career on Broadway, Shana now participates in theater primarily as an audience member at productions across the country. She is thrilled to join the Forward Theater Company board of directors and to support professional theater, locally. Shana and her husband, Rob Magasano, and their pets, live just outside of Madison on Lake Waubesa.
Erika Monroe-Kane is the director of communications for MMoCA, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.
Previously Erika founded Firecracker Consulting, formulating communications strategies for a variety of clients, worked for United Way of Dane County, the National Center for Media Engagement, and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. Erika is a city girl who moved to Madison ten years ago from Chicago, and proudly reps her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. As lovers of the arts, Erika and her family enjoy the richness of Madison’s arts community.
Kathie Nichols has been the business manager for First United Methodist Church since 1990. She holds a BA in history, with a minor in literature from Binghamton University, and an MBA in economics and public policy from The George Washington University. She has been an active supporter of civic and cultural organizations in Madison. In addition to her work with Forward, she serves on the board of directors for the Madison Foundation for Public Schools and is a trustee for the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Kathie moved to Madison in 1982 with her husband, Bill White. Their two sons, Nick and Andy White, were born and raised here. Her son, Andy, is a musical theater actor, currently living in New York City.
Carol “Orange” Schroeder and her husband Dean have been co-owners of Orange Tree Imports since 1975. In addition to running the store, Orange does translating from Danish to English and freelance writing in the fields of medical terminology, Danish cuisine, and retailing. Orange founded the Monroe Street Merchants Association and the Monroe Street Library League, and continues to serve as chair of both organizations. Orange has served two terms on the Madison CitiArts Commission, has been involved with American Players Theatre for many years, and is now a board member of the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society. She has also served on the boards of the Madison Youth Choirs, Madison Children’s Museum, Friends of WHA-TV, and Susan G Komen for the Cure, as well as volunteering for United Way of Dane County as a member of its board and marketing committee. As a footnote, Orange’s son Erik grew up in a theater-loving household in Madison (obviously!), and he is now director of marketing at Chicago's Lookingglass Theater.
Joe Shumow is an attorney with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. He sifted and winnowed his way to a BBA in real estate and urban land economics from the great University of Wisconsin, Madison. He then received his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Joe serves a number of other non-profits in Madison, including The Rodney Scheel House Foundation (as past president), Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Council (as parks chair), and the Jewish Federation of Madison. When he's not seeing Forward Theater shows, you might find Joe cheering on his beloved Brewers or Badgers.
Brent Wagner is a certified public accountant with Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, where he works with various retail companies. He is a member of the AICPA and WICPA. Brent graduated from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, with a degree in accountancy. He has lived in southern Wisconsin his entire life, and currently resides in Pardeeville with his wife Sara and their three children. Brent and Sara have a great appreciation of music, art, and theater.
Advisory Company
Responsible for artistic oversight of Forward Theater Company.
Jim Buske has acted in or directed more than 110 plays in Off-Broadway, regional, summer stock, dinner and community theatre. He was an original member of the Madison Repertory Theatre’s Acting Company and appeared in eleven productions there. Jim’s most recent role with The Rep was as Marshall in the world premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s What Corbin Knew. Favorite roles include Ken Talley in The 5th of July, Joseph Surface in School for Scandal, Elwood in Harvey, George in Moon Over Buffalo, Rev. David Lee in The Foreigner and Sergius in Arms and the Man. He also directed Beyond Therapy for The Rep. Jim works at the University of Wisconsin in the financial aid office as the Scholarship Administrator. In his spare time he serves on the Board of Directors of Rock For Reading, a Chicago-based non-profit that fights illiteracy. Rock For Reading, which was founded by singer/songwriter Alice Peacock, has distributed more than $2 million in books and monetary grants in the last five years.
Sarah Day is a Madison native and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began her professional acting career at Wilson Street East Dinner Playhouse while a student at the UW thirty years ago. She performed with both Madison Civic Repertory and Madison Repertory Theatre. Other Wisconsin theatre credits include: The Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre and First Stage Children's Theater. She has been a guest artist at the UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee and taught at UW-Richland. She has been a member of the acting company at American Players Theatre in Spring Green since 1986 and is a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Richard Ganoung has appeared regionally with the Folger Shakespeare Theater in Washington D.C., Madison Repertory Theater, First Stage Children's Theater in Milwaukee and Milwaukee Shakespeare Theater. Film Credits include starring roles in the independent films Parting Glances and Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss. He is also the voice of Astro Boy's father in the popular Japanese cartoon series. Richard holds an undergraduate acting degree from UW-Madison and attended New York's Circle in the Square Professional Training Program. He is a proud member of both the Screen Actors Guild Of America & Actors' Equity, the union of professional stage actors and stage managers. Richard makes his home in Madison.
Michael Herold came to Madison in 1986 and was cast in The Foreigner, the first of more than sixteen plays with the Madison Rep, including The Norman Conquests, Consumer Affairs, The Immigrant and Love is the Weirdest of All. He has performed in over twelve productions at the Milwaukee Rep, as well as acting with Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Next Act and Milwaukee Shakespeare. He appeared in Laughter on the 23rd Floor at the Briar Street Theater in Chicago, and has been featured in productions for New American Theater and Artists’ Ensemble in Rockford, and New Court Theater in Beloit. Michael has toured nationally and regionally, and has performed at the Music Box Theater in Minneapolis and the Horton Grand Theatre in San Diego, as well as several Shakespeare festivals around the country. He has appeared in several regional and national television commercials, and in the recent film Baraboo. Originally from Ohio, he holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Akron. Michael lives in Sun Prairie with his wife Tracy and their children, Olivia and Gabriel. Michael is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association.
Georgina Mckee is delighted to be part of the advisory company of Forward Theater, after having a wonderful time as Andrea Munroe in A Thousand Words this past winter! A native of Madison, she is ecstatic to be working in her hometown with such a talented company. Georgina now lives in Milwaukee where her recent acting credits include; Yvonne in Sunday In The Park With George (Skylight Music Theatre), Meg in Crimes of the Heart (Chamber Theatre), the title roles in Sylvia and Mary’s Wedding (Next Act Theatre), Viola in Twelfth Night (Optimist Theatre), Carly in Reasons To Be Pretty (Renaissance Theaterworks), Eve/Barbara/Ella in The Apple Tree and Lori in Romantic Fools (In Tandem), and ensemble roles in Bombshells and A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Rep). Regional credits include productions with American Players Theatre, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and The Fireside Theatre. Georgina holds a BFA in acting from Southern Oregon University.
Karen Moeller has worked at the Bartell with Strollers Theatre and Mercury Players Theatre, at Broom Street Theater, Madison Rep, and of course, Forward Theater. In other media, she has performed in internet series, and television and radio commercials, both locally and regionally. Karen studied theater at the University of Iowa and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She then moved to New York City, where she worked on stage and in television and film. A native of Door County, she is proud to call Wisconsin (and especially Madison!) her home. Karen is constantly amazed at how rich our community is with actors, designers, writers, and directors, all of whom possess such a deep commitment to the art and craft of theater.
Frank Schneeberger is currently a theater technician for Overture Center for the Performing Arts. From 1978-2002, he was the resident designer/technical director for Madison Repertory Theatre, helping it to grow from a small community theater to a nationally-recognized, professional regional company. During this time, Frank designed and built more than 140 sets. Between 1974-1978, he was the resident designer/technical director for CTM Madison Family Theatre Company, and has continued his association with CTM as a guest designer. In addition, Frank’s designs have been seen at American Players Theatre, Cider Mill Playhouse (Binghamton, NY), Theatre X (Milwaukee), Racine Theatre, Rockford Theatre, University of Wisconsin Opera-Madison, Strollers Theatre, Mercury Players Theatre, Madison Theatre Guild, Madison Savoyards, Edgewood College and Wisconsin Youth Theatre.
Kirk Stantis has been actively working in theater since he was 15 years old, when he talked his way into a job as a “junior” stagehand at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego. After being plucked from the sun-drenched land of Southern California in 1971 and planted in the frozen tundra of Madison, continued his education and work in theater with the Madison Theater Guild, University Players, Madison Civic Repertory Theater, Madison Savoyards, Phi Beta, and of course, Forward Theater. Highlights of his career include stage managing the first amateur production of Company and being part of several Forward Theater production teams. Kirk is a proud member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 251.
Michele Traband got hooked on theater in high school, after following a boy to an audition for South Pacific. She currently works as the general manager of UW-Madison’s University Theatre and has more than 25 years of experience as an arts administrator. Previous positions include program manager for the National Theatre Conservatory (Denver, CO), program director for both the UW-Milwaukee’s Professional Theatre Training Program, and the University of Hartford’s Hartt School Theatre Division, and the director of ticketing services for the Lied Center at the University of Kansas. Michele holds an MFA in arts administration from Brooklyn College. She is a proud founding member of Renaissance Theaterworks in Milwaukee, and has served as a board member for several not-for-profit organizations around the country.
Charles J. Trieloff II received his MFA in set design from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. For University Theatre he has designed: Antigone, The Passion of Dracula, A Little Night Music, Man of La Mancha, The Water Station, Smash, Steel Magnolias, True West, and Stop Kiss. For CTM he designed the recent productions of Little Women, Narnia, Goodnight Moon, and A Wonderful Life. In addition, Charles has designed for Madison Opera’s Opera in the Park, and has served as visiting artist at the University of Wisconsin,Whitewater, where he designed A Lie of the Mind, Hay Fever, Guys and Dolls, and Antigone. In Madison he was the prop master at Madison Repertory Theatre for nine years, and currently is the prop master at American Players Theatre. He has also designed props for Forward Theater, CTM, Madison Ballet, and Madison Opera. Outside of the theater world Charles designed the themed reception areas for Children’s Dental Health’s Fitchburg and Old Sauk Road locations.
Sam White has worked in professional, academic and community theater for more than 35 years. He studied theater at Edgewood College and cut his stage chops at the old Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival. His professional Madison credits include working with the Madison Rep (he was the first addition to the Rep’s “Original Acting Company” in 1983), TAPIT/new works and the UW’s University Summer Theatre. His professional Milwaukee credits include work with In Tandem Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre, and the former Theatre Tesseract. Sam has worked with almost every theater group in Madison as an actor, director and playwright. He is a former artistic director of Madison Theatre Guild. He was also a founding member and former president of Madison’s Playwright’s Ink. In addition to more than 150 theater productions, he has worked as professional on-camera talent in more than 120 commercials and industrial training films. He is a true homegrown product of the local theater scene. “Madison is an amazing theater town! More than capable of developing and supporting a community of professional theater artists who will have incredible impact in the cultural and economic life of our great city.”
Kimberly Megna Yarnall most recently worked as dramaturg with the Madison Repertory Theatre on the 2007 New Play Festival’s The Journey to Sakhalin, and The Diary of Anne Frank. Kimberly was the literary assistant for the Blue Heron Theatre in New York City (2001-2004) where she worked with many playwrights including New York Times Notable Author, John Dufresne on his first play, Trailerville. She curated the Juggernaut Theatre's First 100 Years reading series. Kimberly was also an assistant writer on Broadway’s Tony nominated A Class Act. A published and produced playwright, Kimberly holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Theater from the University of Notre Dame and was a member of the Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice company.
