Mike Fischer
By Scott Haden
Mike is a Milwaukee-based dramaturg. From 2003-2018, he saw over 200 plays each year on behalf of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, covering theater productions throughout Wisconsin as well as northern Illinois while also writing book reviews that appeared in newspapers throughout the United States.
In his post-critic’s life, Mike has served as a dramaturg or written educational materials on behalf of Wisconsin theater productions at Forward as well as the Constructivists, First Stage, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks and Theatre RED. Mike is also a judge for as well as the Vice Chair of the Joseph Jefferson Committee in Chicago and a longtime judge for the Steinberg New Play Award competition.
Mike served as dramaturg for FTC’s production of The Amateurs, and is a co-host of our Theater Forward podcast. In 2023, Mike served as festival journalist for World Premiere Wisconsin.
Mike received his undergraduate degree from Yale and his MA from the University of Michigan (both in English Literature) as well as his JD from Harvard. He lives in Whitefish Bay with his wife, Elaine.