Guest Artists: Tuesdays at 4 pm
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/95499072722
January 26th - Brit Bober:
Brit Bober i s a wardrobe supervisor currently base out of Las Vegas. She has worked extensively with Cirque De Soleil, and traveled the US multiple times with various Broadway Tours.
Brit Bober i s a wardrobe supervisor currently base out of Las Vegas. She has worked extensively with Cirque De Soleil, and traveled the US multiple times with various Broadway Tours.
January 19th - Erin DePalma:
Erin is the Director of Shubert Events at the Shubert Organization - the country's oldest professional theatre company and largest theatre owner on Broadway. Before joining the Shubert Organization she worked Off-Broadway at New World Stages, where she started as an usher and bartender eventually moving to house, bar and event management. Erin studied theatre at the University of Vermont and Circle in the Square Theatre School.
Erin is the Director of Shubert Events at the Shubert Organization - the country's oldest professional theatre company and largest theatre owner on Broadway. Before joining the Shubert Organization she worked Off-Broadway at New World Stages, where she started as an usher and bartender eventually moving to house, bar and event management. Erin studied theatre at the University of Vermont and Circle in the Square Theatre School.
January 12th -Michael Broughton:
After earning a BFA in Theatre with an emphasis on Design and Technology, Michael Broughton spent 11 years working professionally in theatre, dance, and live events. He served as a Master Electrician for Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and Portland Center Stage before moving into a Facilities and Operations role with the launch of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, where he also served as Production Manager for a season. He now works in educational technology at Cornell University, where the AV and project management skills he gained working in theatre have been invaluable.
After earning a BFA in Theatre with an emphasis on Design and Technology, Michael Broughton spent 11 years working professionally in theatre, dance, and live events. He served as a Master Electrician for Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and Portland Center Stage before moving into a Facilities and Operations role with the launch of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, where he also served as Production Manager for a season. He now works in educational technology at Cornell University, where the AV and project management skills he gained working in theatre have been invaluable.
January 5th - Haley Jenkins and Paul McGinnis:
Haley Jenkins is a native of Matthews, North Carolina, and currently calls South Orange, New
Jersey her home. Haley puppeteers the title character on the Fred Rogers Productions/Spiffy
Productions PBS Kids show, Donkey Hodie. She also plays Karli on Sesame Street, as well as
Marvie for Sesame Studios, and she is the US puppeteer for the international Sesame
characters Zari and Basma. Her puppetry can also be seen in the Sony Pictures film A Beautiful
Day in the Neighborhood, as well as on Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,
America’s Got Talent, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The Katie Couric Show, as well
as in commercials for H&M, National Geographic, McDonalds, and Comedy Central. Haley has
performed on stage in The Pee-wee Herman Show (Original Broadway Cast), John Tartaglia’s
ImaginOcean, and The Center for Puppetry Art’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Paul McGinnis- National Tours: Little Shop of Horrors, Walking With Dinosaurs. Film/TV: “Sesame Street,” “The Muppets,” “Crank Yankers,” “Earth to Ned”, “Julie's Greenroom,” Eyeglass World’s Mr. World, “The Wiz Live!,” “The Happytime Murders,” IFC's “Greg the Bunny,” “Warren The Ape,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The West Wing,” “Portlandia,” “Crash & Bernstein,” “The Colbert Report,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!," “Dog with a Blog," “It’s a Big, Big World,” “The Book of Pooh," “Helpsters," “Between The Lions”. Check out his original work at www.youtube.com/PaulMcGinnisPuppetry. Proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA
Haley Jenkins is a native of Matthews, North Carolina, and currently calls South Orange, New
Jersey her home. Haley puppeteers the title character on the Fred Rogers Productions/Spiffy
Productions PBS Kids show, Donkey Hodie. She also plays Karli on Sesame Street, as well as
Marvie for Sesame Studios, and she is the US puppeteer for the international Sesame
characters Zari and Basma. Her puppetry can also be seen in the Sony Pictures film A Beautiful
Day in the Neighborhood, as well as on Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,
America’s Got Talent, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The Katie Couric Show, as well
as in commercials for H&M, National Geographic, McDonalds, and Comedy Central. Haley has
performed on stage in The Pee-wee Herman Show (Original Broadway Cast), John Tartaglia’s
ImaginOcean, and The Center for Puppetry Art’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Paul McGinnis- National Tours: Little Shop of Horrors, Walking With Dinosaurs. Film/TV: “Sesame Street,” “The Muppets,” “Crank Yankers,” “Earth to Ned”, “Julie's Greenroom,” Eyeglass World’s Mr. World, “The Wiz Live!,” “The Happytime Murders,” IFC's “Greg the Bunny,” “Warren The Ape,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The West Wing,” “Portlandia,” “Crash & Bernstein,” “The Colbert Report,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!," “Dog with a Blog," “It’s a Big, Big World,” “The Book of Pooh," “Helpsters," “Between The Lions”. Check out his original work at www.youtube.com/PaulMcGinnisPuppetry. Proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA
December 15th - Reuben Rosenthal:
Reuben Rosenthal is a DC-born-and-based Production Manager and Technical Director who has been working in technical theatre for over two decades. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Reuben spent 4 years as the Technical Director of Queens Theatre in New York City before transitioning to freelance and touring productions. His work in DC has garnered 9 Helen Hayes and Regional Tony Award nominations for the designers who handed him sketches on napkins.
Reuben Rosenthal is a DC-born-and-based Production Manager and Technical Director who has been working in technical theatre for over two decades. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Reuben spent 4 years as the Technical Director of Queens Theatre in New York City before transitioning to freelance and touring productions. His work in DC has garnered 9 Helen Hayes and Regional Tony Award nominations for the designers who handed him sketches on napkins.
December 8th- Kristi Ross-Clausen:
Kristi is a “retired” K-12 music/theatre teacher, and has become an internationally recognized expert on venue safety and technical theatre pedagogy.
In addition to being quoted by NPR and Newsweek as well as interviewed by Theatre Folk for their Theatre Safety podcast, she's presented on theatre safety at the Alliance for Wisconsin Theatre Education, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, AVIXA - the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, IATSE – the stagehands' union, The Wisconsin School Safety Alliance and many others. Her book, “The Stagehands’ Toolkit” will be published by Focol Press in 2020 and a yet-to-be-titled book on school theatre safety is in the works.
She is working with the Wisconsin School Music Association, Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, Wisconsin High School Forensics Association to create recommended best practices for reopening schools in the fall of 2020. As a member of the Event Safety Alliance, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Alliance for Wisconsin Theatre Education, and AVIXA, she’s taught internationally via webinar as well as being a feature presenter at the InfoComm, USITT and AWTE conferences. She’s past-president of AWTE and a Member-at-Large of the Stage Managers Association.
Kristi co-chaired the committee that revised the Wisconsin DPI standards in Theatre in 2018, leading the Technical Theatre strand and making Wisconsin one of the first states to give equal recognition of the skills used behind the scenes. She is working with the National Federation of State High School Associations to create an online theatre safety class, to go with her forthcoming book. And is in demand as a consultant for school theatres nationwide.
She has been a member of IATSE local 470 since 1990, working on thousands of shows, concerts and expos ranging from Broadway tours to community theatre, industrial and educational productions K-12 including the North American tours of Mamma Mia, War Horse and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. She is an IATSE Trained Trainer and has provided training on all facets of technical theatre to professional stagehands. As an Actors Equity Stage Manager since 2011 she has stage managed for Forward Theatre, First Stage, Timber Mill Theater, The University of Wisconsin Band show, and a special appearance by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama among other events.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Master of Arts in Theatre Research: Theatre for Young Audiences with an emphasis in technical theatre pedagogy where she wrote her thesis on what Wisconsin HS theatre teachers know about safety (unfortunately, not much). She currently works in Appleton, WI as Quality and Customer Advocate for Arrow AV Group, the Midwest’s leading commercial audio/video/lighting integrator, where she ensures compliance with AV:9000 standards, trains users of AV systems and assists with the design of performing arts centers, theatres, and places of assembly.
Kristi is a “retired” K-12 music/theatre teacher, and has become an internationally recognized expert on venue safety and technical theatre pedagogy.
In addition to being quoted by NPR and Newsweek as well as interviewed by Theatre Folk for their Theatre Safety podcast, she's presented on theatre safety at the Alliance for Wisconsin Theatre Education, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, AVIXA - the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, IATSE – the stagehands' union, The Wisconsin School Safety Alliance and many others. Her book, “The Stagehands’ Toolkit” will be published by Focol Press in 2020 and a yet-to-be-titled book on school theatre safety is in the works.
She is working with the Wisconsin School Music Association, Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, Wisconsin High School Forensics Association to create recommended best practices for reopening schools in the fall of 2020. As a member of the Event Safety Alliance, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Alliance for Wisconsin Theatre Education, and AVIXA, she’s taught internationally via webinar as well as being a feature presenter at the InfoComm, USITT and AWTE conferences. She’s past-president of AWTE and a Member-at-Large of the Stage Managers Association.
Kristi co-chaired the committee that revised the Wisconsin DPI standards in Theatre in 2018, leading the Technical Theatre strand and making Wisconsin one of the first states to give equal recognition of the skills used behind the scenes. She is working with the National Federation of State High School Associations to create an online theatre safety class, to go with her forthcoming book. And is in demand as a consultant for school theatres nationwide.
She has been a member of IATSE local 470 since 1990, working on thousands of shows, concerts and expos ranging from Broadway tours to community theatre, industrial and educational productions K-12 including the North American tours of Mamma Mia, War Horse and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. She is an IATSE Trained Trainer and has provided training on all facets of technical theatre to professional stagehands. As an Actors Equity Stage Manager since 2011 she has stage managed for Forward Theatre, First Stage, Timber Mill Theater, The University of Wisconsin Band show, and a special appearance by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama among other events.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Master of Arts in Theatre Research: Theatre for Young Audiences with an emphasis in technical theatre pedagogy where she wrote her thesis on what Wisconsin HS theatre teachers know about safety (unfortunately, not much). She currently works in Appleton, WI as Quality and Customer Advocate for Arrow AV Group, the Midwest’s leading commercial audio/video/lighting integrator, where she ensures compliance with AV:9000 standards, trains users of AV systems and assists with the design of performing arts centers, theatres, and places of assembly.
December 1st- Sasha Aranow:
Sasha became interested in theater while living in Cedarburg, WI. She then obtained a degree in Theatre with an emphasis on Lighting from the University of Wisconsin Madison. She has worked in several regional theaters including the MCPASD PAC and is now a Senior Technical Support Specialist at ETC.
Sasha became interested in theater while living in Cedarburg, WI. She then obtained a degree in Theatre with an emphasis on Lighting from the University of Wisconsin Madison. She has worked in several regional theaters including the MCPASD PAC and is now a Senior Technical Support Specialist at ETC.
November 24th - Kimberly Marable:
Kimberly has spent the last 14 years as a working actor. Her Broadway appearances include THE LION KING (u/s Nala, Shenzi, Sarabi) and SISTER ACT (u/s Deloris van Cartier). Most notably, she is an original cast member of the TONY and GRAMMY Award winning musical HADESTOWN on Broadway where she understudies Persephone and a Fate. Her International Touring credits include THE BOOK OF MORMON, SISTER ACT (u/s Deloris van Cartier), DREAMGIRLS, HAIRSPRAY, and THE WEDDING SINGER (u/s Linda). Kimberly has performed at regional theaters including The Signature in Arlington, VA and Arkansas Repertory Theatre ("The Rep") in Little Rock, AR; and has participated in the pre-Broadway development of HADESTOWN, PAL JOEY with Marin Mazzie & Patina Miller, and THE WANDERER with NKOTB's Joey McIntyre, which is set to make its world premier at Papermill Playhouse. She has appeared on CBS' BULL, NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert series, and numerous television specials, including the 85th & 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades and the 73rd Annual TONY Awards. Kimberly is the voice of Lorelai in the Netflix Anime series, CANNON BUSTERS and does promotional voice overs for The CW and CBS Sports. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Kimberly earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Theater modified with Sociology from Dartmouth College. She is an adjunct professor for the Theatre Program at Drexel University. In 2012, Kimberly co-founded Broadway Serves, an affiliate program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which provides theater professionals with community service opportunities. She serves on the Advisory Committee for the Actors Fund’s Looking Ahead program, and recently joined the Board of Trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Kimberly has spent the last 14 years as a working actor. Her Broadway appearances include THE LION KING (u/s Nala, Shenzi, Sarabi) and SISTER ACT (u/s Deloris van Cartier). Most notably, she is an original cast member of the TONY and GRAMMY Award winning musical HADESTOWN on Broadway where she understudies Persephone and a Fate. Her International Touring credits include THE BOOK OF MORMON, SISTER ACT (u/s Deloris van Cartier), DREAMGIRLS, HAIRSPRAY, and THE WEDDING SINGER (u/s Linda). Kimberly has performed at regional theaters including The Signature in Arlington, VA and Arkansas Repertory Theatre ("The Rep") in Little Rock, AR; and has participated in the pre-Broadway development of HADESTOWN, PAL JOEY with Marin Mazzie & Patina Miller, and THE WANDERER with NKOTB's Joey McIntyre, which is set to make its world premier at Papermill Playhouse. She has appeared on CBS' BULL, NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert series, and numerous television specials, including the 85th & 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades and the 73rd Annual TONY Awards. Kimberly is the voice of Lorelai in the Netflix Anime series, CANNON BUSTERS and does promotional voice overs for The CW and CBS Sports. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Kimberly earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Theater modified with Sociology from Dartmouth College. She is an adjunct professor for the Theatre Program at Drexel University. In 2012, Kimberly co-founded Broadway Serves, an affiliate program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which provides theater professionals with community service opportunities. She serves on the Advisory Committee for the Actors Fund’s Looking Ahead program, and recently joined the Board of Trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
November 17th - Tom Littrell:
Before retiring in August, Tom Littrell worked at Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) and he was a member of the team responsible for developing ETC’s LED product line. After completing a BA in Theatre from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, he was a moving light programmer and marketing specialist for Vari-Lite, Inc. Tom toured with bands such as Led Zeppelin and David Bowie, and programmed the first modern moving light system for the band Genesis in 1981.
Before retiring in August, Tom Littrell worked at Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) and he was a member of the team responsible for developing ETC’s LED product line. After completing a BA in Theatre from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, he was a moving light programmer and marketing specialist for Vari-Lite, Inc. Tom toured with bands such as Led Zeppelin and David Bowie, and programmed the first modern moving light system for the band Genesis in 1981.
November 10th - Fletcher McCune:
Fletcher, born and raised outside of Miami, Florida - studied lighting design at Florida International University. Fletcher is a member of IATSE local 500 and is currently the Master Electrician for COPA at the New School's College of Performing Arts in New York City, where he's been living and working for the last 10 years.
Fletcher, born and raised outside of Miami, Florida - studied lighting design at Florida International University. Fletcher is a member of IATSE local 500 and is currently the Master Electrician for COPA at the New School's College of Performing Arts in New York City, where he's been living and working for the last 10 years.
October 27th - CJ Pierce
Once told by her high school theatre teacher that she would “never succeed in the lighting industry”-CJ Pierce worked diligently in the field until landing at the number one lighting company in the world, working in one of the best Tech Support departments known, and amassing many design credits across Northern and Central Ohio. How did a discouraged high school student from Ohio turn in to the knowledgeable, successful, theatre technician based in Middleton Wisconsin? Find out October 27th.
Once told by her high school theatre teacher that she would “never succeed in the lighting industry”-CJ Pierce worked diligently in the field until landing at the number one lighting company in the world, working in one of the best Tech Support departments known, and amassing many design credits across Northern and Central Ohio. How did a discouraged high school student from Ohio turn in to the knowledgeable, successful, theatre technician based in Middleton Wisconsin? Find out October 27th.
October 20th - Kirk Starks
Kirk Starks is a Senior Technical Support Specialist for ETC having joined the Technical Services department in 2009 after working in ETC’s Systems Project Management. Prior to his time at ETC, Kirk worked as a freelance lighting and sound designer. A graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, Starks has also served as the Vice Commissioner for Lighting Technology for USITT. He greatly enjoys debating console control theory and the finer points of color.
Kirk Starks is a Senior Technical Support Specialist for ETC having joined the Technical Services department in 2009 after working in ETC’s Systems Project Management. Prior to his time at ETC, Kirk worked as a freelance lighting and sound designer. A graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, Starks has also served as the Vice Commissioner for Lighting Technology for USITT. He greatly enjoys debating console control theory and the finer points of color.
October 13th - Jenny Svehlek
Jenny Svehlek hails from Fond du Lac Wisconsin, and is a proud UW graduate-- Go Badgers! After graduation and various sales jobs she wondered where to apply her love for theatre, and found herself working in corporate Audio Visual. Jenny has worked for some of the largest companies, galas, non-profits, concerts, to even product launches. One of her favorite events was working with the Milwaukee Brewers for their annual Brewers on Deck. Although laid off due to Covid, she maintains that in-person events will always have a place- and looks forward to that day coming soon!
Jenny Svehlek hails from Fond du Lac Wisconsin, and is a proud UW graduate-- Go Badgers! After graduation and various sales jobs she wondered where to apply her love for theatre, and found herself working in corporate Audio Visual. Jenny has worked for some of the largest companies, galas, non-profits, concerts, to even product launches. One of her favorite events was working with the Milwaukee Brewers for their annual Brewers on Deck. Although laid off due to Covid, she maintains that in-person events will always have a place- and looks forward to that day coming soon!
October 6th - Rachel McPhee:
Rachel McPhee is an actor and producer who hails from Racine, Wisconsin but has been living in New York City for the past 14 years. She received her training at UW Madison and the Drama Studio London (UK). Favorite credits include: Boardwalk Empire, Jessica Jones, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Vieux Carre w/ The Pearl Theater Company, The Footage at The Flea and her acclaimed one woman show Dead Shot Mary. There is more to be learned about Rachel at www.rachelmcphee.com .
Rachel McPhee is an actor and producer who hails from Racine, Wisconsin but has been living in New York City for the past 14 years. She received her training at UW Madison and the Drama Studio London (UK). Favorite credits include: Boardwalk Empire, Jessica Jones, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Vieux Carre w/ The Pearl Theater Company, The Footage at The Flea and her acclaimed one woman show Dead Shot Mary. There is more to be learned about Rachel at www.rachelmcphee.com .
September 27th - Amy Sawyers-Williams:
Amy is a theatre artist based in Raleigh. She got her undergrad in Theatre and Women's Studies from UW Madison and earned her Master’s in Applied Theatre from the City University New York where she became skilled in creating interactive theatre rooted in social justice. Amy founded the company See Saw Projects in 2017 with an aim to create applied theatre projects in North Carolina, and is currently running theatre-based workshops at the Wake Correctional Center (minimum security prison). She also runs theatre workshops for people with dementia through Timeslips, performs improv on an all female team (now on Zoom!) and works at NC State University as an arts programmer.
Amy is a theatre artist based in Raleigh. She got her undergrad in Theatre and Women's Studies from UW Madison and earned her Master’s in Applied Theatre from the City University New York where she became skilled in creating interactive theatre rooted in social justice. Amy founded the company See Saw Projects in 2017 with an aim to create applied theatre projects in North Carolina, and is currently running theatre-based workshops at the Wake Correctional Center (minimum security prison). She also runs theatre workshops for people with dementia through Timeslips, performs improv on an all female team (now on Zoom!) and works at NC State University as an arts programmer.
September 22nd - Lowell Olcott:
Lowell is the Product Manager of Integrative Technologies at ETC inc responsible for ETC’s ColorSource Console, EchoTouch, Response, and Augment3d product lines. He is deeply interested in system integration and is committed to exploring new ways for ETC products to work together. Lowell is a 2008 graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Department of Theatre and Dance, where he concentrated on lighting technology and design.
Lowell is the Product Manager of Integrative Technologies at ETC inc responsible for ETC’s ColorSource Console, EchoTouch, Response, and Augment3d product lines. He is deeply interested in system integration and is committed to exploring new ways for ETC products to work together. Lowell is a 2008 graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Department of Theatre and Dance, where he concentrated on lighting technology and design.
September 15th - S.M. Payson:
S.M. Payson is a Production Manager with over 18 years of live event experience. Her background has included first national tours, live music, regional arts as well as theater both on and off Broadway. She is currently the resident Production Manager at the Atlantic Theater Company's Linda Gross Theater in New York City.
S.M. Payson is a Production Manager with over 18 years of live event experience. Her background has included first national tours, live music, regional arts as well as theater both on and off Broadway. She is currently the resident Production Manager at the Atlantic Theater Company's Linda Gross Theater in New York City.