Co-founder; Artistic Director 2009-2013

In the summer of 2009, I co-founded Youngblood with four fellow UW-Milwaukee acting graduates in response to the need for a greater number of artistic opportunities for the next generation of theatre artists. The company experienced a series of tremendous successes and has left a last impact on the Milwaukee theatre community. I left the company in 2013 in the hands of the ensemble to pursue more freelance work and other professional opportunities.


Emerging Artists

During my tenure Youngblood engaged over 100 different emerging theatre artists in work described as cutting edge, fearless and thought-provoking and “quickly gained the attention and respect of the Milwaukee theater community.” (Damien Jaques, OnMilwaukee.com)


Play Selection

Over half of the productions were performed in found or nontraditional spaces, defining a major aspect of the company’s aesthetic. Notable examples include:

  1. Will Eno’s The Flu Season performed in the cafeteria of a hospital (featured in American Theatre Magazine - April 2012)

  2. John Olive’s Minnesota Moon performed on a farm

  3. John Shanley’s Savage in Limbo performed in a dive bar


Plays were chosen to introduce Milwaukee audiences to new, unique voices - playwrights that haven’t been featured by the other established theaters in town.


Other Duties or Accomplishments

In addition to choosing plays with the consult of ensemble, my duties and accomplishments as Artistic Director include:

  1. Appearing as an ambassador to the greater theatre community

  2. Creating and coordinating the visual aesthetic of the company, from designing the flyers, posters, website and promotional images for each show

  3. Drafting press releases, e-blasts and web copy

  4. Securing space, rights, equipment and talent

  5. Making the transition to a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and creating the Board of Directors the company continues to operate under

  6. Managing finances, bills, and receipts

“Youngblood Theatre is doing terrific work that is changing

the landscape of Milwaukee theater” Paul Kosidowski, Milwaukee Magazine

Shows Produced as Artistic Director:

2012

Cartoon by Steve Yockey

[sic] by Melissa James Gibson^

Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom by Jennifer Haley^

The Flu Season by Will Eno^


2011

Minnesota Moon by John Olive^

Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph^*

An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus on This His Final Evening by Mickle Maher^

Red Light Winter by Adam Rapp (remount)


2010

Freakshow by Carson Kreitzer^

Drive Me to Arson by Benjamin Wilson (also @ MN Fringe Festival)#

Spirits to Enforce by Mickle Maher^

Red Light Winter by Adam Rapp


2009

The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later by Moisés Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris and Stephen Belber#

God Bridge by Benjamin Wilson#

Savage in Limbo by John Patrick Shanley^

David’s Redhaired Death by Sherry Kramer


^ Performed in nontraditional theatre space; * Regional premiere; # World premiere.

“Milwaukee’s most exciting theater troupe.”

Mike Fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Youngblood is maintaining Milwaukee’s status as a major league stage town.”

Damien Jaques, OnMilwaukee.com

Shepherd Express 2010 Critic’s

Choice Best Theatre Company

ABOUT ME