Madison WI — Forward Theater Company is pleased to announce that the organization has added three paid staff positions as of July 1, 2010. The part-time jobs of artistic director, general manager, and communications director will be filled by area arts advocates who each worked with the theater on a volunteer basis during its inaugural year.
Jennifer Uphoff Gray, Artistic Director, is charged with the creative leadership of the company, including engaging actors, designers, and directors, and assembling a season, with the input of the advisory company. She most recently directed Forward Theater’s debut productions, All About Eve and Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them. Before helping to found Forward Theater, Jen directed a staged reading of A Thousand Words 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 also 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.
Sarah Marty, General Manager, will oversee the business and outreach functions of the company. 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, School of the Arts at Rhinelander, Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival, Wisconsin Theatre Auditions & 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.
Gwendolyn Rice, Director of Communications, will manage marketing, public relations, and development for the company. She holds a Master’s degree in Theater Literature, History, and Criticism from UW 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.
Celia Klehr, who served as volunteer managing director for the organization’s first year is stepping down to become a member of the advisory company. “I am very happy to pass the torch on to others,” she said. “Working with this group of local theater professionals, founding a new arts organization has been an incredible experience. I’m pleased I could contribute. Now I’m looking forward to taking on an advisory role.”
The staff will take up residence in their new offices, at 8401 Excelsior Drive in the AAA Building, space generously donated by the Gialamas Company. “This is a real step forward for the organization,” said Board President Jane Elder. “Everyone has put forth extraordinary efforts over our first year to launch this company. The number of volunteer hours that have brought us to this point is staggering. Now that we’ve found our footing as a fledgling organization, we’re able to employ arts professionals to oversee the day-to-day operations.”
“It’s exciting to see how much we’ve accomplished in our first year” said Gray. “Sixteen months ago we were sitting around a kitchen table talking about founding a new theater company. Now our staff is moving into an office. We’re very grateful for the support we’ve received from the community – that’s what has allowed us to grow so strong so fast.”
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About the Forward Theater Company Founded in March 2009, the mission of FTC is to create a home base for Wisconsin theater professionals that will expand the economic and cultural life of the greater Madison area.
For more information about this release, please contact Jennifer Uphoff Gray, Artistic Director, (608) 332-7737, jgray@forwardtheater.com or Gwen Rice, Communications Director (608) 240-3526 grice@forwardtheater.com.
