Jessica first began working with Next Act Theatre in 2003. Since 2006, she has been Next Act’s Resident Stage Manager, stage managing 70 productions. A few of Jessica’s favorite projects include: DEAR ESTHER, MASTER HAROLD… and the BOYS, LAST OF THE BOYS, MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, GREETINGS, FAITH HEALER, PURGATORIO, GOING TO ST. IVES, VIGIL, GRACE, THREE VIEWS OF THE SAME OBJECT, TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES 1992, BLOOMSDAY, SILENT SKY, EQUIVOCATION, I and YOU, BLOOD AT THE ROOT, THE REVOLUTIONISTS and 9 CIRCLES (Next Act Theatre); A RISING WIND (J.M. Kohler Arts Center); CHESAPEAKE, TROJAN WOMEN, THE SHAPE OF THINGS, the U.S. premiere of SKIN TIGHT, ACTUALLY (Renaissance Theaterworks); DISGRACED, FENCES and BLUE ROSE (Milwaukee Repertory Theater); SANTALAND DIARIES (Marcus Center for the Performing Arts) and HAIRSPRAY (Little Theatre on the Square). Jessica is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and an honors graduate of UW-Milwaukee.

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A Milwaukee-based arts administrator and actor, A.J. holds a BA in Theatre Arts and a minor in Public Relations from Marquette University. He has performed various administrative duties for Summit Players Theatre, First Stage, Theatre Gigante and Theatre Nervosa, and came to Next Act from Bottom Line Marketing and Public Relations.

In addition to his behind-the-scenes work, A.J. has been seen onstage with First Stage, Renaissance Theaterworks, Theatre Gigante, Sunstone Studios, Voices Found Repertory, Acacia Theatre Company, Summit Players Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (Young Playwrights Festival), Theatre Nervosa, Quasimondo Physical Theatre, Windfall Theatre and Cooperative Performance. Outside of theatre, he enjoys baking and spending time in the great outdoors.

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Pia is a multidisciplinary educator who graduated from Marquette University in 2022 with degrees in Theatre Arts and Secondary Education. While most of her credits are still from Marquette, such as directing GIDION’S KNOT and DOUBT and stage managing ANTIGONE, she has also interned at Door Shakespeare, where she mostly overcame her fear of bugs, and has helped run the Next Actors program with her predecessor Grace DeWolff. She has taught a little at a lot of high schools, including Wauwatosa West and Pius XI High School. When not at Next Act, she can be found playing board games, chilling with her roommate and cat and yelling about how much she loves her students to anyone who will listen.

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Mike has served as Next Act Theatre’s Facility Manager and Rental Coordinator since 2011. Previously, he was the resident Master Electrician and Light Board Operator. Mike studied with renowned Lighting Designer Jason Fassl.

Some of Mike’s designs include I AND YOU; UnSILENT NIGHT; BRAVO, CARUSO!; IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE LIVE RADIO SHOW; NO CHILD…; PERFECT MENDACITY; and ONE TIME with Next Act Theatre and HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH, NEXT TO NORMAL, THE WILD PARTY and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS with All In Productions.

When Mike is not working for Next Act he is working on building his own production company that services technical theatre needs for high schools, colleges and other area theatre organizations. Mike looks forward to many more years with Next Act and the Greater Milwaukee theatre arts.

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Christine discovered the world of audience services when she joined the staff of Milwaukee’s Performing Arts Center (n/k/a Marcus Center) in its inaugural season. She has worked with dozens of arts organizations and their audiences as ticketing evolved from paper and pencil to computer systems to the internet, providing new ways to enhance patrons’ experiences. Long a friend of Next Act Theatre and supporter of its mission, she was pleased to become part of its dedicated team in 2014. Since then, she has found in her interactions with Next Act audiences ample validation of her often-stated opinion that the nicest people come to theatre. Christine’s abiding interest in the fine and folk arts of diverse cultures means that she herself is often found in an audience.

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