Sammy Brown, Director of Production — Sammy is elated to continue their First Stage journey after joining as Director of Production last season. Sammy has served as a Production Manager, AEA Stage Manager, and Event Coordinator with organizations nationwide, including (selected credits): Baltimore Center Stage (Mexodus), Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Shakespeare in the Parks, Six), the Los Angeles Actors’ Fund, Theatre SilCo (Constellations), Mill Mountain Theatre (A Chorus Line), Norwegian Cruise Line (Swing!, Blazin’ Boots), South Coast Repertory (Madwoman in a Volvo), the New York Musical Theatre Festival (Summer Valley Fair), and Williamstown Theatre Festival. MFA; University of California, Irvine. BS; University of Evansville.
Pat LoRicco (he/him), Technical Director — Pat is thrilled be with First Sage for his second season, and to continue his work to help support and grow First Stag’s mission. Pat recently earned his MFA in Technical Direction from West Virginia University, where he was the Technical Director for shows such as Ride the Cyclone, Measure For Measure, The Skriker, and Sweet Charity. He has also worked as the Technical Director at West Virginia Public Theatre (WV) for Sherlock Holmes and The Mountaintop, and as the Scenic Designer for Midland Center for the Arts (MI) productions of Newsies and Rock Of Ages.
Juliana Gessner (they/them), Scenic Charge Artist — Juliana joined First Stage this August as Scenic Charge Artisan, and is excited to be back in Milwaukee where they grew up. Juliana was previously the Scenic Charge at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is also a freelance Scenic Designer with recent credits including The Marriage of Figaro, Songbird (UW-Madison’s University Opera), Dance Nation, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and Orlando (UW-Madison’s University Theatre).
Nicki Kulas, Properties Director — Nicki has been working in different facets of props/puppets for the past 17 years. As a freelance Props Designer and Artisan she has been able to work with many theatres in Milwaukee, some favorites include Next Act, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, and Renaissance Theaterworks. She started her TYA journey with Children’s Theatre of Madison and is currently working at First Stage in Milwaukee, WI, where she is starting her 12th season as Properties Director (formerly Props Master) building props and puppets for all their shows. For 8 summers she called Winona, MN her home, where she served as the Props Artisan then Props Director at Great River Shakespeare Festival. In Milwaukee, she has had the opportunity to work on some great puppet projects with Kohls Wild Theatre at the Milwaukee County Zoo, props for Penelopiad under the Holton Street Viaduct, and art installations at the newly renovated The Ave’s 3rd St Market Hall.
Olivia Bastien (she/her), Properties Artisan — Olivia Bastien is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Technology. This is her third season as Properties Artisan at First Stage. Credits include Properties Designer for Witch, Tidy, Cost of Living (Renaissance Theaterworks); A Moon for the Misbegotten, Laughs in Spanish (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre); Hello, Dolly!, Fellow Travelers, Once Upon A Mattress (Seagle Festival).
Jenny Thurnau (she/her), Costume Shop Manager — Jenny is excited for another season with First Stage. She has worked previously in various roles at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, American Players Theater, and Eastern Washington University, among others. Jenny received her M.F.A. in Costume Design from Western Illinois University.
Lyndsey Kuhlmann (she/her), Cutter/Draper — Lyndsey is in her 17th season as the Cutter/Draper in the costume shop. As Cutter/Draper, she helps bring the Costume Designer’s vision to life by creating the patterns and process for built garments, conducting fittings, and seeing that all costumes are completed on time. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Costume Technology from Ohio University.
Michelle Verbos (she/her), First Hand — Michelle is joining us for her 16th season as First Hand. Her main duties are to assist the Cutter/Draper with cutting out and constructing the costumes and performing alterations. She is the Costume Coordinator for our Young Company and has been the Costume Designer for several shows during her time here at First Stage as well as the annual Winter/Spring musical at Nicolet High School.
Kasey Brown (she/her), Costume Crafts Artisan — This is Kasey’s first season at First Stage! Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, she holds a BFA from Western Michigan University and a Masters in costume design from Virginia Commonwealth University. As the Costume Crafts Artisan, she works in the costume shop and helps to create all the costume pieces that aren’t traditionally sewn such as hats and other accessories! She also continues to work as a freelance costume designer.
Alexa Farrell (she/her), Wardrobe Supervisor — Alexa is thrilled to be joining the First Stage company. Previous costume credits include, Annie, Grease, The Addams Family, et al. Being part of the theatre community has given her many opportunities such as coaching individuals for audition prep, directing, acting and designing. Theatre is important now more than ever. Thank you for supporting the arts.
Kalyn Diercks (she/her), Wardrobe Assistant — Kalyn is excited to be returning as First Stage’s Wardrobe Assistant. During show runs she can be found backstage making sure everyone looks their best: helping actors to get dressed, running quick changes, and maintaining all of the costume pieces you see onstage. In between shows, she works in the Costume Shop altering, building, and organizing costumes for the next production.