Artistic Director | Theaterworks

Artistic Director | Renaissance Theaterworks

Opportunity Snapshot:
Theatre by Women, for Everyone

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW), Milwaukee’s only professional theatre company dedicated to gender equity, is at a historic turning point. With the planned retirement of its co‑founding Artistic Director, Suzan Fete, after 33 seasons of bold leadership, RTW is seeking a visionary new Artistic Director to carry forward its nationally recognized legacy. This is a rare opportunity to lead a debt‑free, mission‑driven theatre into its next era of daring artistry, community connection, and sustainability.

The Artistic Director will join a deeply committed team of artists, staff, and Board members who have collectively advanced RTW’s pioneering role as a champion for women’s voices and inclusive storytelling. The next leader will bring creative courage, collaborative spirit, and a passion for equity to one of the nation’s oldest gender‑balanced theatres.

Note:

All submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority consideration given to those received by Friday, January 9th at 5:00 PM CT
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Founded in 1993 by five Milwaukee artists, RTW has redefined the cultural landscape by centering women’s stories on stage. With its enduring tagline, Theatre by Women, for Everyone, RTW has consistently produced three times the national average of plays written by women, engaged more than 4,700 patrons annually, and offered meaningful opportunities for emerging and established artists alike.

The company’s mission is to create moving theatre that connects with our shared sense of being human while promoting the work of women onstage and off. With a staff of seven, and more than fifty artists employed each season, RTW has sustained a scale that allows for ambitious programming, while maintaining intimacy and community connection. Its commitment to accessibility is reflected in a fully accessible venue, a hearing loop system, and a range of performance options, which include Open Captioned, ASL Interpreted, Audio Described, and Sensory Friendly.

Notably, RTW has met these milestones while remaining debt‑free throughout its history, a record of stewardship now reinforced by the “100 Years of RTW Initiative,” a $3 million campaign designed to expand reserves, build an endowment, and secure the company’s long‑term resilience.

The Artistic Director will partner with Managing Director Lisa Rasmussen and a dedicated staff of three full‑time and two part‑time team members. The Artistic Director will also report to and partner with a volunteer Board of directors composed of leaders from law, academia, technology, finance, and community service. Together, they will steward RTW’s mission, operations, and artistic vision. The Artistic Director reports directly to the Board of Directors.

As RTW approaches its 35th season, the company is poised to expand its artistic reach while deepening community connection. RTW has responded to the challenges currently facing artistic organizations with creativity and vision, whether navigating rising production costs or post‑pandemic audience shifts. Through the “100 Years RTW Initiative,” the company is investing in people, infrastructure, and artistic risk‑taking to secure a bold future.

This leadership transition is both a celebration of extraordinary legacy and a call for fresh ideas from the company’s new creative visionary. The next Artistic Director will inherit a company rooted in collaboration and equity, with the freedom to shape new artistic directions while honoring the values that define RTW.

The Artistic Director serves as the lead storyteller and cultural strategist of RTW, responsible for guiding its creative vision, programming, and artistic partnerships. Working in close collaboration with the Managing Director, staff, and Board, the Artistic Director ensures that RTW’s artistic programming remains relevant, accessible, and aligned with its mission.

Artistic Vision and Programming

• Curate and guide a season of bold, moving productions that center women’s voices and foster dialogue.
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