Who Are We?
Board of Directors and Principal Advisers
![]() Michelle Owczarski
Board President Michelle is an independent video producer. She graduated from Marquette University with a major in Broadcast and Electronic Communications. Michelle is also an active volunteer at St. Thomas Aquinas Academy in Milwaukee. |
![]() Michelle Young
Board Vice President Michelle is a human resources professional focused on program management and continuous improvement at Rockwell Automation, advising and coaching stakeholders to help them define problems and build a plan for action. She has a master’s degree in human resources and industrial relations from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hamline University. In addition, Michelle is Lean Six Sigma green belt certified. She actively supports the performing arts in Milwaukee, and is especially proud that Shakespeare in the Park makes theater accessible to the entire community. |
![]() Tyler J. Hull
Board Member TJ is an award-winning composer. He graduated from Ball State University in Indiana and has his graduate degree from Boston University. TJ plays viola with the Fox Valley Symphony and is the Director of the Franklin High School Orchestras. |
![]() Azeeza Islam
Board Member Azeeza has been an active participant in the Milwaukee area for more than 40 years. She explains, "The arts have an enjoyable experience through this life of mine. I couldn't imagine my life without the arts; it has been the sanity of my insane self!" Azeeza is CEO of Vets76, Inc. |
![]() Gregory Stanford - In Memoriam
Board Member 2019. We are deeply saddened to lose Mr. Stanford; Optimist Theatre and the entire Milwaukee community will miss his caring guidance. Thank you for your service and godspeed, Sir. Greg Stanford is a Milwaukee-based writer and a co-owner of Ayzha Fine Arts Gallery & Boutique in the Grand Avenue mall downtown. For many years he was a reporter for The Milwaukee Journal, and an editorial writer and columnist for The Journal and then the merged Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He has won many journalism awards. He now writes plays. |
![]() ML Cogar
Dramaturg, Humanities Advisor ML specializes in close reading of all kinds, from the enigmatic grandeur of ancient literatures to the baffling blandness of contemporary standardized test questions. To feed her greed for language, ML teaches analytical reading and writing at Alverno College and Shakespeare at Marquette University. However, it is ML’s work with Optimist Theatre that most excites her passion. A perpetual student of Shakespeare, ML has edited performance scripts, compiled research, and assisted literary interpretation since the first Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest in 2010. |
![]() Tom Reed
Associate Artistic Director Tom is a founding member of Free Shakespeare in the Park; when not lending his support and talent to that pursuit, Tom can be "scene" as an actor on local stages, roaming the halls of Alverno College as an Assistant Professor of Theatre and, on occasion, ring announcing for locally produced boxing cards. Tom has made a career in Arts and Education -- he may not be rich, but he is happy. ![]() Dr. Barbara Leigh
Humanities Advisor and Mentor Barbara is the founding Artistic Director of Milwaukee Public Theatre, a professional outreach theatre that provides primarily free-to-the-public original theatreworks and educational workshops that focus on giving voice to people of all ages, cultures and abilities. She earned her Ph.D. in French Theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. |
We are also our sponsors and our audience...
The enthusiastic support of corporate sponsors, foundations, and arts and community organizations, including UPAF, Milwaukee Arts Board, the Wisconsin Arts Board and the National Endowment for the Arts -- among many others -- has allowed Optimist Theatre to advance its stated goals along with those of these underwriters. Their optimism has found a champion in Optimist Theatre!
As instrumental as the backing of these sponsors has been, the hundreds of generous donors who have given $1 to $1,000 are who have made the extraordinary strides of this organization possible, particularly in the growth of Shakespeare in the Park. The shared dream of each of us, to bring new audiences to the arts, and to build an institution that is accessible to all, binds us.
Finally, the tens of thousands of people who have been entertained and educated and inspired by Optimist Theatre programs for more than 20 years -- you are Optimists as surely as those who learn lines, rig lights, drive to the gigs, mail the appeals and undertake all the other necessities of what we do!
As instrumental as the backing of these sponsors has been, the hundreds of generous donors who have given $1 to $1,000 are who have made the extraordinary strides of this organization possible, particularly in the growth of Shakespeare in the Park. The shared dream of each of us, to bring new audiences to the arts, and to build an institution that is accessible to all, binds us.
Finally, the tens of thousands of people who have been entertained and educated and inspired by Optimist Theatre programs for more than 20 years -- you are Optimists as surely as those who learn lines, rig lights, drive to the gigs, mail the appeals and undertake all the other necessities of what we do!