Organizational Structure

Forward Theater Company has a unique three-branch organizational structure, created to reflect our core belief in the importance of communication and maintaining a balance between the artistic choices and financial health of our company.

The first branch is our administrative staff which is responsible for the daily operations of the theater. The second branch is our board of directors which is responsible for financial oversight of FTC and long-term fiscal planning. The third branch is our advisory company, made up of local professional theater artists, which is responsible for guiding FTC’s long-term artistic plans.

Our bylaws have mandated paths of communication between these three branches and a system of checks and balances to keep FTC strong, focused on our artistic role in the community and fiscally responsible.


STAFF


Artistic Director

CeliaJennifer Uphoff Gray is the artistic director of Forward Theater Company. Regionally, she has directed for Madison Rep, Milwaukee Shakespeare, and Four Seasons Theatre. She directed the National Tour of Copenhagen, and was Associate Director on Broadway of Copenhagen, Cabaret, The Blue Room (starring Nicole Kidman) and The Life. Jen grew up in the Madison area, holds a degree in Dramatic Literature & Stage History from Harvard College, and is the proud parent (alongside husband Peter) of Jamie, Seeger and Arden.
You can email Jen at jgray@forwardtheater.com.





Managing Director

CeliaJulie Swenson joined Forward as Managing Director after 17 seasons as Producing Director for Renaissance Theaterworks in Milwaukee. Julie received a BA in theater from Illinois Wesleyan University and became a member of Actors’ Equity Association while living in New York city. Julie fell in love with the Forward family when she worked as an actor in Forward’s production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike in the role of Masha. Outside of theater she served on the Village of Nashotah board serving as President for two terms and was the host of New Home Building Today on WTMJ-4 in Milwaukee. Julie has two grown sons, Johnny and Jarek, and is happily settled on the west side of Madison.
You can email Julie at jswenson@forwardtheater.com.



Director of Development

CeliaSarah Milestone manages individual giving, grants, and fundraisers. Sarah holds a degree in Art History and Women’s Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She previously led development, strategic planning and special events for several arts organizations including the Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum, American Ballet Theatre, Wisconsin Historical Foundation, and Taliesin Preservation. In addition, she serves on the Board of Visitors of the UW-Madison Art Department and the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee of AFP Chicago.
You can email Sarah at smilestone@forwardtheater.com.





Director of Marketing and Communications

CeliaScott Haden manages the marketing and advertising life of Forward Theater. He previously served as Managing Director of the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Grand Lake, CO, and has enjoyed acting at various regional theaters across the country, including American Players Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Writers’ Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, and Theatre at the Center. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity, Madison's Whoopensocker ensemble, and a founding member of the Wisconsin Story Project, Dolphinback Theatre/Chicago, and the Lovewell Theatre Project. Scott holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts.
You can email Scott at shaden@forwardtheater.com.



Audience & Donor Relations Manager

CeliaBri Collins manages audience services and donor relations for Forward Theater. She has been born and raised mostly in the Madison area. She graduated from UW Stevens Point with a BFA in Theater Design and Technology in Stage Management. After graduation she moved to the Twin Cities to work in the Regional Theater scene. Bri moved back to Madison to be closer to family. She is passionate about making theater accessible to everyone with the high quality of work that Forward Theater produces.
You can email Bri at bcollins@forwardtheater.com.





Company Manager

CeliaCelia A. Klehr started her professional life as a non-Equity actor in 1976. Because she believes that theater is most relevant when it is for, by, and of a community, Celia has made Madison her home, both professionally and personally. She was a founding member of Forward Theater Company and the Madison Repertory Theatre Acting Company. During her 14 years with the Rep she appeared in more than 20 productions, served as company manager for three years, and earned her Equity status. She has played leading roles in three feature-length films and several documentaries, and has served on the Madison Arts Commission, Madison Sesquicentennial Committee, and the State Street Committee. Celia is dedicated to creating work for theater professionals in Madison and strongly believes that theater is a vital part of Madison’s culture. Most recently, Celia was seen onstage in FTC productions of All About Eve, Moonlight & Magnolias, and Good People.
You can email Celia at cklehr@forwardtheater.com.

Artistic Associate

CeliaMarcella Kearns, a Milwaukee-based director, actor, and educator, previously served as Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director. She remains an adjunct instructor at Carthage College, Marquette University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and on the core faculty of the Young Company at First Stage. A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, she completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Austria and TCG Observership in Chicago and Atlanta. She holds an MFA in Acting from the University of South Carolina. At Forward, Marcy’s appeared in Life Sucks, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, the reading of Natural Shocks, the inaugural Monologue Festival, and 44 Plays for 44 Presidents. She grew up in the Air Force and attributes her joy in connecting Wisconsin theater communities in part to incurable wanderlust.
You can email Marcy at mkearns@forwardtheater.com

Resident Sound Designer

JoeJoe Cerqua is a freelance composer, producer, vocalist and sound designer. He is thrilled to be Forward Theater’s Resident Composer and Sound designer, where he has composed music and designed sound for over 30 Forward productions. He has composed music and/or designed sound for over 300 productions in Chicago, nationally, and internationally at theaters that include Steppenwolf Theater, The Goodman Theater, Northlight Theater, American Players Theatre, American Conservatory Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, The Asolo Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, American Blues Theater, Kansas City Rep, Writer’s Theater, Arizona Theater Company, and First Stage Joe is also the Composer in residence for the Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, a critically acclaimed 13-piece jazz orchestra and 10-member dance company. He is the Creative Director and Producer for the Music Department at Columbia College Chicago.






Business Manager
Alex Moskoff handles bookkeeping, maintains FTC's database, and manages the office. He has a Bachelor's degree in legal studies (and studied film and television) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Most recently, Alex was a production accountant at Warner Bros. Television in Los Angeles, where he also worked in the finance and post-production departments. A native Madisonian, Alex recently moved back to the area with his wife, a professional chef/baker.
You can email Alex at amoskoff@forwardtheater.com.