Behold.
David Cecsarini
Producing Artistic Director
The 2006-2007 season marks David's twenty-ninth year as a theatre professional, having debuted with the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis as a journeyman actor in 1978. During his seventeen-year Milwaukee residency, he has acted with most of its professional companies and also has extensive credits as a nine-year veteran of American Players Theatre in Spring Green, WI. He has proudly served as Artistic Director and Producer for Milwaukee's Next Act Theatre for thirteen years. David has directed twenty-four productions for Next Act; favorites among these are THE DRESSER, SOMEONE WHO'LL WATCH OVER ME, THE REAL THING, BETWEEN EAST AND WEST, ROOM SERVICE and SIDE MAN. David's most memorable Next Act acting assignments include Eddie in FOOL FOR LOVE, Al in ON THE OPEN ROAD, Ezra Pound in INCOMMUNICADO, "all the gang" in BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR and Max Prince in LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR. Behind the scenes, David is a sound designer, having created effects for over fifty professional productions. He is also an experienced stage fight choreographer and swordsman.
Charles Kakuk
Managing Director
This marks Charles’ fifteenth season with Next Act. After spending three years in the Marine Corps, Charles worked for Pizza Hut Corporation as a restaurant manager from 1979 to 1985 in Kansas City, and various cities in Wisconsin. Moving to Milwaukee in 1985, he has experienced the inner working of its arts and entertainment industries, from rock and pop music promotions at the Riverside Theater and Alpine Valley to marketing for the Milwaukee Ballet. Along the way he received a BSBA from Cardinal Stritch University.
Kelly Erin Gauthier
Development Manager
Kelly is happy to begin her second year at Next Actand is looking forward to a very exciting season packed with music, magic and mayhem! Having acquired a passion for theatre and the arts under the encouragement of her arts-patron grandmother, Molly Kealy, she has been involved in productions from a young age and studied Theatre and Acting at UW-Madison. In 2006, she earned a BA in Communications with her coursework emphasis on non-profit organizations from Cardinal Stritch University and completed an internship in PR & Marketing at The Rep. Kelly thanks Blake and her family for all their encouragement and support.
Matt Kemple
Marketing and PR Manager
Having aided in the creation of a dozen theatre groups, multiple programs and events with emphasis on new and emerging artists, as well as backstage and construction experience, Matt joins Next Act’s powerful 18th season with an extensive theatrical background. Matt was transplanted here from Ohio, but holds a BA in Communication and Theatre from Wisconsin’s St. Norbert College. During the summer of 2007, Matt worked as stage manager for “Project Non-Violence”, a program associated with the Greater Milwaukee Boys and Girls Club focusing on the theatre process with local inner-city youth. He is the director and founder of the Milwaukee Sketch & Improv Festival, a celebration promoting local comedy.