Staff
Suzan Fete
Artistic Director
Suzan is a graduate of University of Illinois. Suzan co-founded RTW in 1993. Favorite RTW projects include: directing TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, THE SHAPE OF THINGS, BLACKBIRD, TOP GIRLS, and THE ROAD TO MECCA, touring NEAT to Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 2013 and finishing as finalists with ALL OF THE EVERYTHING and LUCKY NUMBERS in the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, in 2015 and 2019 respectively. Suzan is especially proud that RTW won the prestigious 50/50 in 2020 International Applause Award for the 2015-16 season in recognition of RTW's commitment to women playwrights. Suzan lives happily in Wauwatosa with her husband, Jeff.
Lisa Rasmussen
Managing Director
This season kicks off Lisa's sixteenth season at RTW which means she has been serving the unique mission of “theater by women, for everyone” for more than half of its life! Lisa started as RTW’s’ development director in 2008. In December 2017, Lisa was promoted to the position of Managing Director. Since then, she has overseen 13 full productions, four BRINK New Play Festivals and the move to this beautiful performance space (the most accessible theatre in town.) Lisa received her BA in Theater and Psychology from Cardinal Stritch University in 2003. Lisa loves living in Bay View with husband Jake, daughter Anna and puppy Bjorn. Happy 30th anniversary to you, dear reader, and the whole RTW community. Thank you for making this magic possible.
Jayne Regan Pink
Artistic Associate
Born in London, Jayne studied at the Royal Ballet School. Hailed as one of the finest dramatic dancers of her generation. Jayne has traveled internationally as a ballet coach and worked as a dialect coach, choreographer, and movement director & consultant. Her local credits include HAPPY DAYS, NEAT, WITCH.(Renaissance Theaterworks); MATILDA, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE, and URINETOWN (First Stage Children’s Theater); and HAPPY NOW, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Milwaukee Rep). When her son, Max Pink, was cast in RUSSIAN TRANSPORT (Renaissance Theaterworks 2018), she became more involved with the theater and served on the board of directors.
Sarah Kriger Hwang
Marketing Director
Sarah Kriger Hwang returns to Renaissance Theaterworks after a 10-year hiatus. Sarah first served as RTW’s Marketing Director from 2003-2012. She is a Milwaukee native and a Graduate of Nicolet High School. She then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from Indiana University-Bloomington and a Master of Arts - Business from the Bolz Center for Arts Administration from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Sarah has spent her career in theater marketing and marketing research having worked at Skylight Opera Theatre (now Skylight Music Theatre), Court Theatre at the University of Chicago, C&R Research (Chicago) and, of course, Renaissance Theaterworks.
Sarah is a board trustee of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and also serves on the Society’s CEO Advisory Committee for Diversity Equity and Inclusion. Sarah is also the lead vocalist for a local band “Squirrel!”, a laid-back and somewhat ridiculous group of musicians who play a variety of rock genres.
Dana Dossett
Development Director
Dana holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from Drake University and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. She joined RTW in 2018 and is proud to serve this mission alongside such a dedicated team. She loves exploring Milwaukee with her family.
Maria Pretzl
Marketing Manager
Maria Pretzl is an Emmy nominated writer, director and producer. She earned a BFA in Film Production and a BA in Theater Studies from UW-Milwaukee in 2014 and co-founded Traveling Lemur Productions LLC in 2015.Theatre credits include JUNIPER FLIES (Playwright, Renaissance Theaterworks) HOLIDAY CARDS (Director, Renaissance Theaterworks), CORIOLANA (Director, Cooperative Performance), ROOMMATES (Playwright, Cooperative Performance), SHE KILLS MONSTERS (Director, Village Playhouse). She also published the short play FANCY PEOPLE LIKE FONDUE as part of ROGUE'S GALLERY with Stage Partners in 2022.
Her short film, Super Dad!, played in 15 festivals around the world and won three awards; it is currently available to stream on Vimeo. She earned her regional Emmy nomination with a collaboration with First Stage on the film Christmastown Comes to First Stage in 2021.
Maria also served as Interim Network Director and First Draft Coordinator for Chicago Dramatists in 2021. She lives with her partner, Nate Schardin, and their opinionated Maine Coon mix, T’Challa.
Bailey Wegner
Production Manager
Since 2017 Bailey has filled many off-stage roles at RTW including PM, SM, ASM, CCO, (accidental) IT, and some with acronyms that are TBD. Of more than a dozen productions at RTW, highlights include WITCH, COST OF LIVING, THE ROOMMATE, PHOTOGRAPH 51, TOP GIRLS, and the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival. A favorite part of the season is the BRINK New Play Festival, which she has been stage managing for 6 years. Credits for Milwaukee Chamber Theater; INDECENT (SM) and THE FEW (ASM). She holds a BFA in Theater from UW Milwaukee. Outside of the theater, she can be found kayaking and watching films at the Oriental theater.
