Staff
Suzan Fete
Co-Founder
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.
Emily Trask
Artistic Director
Emily is a Wisconsin-born theater artist and arts leader whose work has spanned the country. She earned her BA from Grinnell College and her MFA from the Yale School of Drama. Before joining Renaissance Theaterworks as Artistic Director, she served as Associate Artistic Director at Pacific Conservatory Theatre - PCPA. Her work has been seen at Lincoln Center Theater, Shakespeare Society/The Public Theater, The Folger Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Baltimore Center Stage, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Yale Repertory Theatre, Pioneer Theatre, the Alley Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Next Act, Milwaukee Chamber, Renaissance, and others. Her experience in film and television includes Marvel’s Daredevil among others, and her voice over work includes Simon and Schuster’s Folger Shakespeare Audiobook series. Emily is the inaugural recipient of the Yale School of Drama’s Sylvia Fine Kaye Award, an SB Indy Award for her work as a director, and multiple regional “Best Actress” titles. She is also a published poet, essayist, and prose writer, and her plays have been seen in New York and on tour regionally. A passionate advocate for women in the theatre, Emily is proud to have found her artistic home with Renaissance. She and her husband Michael are residents of Milwaukee with their three rescue animals, known as the Pawsta Pack.
Lisa Rasmussen
Managing Director
Lisa started as RTW’s’ development director in 2008. In December 2017, Lisa was promoted to the position of Managing Director. 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. Thank you for making this magic possible.
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.
Gabriela Flores
Patron Services Manager
Gabriela Flores is an arts administrator, educator, performer and theatre artist from Northeast Brazil. A graduate of Marietta College, she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre with concentrations in Musical Theatre and Dance, along with extensive experience in audience engagement, event coordination, marketing, and arts administration.
As an Arts Administrator, Gabriela is passionate about creating welcoming and memorable experiences for every guest who walks through the theatre doors. Her background in performance, production coordination, front-of-house operations, and community engagement gives her a unique perspective on connecting audiences with the arts. She has worked across a variety of nonprofit arts organizations, supporting ticketing operations, patron relations, event logistics, marketing initiatives, and production management.
In addition to her administrative work, Gabriela remains active as a performer, choreographer, and educator. She operates a private voice studio and teaches dance to students of various ages and experience levels, helping young artists build confidence, technique, and a love for performance. Gabriela is passionate about fostering inclusive artistic spaces and building meaningful connections through the performing arts.
Sarah Kriger Hwang
Marketing Director
Sarah Kriger Hwang, a Milwaukee native, returned to Renaissance Theaterworks in 2022 after a 10-year hiatus. Sarah first served as RTW’s Marketing Director from 2003-2012. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from Indiana University-Bloomington and a Master of Arts - Business from the Bolz Center for Arts Administration at 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 an active volunteer with the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 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.
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.