First Folio Announces New Staff Hires

About a year after co-founder Alison C. Vesely’s passing, First Folio Theatre has announced the expansion of its administrative staff, with the hiring of Melanie Keller as Associate Artistic Director, Kate Danziger as Managing Director, and Katie Cora Johnson as Director of Audience Relations. They will join Executive Director and co-founder David Rice in developing and growing the Oak Brook theater.

“We are thrilled to bring on three new team members at First Folio Theatre,” says Rice. “Having started this theater with my wife Alison so many years ago, it took several great people to even begin to replace her. I am honored to have the help of Melanie, Kate and Katie as the theater continues to thrive.”

Keller has been an Artistic Associate at First Folio since 2005. She directed “Silent Sky” for the company (currently nominated for three Jeff Awards, including Best Production – Midsize Theater) and “The Amish Project,” as well as acting in more than a dozen productions. Danzinger has been connected to First Folio since 2005 as well, when she assistant stage managed “The Taming of the Shrew”. She later became First Folio’s resident AEA stage manager and an Artistic Associate and has worked on 17 shows as part of the stage management team. Johnson has assistant stage managed for the company, and has worked as a child supervisor in Chicago theater for the last six years.

For more information visit firstfolio.org.

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