Pictured: Teh’Ray Hale, aka PHENOM

Social change oriented theater Collaboraction has announced a major staff expansion coinciding with their first season at Kennedy-King College in Englewood.

Chicago writer, director and actor J. Nicole Brooks has joined the company as Associate Artistic Director. Emmy Weldon is Collaboraction’s new Director of Production. Teh’Ray Hale aka PHENOM has been named Director of Creative Community Cultivation.

Dr. Marcus Robinsion has been promoted to Executive Director. Tweed Thornton has joined the company as Managing Director. Elsa Hiltner was promoted to Director of Development.

Artistic Director Anthony Moseley said that “J. Nicole Brooks and PHENOM bring our company two skilled, and experienced artists with the ability to cultivate and mentor the next generations of great south side theater artists. Emmy Weldon, our new Director of Production, is a professional set designer and technician who will add enormous value to our productions. I am also delighted to relinquish the Executive Director position to Dr. Marcus Robinson and his wealth of vision and skills. This is a seminal moment in the 23-year history of Collaboraction.”

“Being promoted to Executive Director of one of Chicago’s leading theater companies that combines artistic excellence with important social change work is a dream come true,” said Robinson. “Working closely with Anthony Moseley and our team of theatermakers allows me to bring my years of experience in social change, inclusion and equity into a new level of focus on community transformation. I am confident Elsa Hiltner, our new Director of Development, will help us reach new levels of sustainable growth. Having a proven nonprofit leader-manager like Tweed Thornton allows for greater fiscal stability as we grow our newly emerging residency at Kennedy-King College.”

Collaboraction is producing its 23rd season mainstage shows at Kennedy-King College. In January 2020, they will present the 3rd annual Encounter Series and in April 2020 the world premiere of Red Island by Moseley and Carla Stillwell about racism in the United States.