Advisory Company

Responsible for artistic oversight of Forward Theater Company.

Ann M. Archbold has designed lighting for more than 500 events for theatre, industrials, opera, dance, live concerts and television throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. After coming to Madison in 2005, she designed lights for Madison Rep’s productions of The Nerd, Death of A Salesman, Home, Talley’s Folly, The Price, Anna Christie and I Am My Own Wife. Most recently she designed the lighting for Forward Theater’s productions of Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them, and Moonlight and Magnolias.

Other design work includes productions for The Old Globe Theatre, San Francisco Opera Center, Cadillac, Audi, and Elk Mountain Resort. Ann is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829 and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Drama, as well as, Head of the Lighting Design Program at the University of Wisconsin –Madison.

Originally from Ohio, she holds a B.G.S. from the University of Michigan and her M.F.A. in Design and Technical Production from San Diego State University.

Jim Buske has acted in or directed more than 110 plays in Off-Broadway, regional, summer stock, dinner and community theatre. He was an original member of the Madison Repertory Theatre’s Acting Company and appeared in eleven productions there. Jim’s most recent role with The Rep was as Marshall in the world premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s What Corbin Knew. Favorite roles include Ken Talley in The 5^th of July, Joseph Surface in School for Scandal, Elwood in Harvey, George in Moon Over Buffalo, Rev. David Lee in The Foreigner and Sergius in Arms and the Man. He also directed Beyond Therapy for The Rep. Jim works at the University of Wisconsin in the financial aid office as the Scholarship Administrator. In his spare time he serves on the Board of Directors of Rock For Reading, a Chicago-based non-profit that fights illiteracy. Rock For Reading, which was founded by singer/songwriter Alice Peacock, has distributed more than $2 million in books and monetary grants in the last five years.

Sarah Day is a Madison native and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began her professional acting career at Wilson Street East Dinner Playhouse while a student at the UW thirty years ago. She performed with both Madison Civic Repertory and Madison Repertory Theatre. Other Wisconsin theatre credits include: The Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre and First Stage Children's Theater. She has been a guest artist at the UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee and taught at UW-Richland. She has been a member of the acting company at American Players Theatre in Spring Green since 1986 and is a member of Actors' Equity Association.

Richard Ganoung has appeared regionally with the Folger Shakespeare Theater in Washington D.C., Madison Repertory Theater, First Stage Children's Theater in Milwaukee and Milwaukee Shakespeare Theater. Film Credits include starring roles in the independent films Parting Glances and Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss. He is also the voice of Astro Boy's father in the popular Japanese cartoon series. Richard holds an undergraduate acting degree from UW-Madison and attended New York's Circle in the Square Professional Training Program. He is a proud member of both the Screen Actors Guild Of America & Actors' Equity, the union of professional stage actors and stage managers.  Richard makes his home in Madison.

Michael Herold came to Madison in 1986 and was cast in The Foreigner, the first of more than sixteen plays with the Madison Rep, including The Norman Conquests, Consumer Affairs, The Immigrant and Love is the Weirdest of All. He has performed in over twelve productions at the Milwaukee Rep, as well as acting with Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Next Act and Milwaukee Shakespeare. He appeared in Laughter on the 23rd Floor at the Briar Street Theater in Chicago, and has been featured in productions for New American Theater and Artists’ Ensemble in Rockford, and New Court Theater in Beloit. Michael has toured nationally and regionally, and has performed at the Music Box Theater in Minneapolis and the Horton Grand Theatre in San Diego, as well as several Shakespeare festivals around the country. He has appeared in several regional and national television commercials, and in the recent film Baraboo. Originally from Ohio, he holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Akron. Michael lives in Sun Prairie with his wife Tracy and their children, Olivia and Gabriel. Michael is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association.

Celia A. Klehr started her professional life as a non-Equity actor in 1976. Because of her belief that theater is most relevant when it is for, by, and of a community, Celia has made Madison her home both professionally and personally. She was a founding member of the Madison Repertory Theatre Acting Company. During her 14 years with the Rep she appeared in over 20 productions, served as company manager for 3 years and earned her Equity status. She has played leading roles in 3 feature-length films and several documentaries and has served on the Madison Arts Commission, Madison Sesquicentennial Committee and the State Street Committee. Celia is dedicated to creating work for theater professionals in Madison and strongly believes that theater is a vital part of Madison’s culture.

Casey Martin has had a diverse 20-year career in professional technical theater, working as a rigger, lighting designer, technical director, consultant, and most recently as the production manager for Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Casey joined the University of Wisconsin, Madison’s Department of Theatre and Drama as the lighting and sound supervisor in 2004. In addition to supervising the electric crews for university productions, he also teaches classes in sound design, automated lighting, and stage lighting technology. Since arriving in Wisconsin, Casey has worked with Children’s Theater of Madison, Madison Repertory Theatre, Four Season’s Theatre, and Wisconsin Story Project. In his free time, he enjoys riding the bike trails of Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Karen Moeller has worked at the Bartell with Strollers Theatre and Mercury Players Theatre, at Broom Street Theater, Madison Rep, and of course, Forward Theater. In other media, she has performed in internet series, and television and radio commercials, both locally and regionally. Karen studied theater at the University of Iowa and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She then moved to New York City, where she worked on stage and in television and film. A native of Door County, she is proud to call Wisconsin (and especially Madison!) her home. Karen is constantly amazed at how rich our community is with actors, designers, writers, and directors, all of whom possess such a deep commitment to the art and craft of theater.

Frank Schneeberger is currently a Theatre Technician for the Overture Center for the Performing Arts. From 1978-2002, he was the Resident Designer/Technical Director for Madison Repertory Theatre, helping it to grow from a small community theater to a nationally-recognized, professional regional company. During this time, Frank designed and built over 140 sets. Between 1974-1978, he was the Resident Designer/Technical Director for CTM Madison Family Theatre Company, and has continued his association with CTM as a guest designer. In addition, Frank’s designs have been seen at American Players Theatre, Cider Mill Playhouse (Binghamton, NY), Theatre X (Milwaukee), Racine Theatre, Rockford Theatre, University of Wisconsin Opera-Madison, Strollers Theatre, Mercury Players Theatre, Madison Theatre Guild, Madison Savoyards, Edgewood College and Wisconsin Youth Theatre.

Sam White has worked in professional, academic and community theater for more than 35 years. He studied theater at Edgewood College and cut his stage chops at the old Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival. His professional Madison credits include working with the Madison Rep (he was the first addition to the Rep’s “Original Acting Company” in 1983), TAPIT/new works and the UW’s University Summer Theatre. His professional Milwaukee credits include work with In Tandem Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre, and the former Theatre Tesseract. Sam has worked with almost every theater group in Madison as an actor, director and playwright. He is a former artistic director of Madison Theatre Guild. He was also a founding member and former president of Madison’s Playwright’s Ink. In addition to more than 150 theater productions, he has worked as professional on-camera talent in more than 120 commercials and industrial training films. He is a true homegrown product of the local theater scene. “Madison is an amazing theater town! More than capable of developing and supporting a community of professional theater artists who will have incredible impact in the cultural and economic life of our great city.”

Jack Forbes Wilson received a Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin, where he studied piano with Howard Karp. He has worked as a classical musician and theater artist in Wisconsin for thirty years. As an actor, he has performed at Milwaukee Rep, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, New Court Theatre in Beloit, Next Act Theatre and Skylight Opera Theatre. Jack had a twenty-year relationship with Madison Repertory Theatre, as both a performer and Musical Director. In addition to writing three shows for the Rep with Colleen Burns, the two have also written, produced, and performed in three successful and money-making productions in Madison. Jack has composed incidental music and done sound design for a number of regional theaters. He is the Musical Director for Marquette University’s theater department, and is on the faculty of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, where he has taught a variety of Musical Theatre classes. Jack has been named as one of the “Top Madisonians” by Madison Magazine.

Kimberly Megna Yarnall most recently worked as dramaturg with the Madison Repertory Theatre on the 2007 New Play Festival’s The Journey to Sakhalin, and The Diary of Anne Frank. Kimberly was the literary assistant for the Blue Heron Theatre in New York City (2001-2004) where she worked with many playwrights including New York Times Notable Author, John Dufresne on his first play, Trailerville. She curated the Juggernaut Theatre's First 100 Years reading series. Kimberly was also an assistant writer on Broadway’s Tony nominated A Class Act. A published and produced playwright, Kimberly holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Theater from the University of Notre Dame and was a member of the Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice company.