Staff
Organizational Structure
Forward Theater Company has a unique three-branch organizational structure, created to reflect our core belief in the importance of communication and maintaining a balance between the artistic choices and financial health of our company.
The first branch is our Administrative Staff which is responsible for the daily operations of the theater.
The second branch is our Board of Directors which is responsible for financial oversight of FTC and long-term fiscal planning.
The third branch is our Advisory Company, made up of local professional theater artists, which is responsible for guiding FTC’s long-term artistic plans.
Our bylaws have mandated paths of communication between these three branches and a system of checks and balances to keep FTC strong, focused on our artistic role in the community and fiscally responsible.
Staff
Artistic Director
Jennifer Uphoff Gray most recently directed A Thousand Words, by Gwendolyn Rice, for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Love’s Labour’s Lost for Milwaukee Shakespeare (“Best of 2008”) and The Diary of Anne Frank for Madison Repertory Theatre (“Best of 2008”). She produced (and directed for) the Madison Rep’s 2007 New Play Festival. Other credits include: the National Tour of Copenhagen, Associate Director of Copenhagen, Cabaret, The Blue Room (starring Nicole Kidman) and The Life on Broadway. Off-Broadway, she directed the world premiere of the musical Suburb. Her work has also been seen at Second Stage, Musical Theater Works, Ensemble Studio Theater, HERE (all in New York City) and the Chunchon International Theater Festival in South Korea. She holds a degree in Dramatic Literature and Stage History from Harvard College. Jen was born and raised in the Madison area and is now raising her family on the near West Side.
You can email Jennifer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
General Manager
Sarah Marty oversees the business and outreach functions of the company. She is the 2008 recipient of the Bartell Award for Excellence in the Arts. She has a Master’s degree in Business from the Bolz Center for Arts Administration, an MS in Curriculum & Instruction, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from UW-Madison. Sarah is a Program Coordinator UW-Madison Continuing Studies (Wisconsin Wrights New Play Development Project, School of the Arts at Rhinelander, Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival, Wisconsin Theatre Auditions & Technical Interviews). In addition she works with several of arts organizations in the Madison area including Four Seasons Theatre, UW Varsity Band Spring Concert, Madison Early Music Festival, and Madison Opera.
Director of Communications
Gwendolyn Rice manages marketing, public relations, and development for the company. She holds a Master’s degree in Theater Literature, History, and Criticism from UW Madison. Gwen has worked in marketing, communications, and fundraising for a variety of non-profit arts organizations including First Stage Milwaukee, the Friends of the Coronado, and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.
You can email Gwendolyn at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Forward Theater Company has a unique three-branch organizational structure, created to reflect our core belief in the importance of communication and maintaining a balance between the artistic choices and financial health of our company.
The first branch is our Administrative Staff, led by the Artistic Director and Managing Director, and responsible for the daily operations of the theater.
The second branch is our Board of Directors, which is responsible for financial oversight of FTC and long-term fiscal planning.
The third branch is our Advisory Company, made up of local professional theater artists, and responsible for guiding FTC’s long-term artistic plans.
Our bylaws have mandated paths of communication between these three branches and a system of checks and balances to keep FTC strong, focused on our artistic role in the community and fiscally responsible.
Director of Audience Development
Julia Nicholas manages audience services, audience development activities, and the volunteer group, Friends of Forward Theater. Julia has a Master’s degree in arts administration from the Bolz Center as well as an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She previously led marketing and public relations efforts for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and marketing research for Lands’ End. In addition, she’s worked in marketing and public relations for the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival at Yale’s Summer School of Music and at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.
You can email Julia at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Artistic Associate
Frank Honts spent last season as the dramaturg for Forward Theater. He worked behind the scenes doing historical research, organizing pre-show talks, and discussing issues raised in the texts for In the Next Room or the vibrator play, Going to St. Ives, and Moonlight and Magnolias (on which he was also the assistant director). Frank served as the assistant director for Madison Opera’s recent production of The Threepenny Opera. In spring 2011, Frank directed and served as a reader for the Madison Young Playwrights Festival. He also contributed his talents as dramaturg to a staged reading of October, Before I Was Born for the Wisconsin Wrights New Play Project. Frank received his Bachelor's degree in history and educational studies from Brown University, taught high school history in Massachusetts, and worked as a researcher and professional development coach for nearly a decade. He is currently a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
