In part two of this summer series, we invite three more of our favorite Wisconsin theater artists to share memories of the mentors who inspired them, challenged them, and helped shape their careers. Funny and heartfelt (with a special surprise for Jen!), these stories celebrate the lasting impact of the people whose lessons stay with us long after the applause has faded.

This year marks the second World Premiere Wisconsin theater festival, which is currently celebrating new plays and musicals across the state through 2026.

We talk about what's changed since the inaugural festival in 2023, what we've learned about new play development and our theater ecosystem as a result.

Never heard of World Premiere Wisconsin? It's one of the only statewide theater festivals of its kind, and world premieres can be found all over Wisconsin through the end of the year: worldpremierewisconsin.com.

Theater is built on passing knowledge from one generation to the next, and every theater artist has a story about someone who changed their life. In this special two-part series, we invite some of our favorite Wisconsin theater artists to share memories of the mentors who inspired them, challenged them, and helped shape their careers. Funny and heartfelt (and occasionally surprising), these stories celebrate the lasting impact of the people whose lessons stay with us long after the applause has faded.