The Mission Statement
The Olde School Shakespeare Collective is a collective of actors/directors/artists driven to create theatre within a community-oriented aesthetic that emphasizes Shakespeare for the working class. We don't utilize a director; we direct ourselves. We rehearse our work once, and we perform it in a public house where members of our community can come, have a drink, Interact, and leave with a new notion of how theatre can be created and performed. We do this within a non-hierarchical theatre-making structure that places those doing the work at the forefront of our priority list. We are mad scientists experimenting with form using the theatre-making techniques of old to create modern responses.
We believe that what we have to offer is an antidote to the many complaints issued by the theatre community over the course of COVID: Lack of diversity, unequal pay, productions that don’t adjust to fit the times, outdated themes, companies that lack actual connections with the humans and artists within their communities, theatre companies that don’t listen, theatre companies who only listen to the highest paying subscribers, etc... the list could go on forever. We hope that you see these issues and complaints that you may have given voice to yourself and feel seen in some way. That is why we do what we do.
Photo credit: Jeff Kurysz
Our Team
Wyatt McCall
Director of Development
Sophie Murk
Creative Producer of People and Culture
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Lauryn Nelson
Director of Marketing
Drew McCall
Technical Director
Wyatt McCall
He/Him
Wyatt McCall is a founding member of The Olde School Shakespeare Collective. He has worked in Administrative Coordinator roles for multi-million dollar financial firms and management companies. He specializes in the streamlining of procedures to achieve maximum synergy and donor relations and is successful in both arenas by emphasizing clear communication and empathetic listening strategies. Wyatt has also worked in theatre for the better part of a decade in various managerial positions.
Sophie Murk
She/Her
BFA Webster Conservatory. Born-and-bred Chicagoan, Sophie is a local actor and teaching artist. She recently left her work in ministry as director of an overnight camp to embrace a career path that is more inclusive of the queer community. She is a certified ASTEP fellow and certified in Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead™️ work. Recent credits: Titanic, As You Like It, Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), Daddy Long Legs (Awaken Theatre), The Hundred Dresses, Say Something Do Something (Metro Theater Co), The Polar Express (Rail Events Productions).
Lauryn Nelson
She/Her
Lauryn has a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. Lauryn is an opera singer and customer service specialist. Taking on the role of Marketing Director, Lauryn has already grown a large following for the theater company. As she develops the "image" of The Olde School Shakespeare Collective, she hopes you want to follow along on the journey. Lauryn is also the point of contact for all of your needs. Have any questions or just want to say hi, Lauryn is who you'll be talking to.
Drew McCall
He/Him
Drew is excited to be brought on as the Production Manager for the Olde School Shakespeare Collective. Drew has worked in numerous production roles for live theatre, including producing comedy and improv shows at Second City and the Playground Theatre, in addition to his current role as Production Manager for the Playground. He has also served as Production Assistant for film shoots with ESPN, Funny Or Die, and MTV. Drew can’t wait to bring his knowledge of production management to the collective.