Our team.
Clara Zucker
Co-Artistic Director
Clara is a Chicago-based director, producer, playwright, and dramaturg. She is passionate about utilizing theater as a tool for social change and firmly believes in theater’s ability to uplift and unify diverse voices. Directing credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Assistant Director, Paramount Theatre), Artemis Books & The Well-Meaning Man (The Village Theater), The Midwest premiere of The Lacy Project (Snails on a Bike), Doom Tank (Under St. Mark’s Theatre), A Doll’s House Part II (Assistant Director, The Juilliard School), Shayna Punim, The Aliens, Athena, Mr. Marmalade (Oberlin College). Past playwriting credits include Fishing for Whales (2024 Cherry Picking, New York, NY), and Shayna Punim (Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio). Dramaturgy credits include Ashland Avenue and Revolution(s) (Goodman Theatre). Clara works as the literary assistant at Goodman Theatre and has also been involved with the Annoyance Theater, Logan Square Improv, and Chicago Dramatists. Clara holds a B.A. in Theater and American Studies from Oberlin College and is the recipient of the Nash Drama Award for exceptional achievement in Oberlin Theater.
Emily Newmark
Co-Artistic Director
Emily is a Chicago-based director, choreographer and filmmaker. Her most recent directing credits include her short film Kintsugi, as well as Next to Normal, The Tempest, Triplets (Oberlin College), and The Shrew Strikes Back (Playground-Chi). Passionate about developing new work, Emily has contributed to several world premieres, directing Retold (Oberlin Musical Theater Association) and This Is Not The Reunion (Independent Staged Reading). Selected assistant-directing credits include: The Heart Sellers, Much Ado About Nothing, The Nativity Variations, and The Greatest Love for Whitney (Milwaukee Rep), and The Totality of All Things (Redtwist). Emily was a 2022/23 Emerging Directing Resident at Milwaukee Repertory Theater and subsequently continued her journey there as an Artistic assistant. Emily holds a B.A in Theater and Psychology from Oberlin College and a certificate in film direction from Prague Film School. She is a recipient of the Nash Drama Award and her short film won Best Cinematography at Prague Film School.
Emily Waskowitz
Marketing Associate
Emily is a Chicago-based artist and public health worker who primarily works with fiber, illustration, and printmaking. A graduate of Loyola University Chicago with a degree in Public Health, Emily’s work aims to strengthen and empower disenfranchised communities throughout Chicago. Emily champions creativity and expressive design throughout their work and is so excited to be joining The Village Theater!
Jane Hobson
Director of Marketing & President of the Board
Originally from Madison, WI, Jane graduated from Oberlin College with an English degree in 2022. She has collaborated with director Clara Zucker on five productions, most recently acting in The Lacy Project (spring of 2024). Outside of the theater, Jane leads a self-titled music project. By day, she works as an Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago.
Naomi Zhanel Kalter
Artistic Associate
Naomi Zhanel Kalter is a Chicago-based actress who is thrilled to be part of The Village Theater’s artistic team. Her acting credits include American Players Theatre (Acting Apprenticeship 2023), where she performed as Anne Page in Merry Wives of Windsor and as an ensemble member in Romeo and Juliet; Milwaukee Rep (Emerging Professional Residency 2022), where she played Fan in A Christmas Carol and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing (u/s performance), as well as understudying Jules in Nativity Variations; and Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, where she was part of the ensemble in Macbeth and performed as Hymen in As You Like It. Education: BA in Acting Performance Studies at Saint Mary’s College of California. Naomi has a deep love for the Chicago artistic community and is eager to continue contributing to its growth. She looks forward to collaborating with The Village Theater team to help lay the foundation for a vibrant, layered community that will inspire both artists and audiences alike.
Camila Ramirez
Brand Strategist
Camila believes in bringing art to the people! As a member of Village Theater's marketing team, she's here to help make sure it reaches them. An Advertising graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, she mixes creativity and strategy to connect the company's productions with local audiences, amplifying the authentic creative voices that make each show special.
Kat Monty
Director of Development
Kat is a Chicago-based theatrical artist who is thrilled to be joining the Village Theater team! A 2024 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Graphic Design, she began her career at The Village Theater in set design for Artemis Books & the Well-Meaning Man. She has since been production manager and set designer for Calypso, and has now taken on the role of Director of Development while continuing her set design work. Kat has such a deep love for this company and all who make it possible, and she is filled with the most pride when creating and sharing her work with the world. Her other past productions include Billy Elliot (Porchlight Music Theater), Johnny Appleseed (Morton Arboretum), Anon(ymous) (GovState University), and Rapornzel (PrideArts). Kat would like to give a big, warm thank you to everyone who helped her make her vision come to life. Three cheers for community!!! If you wish to get in contact or just be friends, her Instagram is @kkatmontyy.
Emma Byerwalter
Treasurer of the Board
Emma is a Chicago-based actress, singer, and theatre artist delighted to be apart of The Village Theater team. Hailing from Grand Rapids, MI, Emma graduated from the University of Michigan where she studied Performing Arts Management, Entrepreneurship, Music and Marketing. A lover of all things creative, you can find her taking classes throughout the city or writing about musical theater on her Substack, 11 O’Clock Number.
Dane Roberts
Community Partnership Liaison
A recent addition to the Chicago creative scene, cairna is thrilled to join The Village Theater as their new Head of Operations. Their expertise is based on over a decade of theater experience, organizing work, and artistic craft. Originally starting in Texas, they have worked on numerous productions, including The Wizard of Oz, Spring Awakening, and many more. When not organizing too many Google calendars and juggling a slightly terrifying to-do list, Cairna is dancing their way through the city.
cairna
Head of Operations
Dane is so excited to be working with Village Theater for their second season! As a graduate from Columbia College Chicago, Dane has been working in live events all around Chicago as a creative marketing professional. Experience includes building and executing high-impact campaigns that drive ticket sales, grow audiences, and elevate artist brands. As Community Partner Liaison for Village Theater, Dane is committed to partnering with local organizations that tie in thematically with our shows and offer unique opportunities for collaboration.