Staff and Board of Directors
Milwaukee Opera theatre is an artist-led organization, thoughtfully governed by a majority artist board of directors, and run by a staff of three artist-administrators. We function as an ensemble, often working in multiple modalities to support the governance, administration, and artwork of MOT.
Jill Anna Ponasik Producing Director
Jill Anna Ponasik is a stage and opera director who spends most of her time as the Producing Artistic Director of Milwaukee Opera Theatre (MOT). Over seventeen seasons, she has shaped MOT into an experimental, community-rooted company known for imaginative reinterpretations of classics and the development of new work. She holds degrees in vocal performance from the University of Minnesota and the Rice University Shepherd School of Music.
Ponasik joined MOT as a performer and transitioned into leadership, eventually becoming its Producing Artistic Director in 2009. She oversees between three and five original productions annually while running three free educational initiatives: Script & Score, The Supreme Creativity Studio, and Voice Lab. Both MOT productions and educational initiatives prioritize artist empowerment and creative expression. Since its beginning in Jill Anna’s living room, Voice Lab in particular has served as a guide for over 1,600 singer-actors in Milwaukee and has incubated more than 15 new productions. Ponasik’s caring leadership has transformed MOT into a creative incubator where artists take the lead, seasons emerge organically from local interests, and performances might unfold across lobbies, gardens, bookstores, churches or parking lots.
MOT productions under Jill Anna’s leadership have included 26, a dance-theatre fantasia inspired by Italian arias, Jason Powell’s comic opera Fortuna the Time Bender vs. The Schoolgirls of Doom, The art song / rock song mash-up Guns N’ Rosenkavalier, an a cappella production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore, and a period instrument presentation of Handel’s Alcina adapted for performance in a vintage furniture store.
Beyond MOT, she collaborates widely across Milwaukee’s arts scene and has worked closely with The Florentine Opera (Viva la Mamma, Songbird, Cosi?, L’enfant e les Sortilèges, Cinderella, and Little Mahagony), and Skylight Music Theater (Ernest Shackleton Loves me, Oklahoma!, Carmina Burana, Tales of Hoffmann, Tosca, and Cinderella). She has also had the great good fortune to develop work with Renaissance Theatreworks, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, First Stage, Danceworks Performance MKE, WildSpace Dance Company, Vanguard MKE, The Alchemist, The Milwaukee Symphony, Aperi Animam, Present Music, and Early Music Now. For more information about Jill Anna’s work alongside of MOT, click on the button below.
Under Ponasik’s leadership, MOT prioritizes bold, locally grounded work, genre‑crossing collaborations, and site specific productions that roam the city; creating a vibrant and inclusive future for contemporary opera in the Midwest.
Danielle Gedemer Company Manager
Danielle Gedemer, soprano, is thrilled to join the MOT staff, after having performed in Night of the Living Opera and L'Orfeo in recent seasons. Since graduating from UW-Milwaukee with a BFA in Vocal Performance, she has enjoyed working with the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in their Connections program, writing a libretto for the Florentine Opera Company’s children's show, Cinderella, singing at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and annually composing songs with her mother for West Bend Parks and Rec Department's summer theatre show. In her free time, she loves spending time with her incredible family and friends.
Kaisa Herrmann
Media Manager
Kaisa Herrmann is a mezzo-soprano based in the Milwaukee area. Taking special interest in early music, she has been a part of various ensembles, most notably the Milwaukee-based ensemble Aperi Animam, as well as CU Boulder’s Early Music Ensemble and UW Milwaukee’s Collegium Musicum. She is currently a cantor and choir member at the Basilica of St. Josaphat. Past operatic roles include Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), Nerone (Agrippina), Judy (Night of the Living Opera), Arsamene (Serse), Euridice (L’Orfeo), Narciso (Agrippina), the Sandman (Hänsel und Gretel), Annio (La Clemenza di Tito), the Fox (The Little Prince), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), and Violetta (La Pèrichole). Her heart is fully steeped in the performing world, and she is so thankful for this company that truly works for the artists of Milwaukee.
Andrea Klohn, Graphic Designer
Nick Lin, Website Designer
Board of Directors
Executive
Cecilia Davis - President
Janna Ernst - Vice President
Sarah Wilkinson - Recording Secretary
Alli Neumann - Treasurer
At-Large
Marcee Doherty
Kristen Grill
Paul Kosidowski
Diane Lane
Jim Padovano
Mark Veth
Nathan Wesselowski
Associate Artists
Jason Fassl
Brit Nicole
Lisa Schlenker
Leslie Vaglica
Charissa York Glazner, Founder
jason fassl
For more than ten seasons, Jason Fassl has designed lighting for over two hundred theatrical productions in Milwaukee as well as over a hundred other projects across the state of Wisconsin. His work brings illumination solutions to plays, musicals, operas, ballet, and corporate settings. In addition to his work in Wisconsin, Jason served as head sound and lighting technician onboard Royal Caribbean International Cruise lines and has toured the globe with the magician David Copperfield as a programmer and electrician. Regionally his work has been seen at every major theatre in the state. He is an Artistic Associate for First Stage Children's Theatre and the Resident Designer for The Fireside Dinner Theatre.
Jason's designs have spanned the stages of The Milwaukee Ballet, The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Skylight Opera Theatre, American Players Theatre, Peninsula Players, Renaissance Theaterworks, Next Act Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, The Madison Repertory Theatre and Youngblood Theatre Company, among many others. Jason graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point with a BFA in Theatre Design/Technology and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.
brit nicole
Brit Nicole is a spoken word artist, community healer, performer, musician, songwriter, and facilitator based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her first feature performance was in August 2013 at Brewing Grounds for Change. That same year, Brit co-founded PENtastic, one of the longest-running open mics in her hometown. Since then, Brit has taken her talents to Poetry Unplugged, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Middle Earth MKE, Imaginary Heroes events, churches, Voltage! Teen Slam, Br(OK)en Genius, and many more. When she is not performing, you can catch Brit hosting an open mic, such as Lyrical Sanctuary, or other community gatherings, such as a game night or writing workshop. She works hard to center reflection, healing, and creativity in all she does, no matter the activity or age group it serves. Brit has taught poetry in a multitude of spaces from community organizations, to schools, to churches. She has had a residency with Arts @ Large since September 2021 that has provided her with more opportunities to connect with Milwaukee's communities through her art. She is also the winner for "Best Local Author" in Shepherd Express' "Best of MKE 2022". Brit published her first book of poetry titled, "Moods, Melanin, and Magic: A Manifesto" back in May 2021 and released her spoken word album titled, "Nocturnal Butterfly" back in April 2022 that is exclusively on Band Camp and in April of 2023, became a filmmaker with her collaborative short film, "Soulmate".
lisa schlenker
A Milwaukee based scenic designer for more than three decades, Lisa’s design work of particular joy includes past projects with Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Opera Lafayette, Forward Theater, In Tandem, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Milwaukee Rep, Florentine Opera, First Stage, Skylight Opera Theatre, Third Avenue Playworks, and AFT/Northern Sky. In addition to her design work, she has logged many happy hours managing prop shops and building props for the full spectrum of work in the performing arts. Lisa currently finds joy telling stories in the north woods as the Resident Designer and production manager for Northern Sky Theater.
Lisa spends off time serving as Central Region Board Secretary for Local USA 829 IATSE. She is also co-secretary to the Wisconsin Puppetry Guild, engaging in flights of imagination and fancy, and elevating puppetry arts in song and story. And Ms. Schlenker wrote a book! With coauthor Sandra Strawn, THE PROPERTIES DIRECTOR'S TOOLKIT: MANAGING A PROP SHOP FOR THEATRE is available from Focal Press and on Amazon. Lisa is delighted to work with the ever inspiring, talented, and generous Wisconsin theatre community. Home is where the heart sings.
Leslie Vaglica
Leslie Vaglica is a Milwaukee-based Costume Designer whose sense of humor, love of movement and simplicity infuse the characters she costumes. She has designed for dance, theater, opera, ceremony, roller derby, and commercials. Since graduating from Mt. Mary University, Leslie has worked in all phases of costume technology, from stitcher, pattern maker, draper, and designer, to now managing the costume shop at Hope Summer Repertory Theater in Holland, Michigan. She’s had the pleasure of designing regionally including two productions for Milwaukee Opera Theatre.