Executive Director
Milwaukee Repertory Theater | Milwaukee
Chad Bauman has served as executive director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater since 2013. Under his leadership, the theater has experienced significant growth and worked to solidify its financial footing by eliminating its debt, nearly doubling its endowment, and achieving annual operating surpluses. The theater’s net assets have also grown from $19 million to $84 million, and the organization has raised $100 million through three capital campaigns. The theater is in the process of constructing the new Associated Bank Theater Center. Bauman is president of the Milwaukee Arts Partners board and a board member of Pathways High School, ImagineMKE and AFS Milwaukee.
Education: Bachelor’s, Missouri State University; master’s, CalArts; doctoral in education (in process), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Highlights from the past 12 months: “Completing the design of the Associated Bank Theater Center and raising nearly all of the $78 million necessary to create Wisconsin’s best new performing arts center set to open in 2025.”
What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “Wisconsin is the worst state in the nation for government support of the arts. To ensure the future of our cultural assets, that must change.”
Cocktail of choice: “Extra dirty vodka martini with three blue cheese olives.”
Your sport if you could be an Olympian: “Surfing. Riding such huge waves in the most beautiful locations in the world without dying. What could be better?”
