Christopher Kurtz

Christopher Kurtz is a Lecturer in the Theatre Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, holding the rank of Production Teaching Faculty II. He specializes in scenic design, technical theatre, and educational theatre practices. Kurtz has extensive freelance experience as a designer and technician in Milwaukee, working with institutions like the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis and co-founding the Namaste Theatre Company in Los Angeles. He is a Journeyman member of IATSE Local #13 since 1999, collaborating on Broadway tours and large-scale concerts.

Education:

• MFA in Scenic Design, Wayne State University

Research & Practice: Kurtz’s work bridges teaching and professional theatre, emphasizing scenic production and stagecraft. His design credits include institutional productions at Wisconsin Lutheran College and Cardinal Stritch University. He actively mentors emerging practitioners through his teaching roles and industry collaborations.

Notable Achievements:

• Childhood dream fulfilled by working at the Guthrie Theatre
• Proud of founding Namaste Theatre Company
• MFA enabled his transition to academia

Additional Roles: Actor, scenic artist, rigger, and designer across diverse theatre productions.