Mission & Vision
Rotate Theatre Company creates and celebrates performing arts featuring underrepresented perspectives. By embracing practices that enrich the lives of collaborative artists, engage audiences in laughter and discussion, and incorporate multidirectional learning, Rotate Theatre Company contributes to larger webs of strategies that build more just futures for professional artists and the general public.
About
Rotate Theatre Company (formerly Indie Boots Theatre) produces plays and musicals for the stage, brings new short works to audiences through our festivals, develops independent films, and offers educational opportunities, special events, and curated programs. Co-founders Richard Paro and Cyra K. Polizzi have been collaborating since 2000. Early projects, produced under other monikers, took place in southern Wisconsin, followed by 15 years based in Chicago with longtime ensemble members Ashely Bagot, Breahan Eve Pautsch, Crystal Hartford, and Jessica Dexter. The late 2010s brought changes for the ensemble members and the company, including exciting shifts in place, name, and production techniques that open up new possibilities for creating and celebrating art featuring underrepresented perspectives. Now, Rotate Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Teejop / Madison, WI.
Access
We are continually working to improve multifaceted access in our projects (and beyond!). We have adapted and developed various tools to help us, including
Access Charts. Please contact us with any questions, ideas, or requests regarding access or accommodations: rotatetheatre@gmail.com, 608-515-8912
Rotate Theatre Company . Based in Teejop / Madison, WI
RotateTheatre@gmail.com . 608-515-8912 . www.rotatetheatre.org
Rotate Theatre Company
Based in Teejop / Madison, WI
RotateTheatre@gmail.com . 608-515-8912
www.rotatetheatre.org
The Rotate Theatre Ensemble
Cyra K. Polizzi
Cyra K. Polizzi (they/she) has an extensive background in theatre acting and a wide range of experiences in other specialties (directing, writing, facilitation, etc) and performing arts modalities (dance, music, film, etc). Whether exploring realism or other approaches, from silent movement-based work to campy drag musicals, much of Cyra's work incorporates humor, queer possibilities, and multi-issue activism. Cyra grew up performing in the driftless area of rural WI, attended UW-Madison in Theatre Acting, Gender Studies, and Environmental Studies, and spent 15 years in Chicago working full-time in storefront theatre and independent film before happily returning to Teejop / Madison. Cyra then completed a grad program at UW-Madison to formalize their transdisciplinary research asking questions about accessibility, sustainability, and wellness in theatre practices. www.cyrakpolizzi.com
Breahan Eve Pautsch
Breahan Eve Pautsch (she) is a director, actor, and writer. In addition to her work with Rotate Theatre, Breahan has collaborated with Raven Theatre, The International Voices Project, Wildclaw Theatre, Broken Nose Theatre, Speaking Ring Theatre, Halcyon Theatre, Theatre Entropy, North Lakeside Players, Scriptworks, and Akvavit Theatre where she served in many roles including artistic director. Breahan is frequently called upon for her expertise directing contemporary Nordic plays for audiences in the US. Breahan grew up in Cadott, Wisconsin, graduated with a BA in Theatre and English from UW-Madison, and was based in Chicago for many years before recently returning to Madison.
Richard Paro
Richard Paro (he) is an award winning theatre and film director based in Madison, WI. Richard uses highly collaborative techniques throughout the artistic process and much of his work emphasizes coalition-building, as seen in theatre productions like
There Might Be... Stumble. In addition to his work with Rotate Theatre, he has worked with many companies in Chicago, including Stage 773, Arc, Theatre-Hikes, Prologue, Tympanic, Dandelion, and Stockyards Theatre Project, and his feature-length and short films screen at film festivals around the world. Always excited to share his favorite theatre, movies, and music with new audiences, Richard has worked in festival programming and organizing for years in Chicago, Milwaukee, and surrounding areas. Richard also has a background in natural and vegan foods.
Crystal Hartford
Crystal Hartford (she) is an actor, director, and musician. Crystal's theatre credits include "Hellena" in
The Rover, "Brooke" in
Noises Off, and "Jameson" in
The Passion of Dracula. Crystal's film credits include
Mass Romantic,
The Fox in the Snow, and
So-Called Living. Crystal can also be found performing with Matt Focht (Head of Femur, Bright Eyes) in the band Hartford/Focht. Crystal hails from Omaha, NE and attended Avila University in Kansas City, MO where she received her BFA in Theatre.
Ashely Bagot
Ashely Bagot (she) is a director, actor, and costume designer. In addition to her frequent directing work with Rotate Theatre, her previous acting work includes
There Might Be... Stumble,
What Happened to the Quiet Kids, and
The Fox in the Snow. Ashely also works assisting people with mental illness access housing and recovery services in Chicago.
