Suzan Fete, Artistic Director at Renaissance Theaterworks
In her teens, Suzan Fete began her career in arts as an actor at Goodman’s Young Artist Studio. She went on to co-found and serve as artistic director of Renaissance Theaterworks, a company dedicated to promoting the work of women. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Fete has found her home in Milwaukee, where the larger companies foster the smaller and emerging theaters.
During her time at Renaissance Theaterworks, she has directed productions such as Topdog/Underdog, The Shape of Things, Blackbird and The Road to Mecca as well as toured with the 2013 production of Neat to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In 2015, she finished as a finalist with Lucky Numbers in the Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Short Play Festival. Fete also helped guide Renaissance Theaterworks to win the prestigious “50/50 in 2020” International Applause Award for the 2015-16 season, an award that is given to theaters in recognition of their commitment to women playwrights.
Fete says, “Women’s stories remain critically underrepresented on the American stage. Currently less that 20% of plays produced in the US are written by women. That’s not going to change until more women are in positions of leadership”. Her work continues to bring women center stage and her presence in Renaissance Theaterworks allows for their voices to be heard.
Editor's Note: This article is part of our annual Fall Arts Guide. For the 2018 Fall Arts Guide, we interviewed six women that have founded or taken a leading role within arts institutions in the Milwaukee area to learn about their experiences. Read more of the Fall Arts Guide here.
