Chad Bauman

Executive Director

Chad was appointed Milwaukee Rep’s Managing Director in 2013. Bauman has overseen a significant period of growth for a company that produces about 700 performances a year, making it “the city’s most prolific performing arts organization (Milwaukee Business Journal)” presenting seasons that can “rival anything in Chicago and beyond (Chicago Tribune).” During his tenure, Milwaukee Rep has eliminated all debt, nearly doubled the endowment, achieved operating surpluses annually, grew net assets from $19 million to $84 million, raised nearly $100 million across three successful capital campaigns, and has started construction on the new Associated Bank Theater Center. Previously, Bauman was the Associate Executive Director at Arena Stage where he was instrumental in the 2010 opening of the Mead Center for American Theater, a three-theater performing arts complex dedicated to American voices. While at Arena Stage, he more than doubled earned revenue, reversed a decline in subscriptions by doubling the base, shattered several company sales records and helped raise $145 million in capital funds. In addition, he worked on the Broadway transfers of Next to Normal (Pulitzer Prize; Tony Award), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Tony Award), Wishful Drinking starring Carrie Fisher, Looped starring Valerie Harper, and John Grisham’s A Time to Kill in addition to other notable plays including the world premiere of Marcus Gardley’sEvery Tongue Confess starring Phylicia Rashad and Red Hot Patriot starring Kathleen Turner. He has served as an adjunct professor at American University, Drexel University and CalArts. He is currently the Board President of the Milwaukee Arts Partners and a Board member of Pathways High School, ImagineMKE and AFS Milwaukee. Bauman has been named one of the most influential leaders under 40 in Washington, DC by Washington Life Magazine, Top 40 under 40 by the Milwaukee Business Journal, a Champion of the Hispanic Community by the United Community Center, a notable LGBTQ Executive and Non-Profit CEO of the Year by Milwaukee BizTimes. Bauman is currently a doctoral student in the Organizational Learning and Leadership Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Additionally, he is  graduate of Brown University’s Leadership and Performance Coaching Program, Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management program, and has a Master of Fine Arts in producing from the CalArts.