Jeff Frank

As the Artistic Director of First Stage, the third largest professional Theater for Young Audiences in the nation, Jeff is recognized as one of the top directors in the field with an expertise in developing new work for Theater for Young Audiences. First Stage serves young people and families of southeastern Wisconsin through dynamic in school educational programming and their nationally recognized Theater Academy and Young Company training programs. During Jeff’s tenure First Stage has developed numerous new plays including TYA adaptations of THE WIZ, PETER PAN AND WENDY, and in collaboration with Michael Bobbitt and Adventure Theatre MTC - BIG, THE MUSICAL and ELLA ENCHANTED. In addition to presiding over the development of adaptations of THE THIEF LORD, GOSSAMER, GATHERING BLUE, TOM SAWYER, ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA, and THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS – Jeff has strengthened First Stage’s commitment to new, original plays including A MIDNIGHT CRY, DON’T TELL ME I CAN’T FLY, LUCHADORA, TO THE PROMISED LAND, THE SNOW, and ANTARCTICA, WI. Harry Cherkinian (Chicago Theater Beat/Shepherd Express) proclaimed; “Director Jeff Frank … continues to take Milwaukee’s children’s theater company to new levels ….”