DIRECTOR OF DIRECTORS: Plummer Joins Theatre Guild as New Artistic Director
local native and theater vet is first to hold title at CVTG
The Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild is adding a new face, and a new position, to its leadership team. Starting with this season – CVTG’s 43rd – Nate Plummer will serve as artistic director and director of education.
Originally from Chippewa Falls, Plummer returned to the area after studying with directors such as Andrew Cooke (Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, The Guthrie) and Brett Schrier (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line) and founded his acting coaching business Stage Door Unlocked. Local theater fans may recognize Plummer from his annual one-man performance of A Christmas Carol and for directing last year’s CVTG productions of The Importance of Being Earnest and Oliver!
"Ann (Sessions) and I kind of approached each other about this,” Plummer said in a recent interview. “I wanted to get involved, and she knew what The Guild needed.” Sessions – longtime president of the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild – who happened to be nearby, poked her head out of a room and nodded in agreement.
This new position will help reinforce many of the Guild's core missions. “When The Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild was founded, one of Bob Carr’s main goals was to be community first, theater second,” Plummer said. “This position will help grow the next generation of talent: actors, production crew, choreographers, and directors.”
In a way, Plummer’s position of artistic director will act as a director of directors. “I’ll be overseeing many of the upcoming productions in a supervisory role, helping to fill holes in production teams, and providing resources,” he said. “Part of my responsibility is to search out and advocate for new talent, so we need to make sure they have what they need to succeed.”
“I want to make sure we’re telling stories that represent, and are relevant to, our community,” Plummer added.
In addition to his new supervisory capacity at the Guild, Plummer will also personally direct A Christmas Story and Seussical in this year’s season.
Learn more about the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild at cvtg.org.
