Joshua Anderson
Director ● Educator ● Administrator ● Producer ● Actor
(267) 242-3640 • jsamanderson@gmail.com
A dedicated and focused arts leader with a rich theater background, working to bring the arts to our community through education, performance, and engagement.
QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY
· Nine years of managerial experience supervising up to 100 employees
· Four years leading a community-focused arts education program
· Ten years of experience directing, producing, and acting in Chicago theater
· Extensive financial and budgetary management experience
· Nine years of teaching and mentoring via directing, internship, and classwork
· Strong ability to manage many complex projects and collaborate effectively
· Extensive record of creating new initiatives and developing new projects
· Excellent communication skills and a strong belief in an open and direct approach
· Strong background in digital and traditional marketing, including social media and web design
· Extensive experience with fund-raising, grant writing, and event management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Theatre Director
2009 - Present
For the last nine years I have worked professionally as a theatre director for the Organic Theater Company in Chicago and as a guest director at Northern Illinois University’s School of Theatre and Dance. I have extensive experience working with professional actors as well as students in a manner that is collaborative, supportive, and engaged. The productions I have directed include traditional plays, new works, and adaptations of literary works. These productions have received positive reviews from Chicago publications including The Chicago Reader, The Chicago Critic, Buzz News, The Dueling Critics and Theatre in Chicago. Reviews available on request. Productions listed below.
2018 – The Flick by Annie Baker ● Northern Illinois University
2018 – Tiresias Was a Weatherman by Jaime Mire ● Organic Theater Company
2016 – The Good Doctor by Neil Simon ● Organic Theater Company
2015 – Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin ● Organic Theater Company
2014 – The Diviners by Jim Leonard Jr. ● Organic Theater Company
2012 – Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville ● Northern Illinois University
2011 – Thornton Wilder’s Theophilus North by Matthew Burnett ● Northern Illinois University
2010 – All in the Timing by David Ives ● Northern Illinois University
2010 – Ancient History by David Ives ● Northern Illinois University
2009 – Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol by Tom Mula ● Organic Theater Company
2009 – Tom Foolery by Tom Lehrer● Northern Illinois University
Actor
1998 - Present
I have spent most of my adult life acting in theatre productions. From high school through college and graduate school and into the Chicago theatre community acting has been my passion. The hallmarks of my process include research, collaboration, and an unending pursuit of active choices that define the arc of a character. Throughout the years I spent as an actor, I slowly came to realize my passion for the work extended beyond my individual role, and that realization led to my eventual transition to a director and adaptor of theatrical works. A complete acting resume appears at the bottom of this document.
Director of External Programming for the College of Visual and Performing Arts
Northern Illinois University ● 2014 - Present
My role as the Director of External Programming for CVPA is complex, diverse, and engaging. I oversee three major areas and supervise over one hundred employees including office personnel, teachers, and camp staff. The major areas covered by the position include The NIU Community School for the Arts, NIU Summer in the Arts, and High School Clinics. Within these three areas I am responsible for maintaining an office staff, developing the website, all budgeting and financial management, fundraising, grant writing, marketing, community outreach, and development of new and exciting programs and curriculum. In addition, I sit on a variety of committees including College Senate, The University Outreach Advisory Committee, and various search committees.
NIU Community School of the Arts – The CSA provides arts education opportunities to community members in the greater DeKalb area. The school provides private traditional and Suzuki music lessons, classes in a variety of areas including guitar, piano, and visual art, as well as large ensembles and orchestras including a youth symphony, children’s choir, steelpan ensemble, ukulele ensemble, and a string chamber program. The CSA also provides summer opportunities including week-long stringed instrument, percussion, and dance workshops.
NIU Summer in the Arts – The Summer in the Arts program provides week-long residential summer camps in the fields of theatre, jazz, and visual art. Students come from across the country to spend a week on NIU’s campus and learn from some of the greatest faculty in the country as they pursue their education in the arts. The camps serve over four hundred students per year and draw enrollment from over fifteen states. They provide a valuable recruitment opportunity for the university and employment for recent and current students.
High School Clinics – The clinics provided by the External Programing Office bring students from across the state to spend a day at NIU and learn from NIU faculty and invited guests. We bring over one thousand students per year to campus for a variety of different events including Jazz Day, String Day, Choir Day, and Jazz Combo Day. These events not only provide a wonderful educational experience for the students, but also a highly valuable recruiting opportunity for the university.
Managing Director
Organic Theater Company ● 2009 - Present
As the Managing Director of the Organic Theater Company I am primarily responsible for all organizational aspects of the company. This includes hiring and managing a staff of theatre professionals, company management, scheduling, season selection, marketing, web design, social media, and managing our internship program. I oversee all productions, contracts, budgets, and finances. I am also responsible for the development and growth of the company including programing, expanding diversity, and fundraising. During my tenure as Managing Director we have steadily increased our patron base, have become eligible for the Chicago Jeff Awards and were Jeff recommended, have increased our presence in Chicago expanding the season from two shows to four shows annually, and have grown our company to include a full staff of artistic, technical, and marketing professionals while promoting diversity and inclusion among our staff and productions. I continually strive to develop the talent within the company and see that all our company members and staff achieve their fullest potential so that we can continue to grow and serve our community and artistic mission.
Producer – NIU Performing Arts Series
Northern Illinois University ● 2017 - Present
In late 2017 I was tasked with heading up efforts to create a Performing Arts Series at Northern Illinois University. The project is based on a collaboration between the College of Visual and Performing Arts and a local performance venue the Egyptian Theatre. As part of creating a cohesive plan to present to the NIU Board of Directors I have worked with our partners at the Egyptian to create a financial, marketing, and organizational framework to present four performances a semester that would benefit the local community and the NIU student body.
Payroll and Accounts Receivable Manager
Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea ● 2008 - 2014
As the payroll and accounts receivable manager for Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea I was responsible for all aspects of payroll and the receivables department of a multi-national coffee and tea business comprised of three roasting facilities, eleven retail cafes, and a retail and wholesale website. The position included, but was not limited to, bi-weekly payroll for over two hundred and fifty employees, calculating commissions for ten sales executives, managing the company 401K retirement plan, payroll taxes and W2s, accounts receivable collections, and bank reconciliations. I was also responsible for time-card tracking and reporting, overtime audits, paid time off management, benefits accrual, and budgetary reporting. The position required meticulous organization, attention to detail, and the ability to handle many tasks at once with a high degree of efficiency.
Graduate Recruiter
School of Theatre and Dance, Northern Illinois University ● 2006 - 2007
The primary task of the Graduate Recruiting position was to recruit a cohesive class of diverse, capable, and creative students to fill a three-year master’s program in acting. The competition for skilled candidates was extremely high and securing the desired candidates required tact, confidence, and the ability to effectively communicate in a genuine way with discerning people. Primary responsibilities included phone calls and emails with candidates, scheduling campus visits and lodging, and guiding candidates through an introduction to the acting program at Northern Illinois University. Maintaining a high level of organization was extremely important as success in the job required a personal relationship with each candidate and a ready knowledge of their experience and history.
Theatre Instructor
School of Theatre and Dance, Northern Illinois University ● 2005 - 2006
As a Graduate Assistant at Northern Illinois University I taught sections of Introduction to Acting, Introduction to Theatre, and general acting classes at the NIU Theatre Summer Camp. The introductory classes were designed to give an understanding of basic theatre concepts to increase appreciation and comprehension of the art form, and to lay a foundation for future work. Course work included scene study supported by basic Meisner technique, Uta Hagen principles and general contact work. The summer camp classes focused on basic performance skills and an introduction to improvisation and various other acting techniques.
Floor Manager and Server
Marathon Grill ● 2000 - 2004
The Marathon Grill Restaurant Group consists of six extremely busy diner-style restaurants in downtown Philadelphia. As a floor manager, I was responsible for coordinating a group of ten servers for breakfast, lunch and dinner service. In addition, I managed cash handling, scheduling, and assisted with catering operations. The restaurant was an extremely hectic environment and the ability to remain calm under pressure and to organize the staff to solve problems quickly was paramount to my success.
FUNDRAISING
DeKalb County Community Foundation: Farny R. Wurlitzer Grant
$5,000 for Need Based Scholarships - NIU Community School of the Arts - 2018
$5,000 for Need Based Scholarships - NIU Community School of the Arts - 2017
$5,000 for Need Based Scholarships - NIU Community School of the Arts - 2016
Performathon Fundraiser
$11,135 for Need Based Scholarships - NIU Community School of the Arts - 2017
All Arts for Elgin
$1,000 for Need Based Scholarships - NIU Summer in the Arts - 2018
$1,000 for Need Based Scholarships - NIU Summer in the Arts - 2017
$1,000 for Need Based Scholarships - NIU Summer in the Arts - 2016
$1,000 for Need Based Scholarships - NIU Summer in the Arts - 2015
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts - Theatre Arts: Acting Specialization
Northern Illinois University
Meisner Acting Technique – Kathryn Gately
Acting for Film – Richard Poole
Fitzmaurice Voicework – Phil Timberlake
Williamson Movement Technique – Deborah Robertson
Directing – Alexander Gelman
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Completed - 2007
Theatre Studies Intensive - Moscow Art Theatre
Acting – Vladimir Smirnov
Movement – Natalia Fedorova
Theatre History – Anatoly Smeliansky
Moscow Art Theatre, Moscow RU
Completed - 2005
Bachelor of Arts - Theatre Studies – Temple University
Voice and Acting – Donna Snow
Speech – Stanton Davis
Stage Combat – John Bellomo
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Completed - 2004
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Development / Grant Writing - Workshop
Erica Bittner, Development - Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL - 2014
Web Design / Drupal Open Source CMS - Workshop
Cole Brenner – Brenner Design Studio, Boulder, CO - 2009
SOFTWARE SKILLS
Microsoft Office Suite
Proficient in the use of all the major Microsoft Office products including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook and a high level of proficiency with MS Excel for use in accounting and reporting functions including formulas, graphing, and data management.
Mailchimp
Five years of experience using Mailchimp’s web platform to create dynamic and engaging marketing email campaigns for the Organic Theater, and Northern Illinois University’s arts outreach programs.
Wordpress Web Design
Five years of experience using Wordpress software to create and manage website content for use in the promotion and development of arts organizations. Example: www.organictheater.org
Adobe Premiere Pro
Three years of experience using Adobe Premiere Pro to edit and produce video to be used in the promotion of arts organizations.
Social Media
Ten years of experience using social media including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for promotion, marketing, and the development of a community of collaborators and patrons of the arts. Examples:
https://www.facebook.com/organictheatercompany/
https://twitter.com/Organic_Theater
www.instagram.com/organictheater/
Adobe Photoshop / GIMP Open Source Design Suite
Seven years of experience using Adobe Photoshop and GIMP Open Source software for image manipulation and design for use on webpages and marketing materials.
MAS 90 - 200
Six years of experience administering and using MAS 90 – 200 for accounting and banking services, with a special focus on general ledger and account management.
ADP Workforce Now
Three years of experience using ADP Workforce now for time card management, human resource management, benefits management, payroll processing, and 401k retirement plan administration. Special focus on quarter and year end reporting.
Google Suite
Seven years of experience using Google Mail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs for organizational and operational purposes in the running of an arts organization with personnel spread across a large geographical area.
ACTING RESUME
THEATRE
Organic Theater Co. The Emigrants AA
Organic Theater Co. Rhinoceros Dudard
Organic Theater Co. Theophilus North Henry / Hillary
Organic Theater Co. All in the Timing Don / Al / Swift
Organic Theater Co. The Police Chief of Police
Organic Theater Co. Sexual Perversity in Chicago Dan Shapiro
Greasy Joan Theatre The Tell Tale Heart Lead
TimeLine Theatre Paradise Lost Ben, Kewpie*
Organic Theater Co. The Secret Agent Ossipon
Organic Theater Co. Man with Bags Man
Organic Theater Co. Bartleby The Scrivener Nippers
Organic Theater Co. The $30,000 Bequest Saladin Foster
SummerNite Theatre Disciples James
Northern Illinois University Summerfolk Dudakov
Northern Illinois University Omnium Gatherum Terrance
Northern Illinois University Cinders Phil
Northern Illinois University Portrait of a Madonna Frank
Northern Illinois University Grapes of Wrath Connie
Philadelphia Fringe Festival The Stoop Sam
Temple University The Diviners Ferris Layman
Temple University The Universal Language Don
FILM
Page 11 Productions The $30,000 Bequest (Feature Film) Lead
Brenner Studios Old Jew Reviews (3 Episodes) Narration
LBRB Productions Ricky and Jesus (5 Episodes) Jesus
Taproot Productions Good People Boyfriend
Student Film Going Out Lead
*understudy