Elynmarie Kazle

Bio:

Elynmarie Kazle recently formed Wild Thread Theatre with her partner, Mark A. Zimmerman, presenting new and rarely produced plays for the greater Akron community beginning this past summer. A theatre practitioner and longtime advocate, she has created programs and championed stage managers throughout her career.

Her work spans theatre, live events, dance, and opera, with more than 100 productions as a stage or production manager. Credits include Cleveland Play House, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Old Globe, San Diego Opera, and Long Beach Classical Ballet. She also toured internationally, served as a cultural ambassador between Los Angeles and Stockholm, and worked with Sweden’s Darling Desperados.

Over the past decade, Elynmarie has directed more than 20 plays and premiere readings, including Silent Sky, On the Verge, Rhinoceros, and Eric Mansfield’s Trial by Fire, currently directing the premiere of his Shelter. Her 25 years of teaching and mentoring include work at Ohio Northern, Otterbein, Kent State, CalArts, and Bradley University.

She created USITT’s Stage Management Mentor Program, now more than three decades old, served multiple terms on the USITT Board, and spent eight years as Chair of the Stage Managers’ Association. She is a founding member and current President of the Foundation for Stage Managers and coordinates LDI’s Stage Managers Event Academy.

Her honors include the USITT and SMA Founders’ Awards, congressional recognition, and Akron’s 2024 Outstanding Artist in Theatre. She is a USITT Fellow, a National Theatre Conference member, and a member of Scouting America’s Order of the Arrow honor society.

Throughout her work, Elynmarie has supported artists and managers, encourages new voices, and helps people build the skills and connections to thrive.