Theatre 55 was established in 2018 to fill a need in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota: theatre performed by seniors. It was formed with the purpose of developing lifelong learning through theatre performance and education. Our vision is to enrich the lives of elders as artists, audiences, and lifelong learners through theatre performance and education.
The Theatre 55 Method
During the rehearsal process, novice performers will have a hands-on opportunity to learn from professional actors along with a musical director, choreographer, and director, in a peer to peer methodology. Participants will learn theatre skills of using your body, voice, imagination, breath control, movement, expression, and self-promotion through social media.
Vision
Our vision is to enrich the lives of elders as artists, audiences, and lifelong learners through theatre performance and education.
Theatre 55 Staff
Richard Hitchler, Founder & Artistic Director
Richard G. Hitchler is a visionary artistic director, producer, presenter, cultural and community leader with over 30 years of innovative experience specializing in growing arts organizations and connecting community.
He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Theatre 55, Minnesota’s only full-time senior theater who’s mission is to enrich the lives of elders through life long learning and vision is to shift the paradigm on aging and end ageism.
From 1997 - 2015, Mr. Hitchler was the Executive and Artistic Director of SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development. Under his leadership, the theatre commissioned and produced more than 60 new plays by local playwrights, conducted a five million dollar capital campaign to create SteppingStone Theatre’s first permanent home, and quadrupled the number of young people served.
Mr. Hitchler earned a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota and has been working in professional theatre since 1987. Locally, he has worked as a director, educator, and administrator with The Children’s Theatre Company, Small Change Theatre, Cricket Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, and Illusion Theater. Mr. Hitchler also spent a number of years in Florida, working with Florida Studio Theatre, and the Orlando Shakespeare Festival. He is an alumni of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute, led the St. Paul A.C.E. facilities committee, and has served on Minnesota State Arts Board panels and the St. Paul Cultural STAR Board. He has won several awards including the Sally Irving Ordway Award for Education in Theater, the Ann Shaw Fellowship, and Pollen’s 50 over 50 theatre award.
Ross Willits, Associate Producer
Ross Willits is an arts administrator and advocate from the Minnesota. He has worked with Theatre 55 since 2019 as Associate Producer, managing website, marketing, ticketing and front-of-house operations. He and Richard have been partners in theatre management since 1995, working together at The Cricket Theatre, SteppingStone Theatre, and now Theatre 55. His long career has included work at the Guthrie Theater, Steppingstone Theatre for Youth Development, and The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University. He is the Past-Chair of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, the most successful statewide arts advocacy organization in the country. He was recently the Executive Director of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association. He currently has an active arts consulting business. He holds a Ph.D. in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota, where he studied the work of anti-fascist playwright Bertolt Brecht.
Amanda Gehrke, Stage Manager
One of the many things I love about working with Theatre 55 is watching people bloom under the guidance and direction throughout the rehearsal and performance process. Working on these productions from start to finish gives me an opportunity to watch the mission of Theatre 55 unfold in real time. Calling a performance is like conducting a silent orchestra, making sure that everything happens at just the right moment. Working with the performers and technicians to maintain the integrity of the show, making sure each audience member receives the same experience from opening night to closing. Theatre 55 is so much more to me than just a theatre company, and has become a community and second family.
Theatre 55 Board of Directors
Richard Hitchler, Founder & Artistic Director
Richard G. Hitchler is a visionary artistic director, producer, presenter, cultural and community leader with over 30 years of innovative experience specializing in growing arts organizations and connecting community.
He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Theatre 55, Minnesota’s only full-time senior theater who’s mission is to enrich the lives of elders through life long learning and vision is to shift the paradigm on aging and end ageism.
From 1997 - 2015, Mr. Hitchler was the Executive and Artistic Director of SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development. Under his leadership, the theatre commissioned and produced more than 60 new plays by local playwrights, conducted a five million dollar capital campaign to create SteppingStone Theatre’s first permanent home, and quadrupled the number of young people served.
Mr. Hitchler earned a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota and has been working in professional theatre since 1987. Locally, he has worked as a director, educator, and administrator with The Children’s Theatre Company, Small Change Theatre, Cricket Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, and Illusion Theater. Mr. Hitchler also spent a number of years in Florida, working with Florida Studio Theatre, and the Orlando Shakespeare Festival. He is an alumni of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute, led the St. Paul A.C.E. facilities committee, and has served on Minnesota State Arts Board panels and the St. Paul Cultural STAR Board. He has won several awards including the Sally Irving Ordway Award for Education in Theater, the Ann Shaw Fellowship, and Pollen’s 50 over 50 theatre award.
Lisa Ramos
Coming Soon
Brenda Starr
Coming Soon
