Staff

Brian Wild has been working in theater since the age of 8 and has been involved in over 100 theatrical productions since 1977. He co-founded Art & Soul Innovations, the nonprofit behind Proud Theater, and oversees all Proud Theater chapters as its Executive Director.

Wild has been a member of one of the oldest experimental theaters in the nation, Broom Street Theater, for over 24 years as an actor, playwright, and director and designer. He served on their Board of Directors as Treasurer from 2005-2010, and has staged 17 original plays for the troupe as playwright and director.

Wild also co-founded Luna Bonita, a Latino organization in Madison, Wisconsin (now known as Noches Latinas), and also co-founded El Grupo Vida/The Life Group, a bi-lingual organization designed to raise funds for local non-profits through the art of Drag performance.

Honors include the Honorary Lifetime Membership Award at Broom Street Theater for extraordinary dedication to the promotion of experimental theater, a certificate of achievement from GSAFE for his commitment to community activism and social justice in Wisconsin, and the 2008 Outreach, Inc. ‘Man of the Year’ award for his work with youth in the community. In 2012, Wild received a Madison Bartie Theater Award for best sound design for the local theatrical production of ‘The Lamentable Tragedie of Scott Walker.’

Grace Novie Stolen (she/her/hers) is the Director of Operations & Engagement and Board President for Proud Theater and Art & Soul Innovations. She was Operations Manager at Proud Theater-Wausau for the 2017-19 seasons prior to relocating for new academic and professional endeavors. She currently lives blocks away from the greatest lake in the world in Washburn, Wisconsin.

Grace started with Proud Theater as a youth in 2015 and has been involved ever since with its programming, its websites, event planning, and communications. An alum of Proud Theater’s Madison chapter, she has returned to volunteer and run tech for shows and worked on Art & Soul’s Connections intergenerational conference. Honors include the Pride Youth Theater Alliance 2018 Youth Leadership Award for contributions to the field of queer youth theater and receiving the Ahrnsbrak Award for Unselfish Leadership upon graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wausau for campus contributions and institutional service. Grace is very involved in her community and has served it in a variety of capacities, including as a youth representative on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. She also served on the board of the Pride Youth Theater Alliance.