New works for a new generation.
About Trademark
Founded in 2017, TRADEMARKTHEATER is entering its seventh season of presenting bold, new theatrical works in the vibrant Twin Cities arts community. Trademark's mission seeks to create, develop, and produce original theatrical works in Minnesota by staging innovative productions for adventurous local audiences. Our non-profit theater is committed to serving both theater-goers and artists by commissioning and fostering new plays created by emerging playwrights, composer/lyricists, and theater-makers.
Because of Trademark’s commitment to high-quality entertainment, our organization invests in extensive workshop and development processes for all of our productions. Each development timeline can range from 1.5 years, to 4 years or more. From conception to full production, Trademark guides both the art and the artist to discover the most impactful interpretation of each story told.
Trademark remains at the forefront of new works creation by promoting boldness and risk-taking in all of our programming.
Why New Works?
TRADEMARKTHEATER is the only theater company in the Twin Cities area fully committing all of its resources to both the development and production of new works. It's our vision at Trademark to become the new works hub of the midwest, welcoming artists from across the country to workshop and produce their work on our stages, while also sharing our local talent with other communities by supporting and empowering local theater-makers to create new works at Trademark.
We believe new works of theater are vital to our arts community. We maintain that innovation and risk-taking both challenge and invigorate our fellow arts organizations and theater-makers. And we know that the stories developed at Trademark need to reflect our complex and increasingly diverse future. We don't reinterpret the stories of yesterday... We tell the stories of today and tomorrow.
TRADEMARKTHEATER develops new works in-house by utilizing the talents of its artistic staff and externally by commissioning playwrights, composer/lyricists, and other creators to create new stories.
In 2020, Trademark formalized its commissioning platform which seeks to bring a diversity of emerging and innovative theater-makers under the Trademark umbrella to create and develop new stories for the stage.
Since the platform's inception, Trademark has worked with many talented artists to bring their ideas to fruition such as Harrison David Rivers, JuCoby Johnson, David Darrow, Kira Obolensky, Meghan Kreidler and her rock band Kiss the Tiger, Eric Sharp, and Keith Hovis.
Our Mission
TRADEMARKTHEATER tells bold stories by creating, developing and producing new works that entertain, challenge, and inspire audiences.
OUR TEAM
Founder, Artistic Director - Tyler Michaels King - tmichaels@trademarktheater.org - he/him/his
Tyler Michaels King is a director, performer, and improviser based in the Twin Cities. He has worked and played with the Guthrie Theater, Children’s Theater Company, Theater Latté Da, History Theater, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Illusion Theater, Flying Foot Forum, and Minneapolis Musical Theater as well as many others. Tyler holds the 2014 Emerging Artist Ivey Award and the Mark Twain Comedic Performance Award from the Kennedy Center. He has been named "Artist of the Year 2014" by City Pages, "Best Actor" by Minnesota Monthly, and Minneapolis' "Best Actor in a Musical" by Broadwayworld.com. He has devised new works with Live Action Set and Newton Theater, is a co-creator of Once Upon A Chalkboard one of 2013's Top 15 Fringe shows, and co-directed 7th House Theater's Jonah and the Whale in the Guthrie's Dowling studio. Tyler is also a founding member of The Bearded Company who perform weekly at HUGE Theater. tylermichaelsking.com
Co-Founder, Associate Artistic Director - Tyler Mills - tmills@trademarktheater.org - he/him/his
Tyler Mills is a playwright and improviser based in the Twin Cities. His work has been produced at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, The Ritz Theater in Minneapolis, Stoneham Theatre in Boston and the Guthrie Theater. Notable works include Understood, first produced in October of 2018 and adapted into an audio play in October of 2020, and the book for the musical Jonah and the Whale. His work has been called, “striking and violent,” by the Star Tribune’s Rohan Preston and “clever, funny, and poignant,” by Jill Schafer of Cherry and Spoon. Tyler is a member of the improv group The Bearded Company and is the Associate Artistic Director of Trademark Theater.
Development Director - Kajsa Jones-Higgins - kjones@trademarktheater.org - she/her/hers
Kajsa Jones is a director, arts manager, and educator in the Twin Cities. Previous positions include Managing Director at Merrill Arts Center and Development Associate at Hennepin Theatre Trust. She’s passionate about working with young artists and is the resident Musical Director at East Ridge High School. As a director she has also worked with Artistry, Merrill Arts Center, and Ashland Productions. Kajsa received her B.A in Management from Luther College.
Marketing & Social Media Director - KD Bauer - kbauer@trademarktheater.org - they/them/theirs
KD Bauer is a Twin Cities-based marketing consultant and creative strategist for professional theaters. Their communication work has helped local theaters gain national recognition in American Theatre, Associated Press, The Dramatist and more. KD has worked 17 years in theater marketing including: Manager of Communications & Audience Engagement at Six Points Theater; Managing Director at Wonderlust Productions; and Director of Creative Strategy at Artistry MN. KD acquired their graduate certificate in Integrated Marketing Communications at St. Catherine University and has their B. A. in Theater History and Creative & Professional Writing from Bemidji State University.
Our Board
Board Chair: Christopher Wentzlaff - Community and Philanthropic Advocate
Treasurer: Jean Hartman
Secretary: Jonna Kosalko - Coldwell Banker Burnet - Realtor
Paula Garland - Normandale Community College - Faculty
Gretchen Hansen
Todd Hartman
Bruce Manning - Community Advocate and Volunteer
Tyler Michaels King (ex-officio) - Trademark Theater - Artistic Director/Founder
David Orbuch - Community Volunteer
Joel D. Rainville - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres - Director of Marketing & Sales
Hilary Smith - Theater Latté Da - Director of Development
Catriona Stewart
Legal Counsel: Joshua A. Dorothy - Gregerson, Rosow, Johnson & Nilan, LTD
