MEET OUR TEAM OF NEW WORKS CHAMPIONS.
OUR TEAM
Founder, Artistic Director - Tyler Michaels King - tmichaels@trademarktheater.org - he/him
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
Managing Director - Merritt Rodriguez - mrodriguez@trademarktheater.org - she/they
is a mission driven, innovative and strategic leader in the arts community and beyond. An experienced artist and producer, Merritt spent five years as a freelance designer before transitioning into arts leadership as the Production Manager for Penumbra Theatre and later the Development Production Manager for the Guthrie Theater. During the pandemic Merritt transitioned into Healthcare Technology, serving in strategic and operational roles as the Director of Customer Solutions, driving product and market development and implementation success. She currently also serves as the Product Line Manager for Trading Card Games at Fantasy Flight Games, focused on market strategy and consumer insights. Throughout her time in the corporate sphere, she has been dedicated to local theater as an active patron, mentor and consultant. Merritt is driven by collaboration and committed to excellence in every project she supports.
Development Director - Emily H. Olson - eolson@trademarktheater.org
A Midwest native, Emily has been a leader in nonprofit organizations for 25 years. Her experience includes development and fundraising, strategic planning, operations and systems, people culture, and organizational and leadership coaching. In Minnesota, Emily has served Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, St. Croix Valley Opera, Locally Grown Theatre, She Rock She Rock, and Basic Needs, as well as consulting with many nonprofits across the United States. In addition, Emily has been a pianist, vocalist, actor, and music director in theatre, education, and sacred contexts for 30 years. Her recent work includes shows at Lyric Arts, Off-Broadway Musical Theatre, Morris Park Players, Rosetown Playhouse, Children's Performing Arts, and the Renegade Ensemble, as well as many high school programs throughout the Twin Cities. Outside of work and the arts, Emily enjoys time with her family and cats, reading, hiking, movies, cooking, and a big comfy blanket. Emily is excited and energized to join the Trademark Theater team!
Marketing Manager - Maureen O’Malley - momalley@trademarktheater.org - she/her
Maureen is a performer, director, writer, and communications professional based in the Twin Cities. She served as the senior content strategist for Hook Agency, before starting her own copywriting business in 2025. As an artist, she's been lucky to work with some of the best companies the local Twin Cities scene has to offer, including Theatre Elision, Old Log Theatre, Walking Shadow Theatre Company, and Lyric Arts. She has worked as part of the directorial teams for Blue Water Theatre Company, Plymouth Middle School, Minnetonka Middle School West, and the Art of Reconciliation Performing Company. As a passionate advocate for the vibrant art scene in Minnesota, Maureen is thrilled to help elevate the work Trademark is doing to develop new voices and support the growth of artists in every medium.
Our Board
Board Chair: David Orbuch - Community Volunteer
Vice Chair: Andrew Leshovsky - Lyric Arts Company of Anoka, Managing Director
Treasurer: Jean Hartman
Secretary: Hilary Smith - First Peoples Fund, Associate Director of Development
Paula Garland
Jaden Hansen
Kate Lawson - Trillium Family Foundation, Executive Director
Kristin Matejcek - MN Opera - Stewardship and Engagement Director
Tyler Michaels King (ex-officio) - Trademark Theater, Artistic Director/Founder
Joel D. Rainville - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Director of Marketing & Sales
Catriona Stewart
Andrea Trimble Hart
Chris Wentzlaff - Community and Philanthropic Advocate
Christine Wentzlaff
Dom Wharram
Legal Counsel: Joshua A. Dorothy - Gregerson, Rosow, Johnson & Nilan, LTD
