PEOPLE

Joel Kirk

Artistic Director & Founder

Joel Kirk is a New York City theatre director and producer who specializes in the development of new plays and musicals. He has worked with New World Stages, Playwrights Horizons, NYMF, The Lark, New Dramatists, Sheen Center, Hudson Guild Theatre, Wide Eyed Productions, WorkShop Theatre, to name a few. Recently he worked with Tony Award Winner Reed Birney and Tony Award Nominee Sydney Lucas on the play Changeover. He has guest directed for NYU'S Grad Playwriting Program, Ball State University, Juilliard, and Fordham University's Playwriting Program. He is the Chairman/CEO of Joel Kirk Productions: a company that produces commercial theatre.

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Before launching Discovering Broadway, Joel joined NewYorkRep as their first Associate Artistic Director. He proposed and launched the company's education fellowship. He worked alongside Artistic Director Markus Potter and Executive Director Gayle Waxenberg.

As a filmmaker, his documentary Race Across America: Gears to a Cure premiered at Flix Brewhouse in Indianapolis. His work for IWDC was featured at the Indianapolis Roof Ballroom. In 2012, his short film Rotating Clock won Heartland Film Festival. He directed, produced, and co-authored the film Of What Remains which won Best Screenplay and Best Editing from C.H.S Film Festival.

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As a writer, he co-authored the new musical If You Don’t Outdie Me in association with the Virginia B. Ball Center Commission and the Brown County Playhouse. He wrote the play The Authority which was a semifinalist for the Dennis and Victoria Ross Foundation. Joel is a two-time finalist for the Drama League Directing Fellowships. He is a Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union Observership Class of 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Joel graduated Ball State University in three years with a degree in Theatrical Directing. You can learn more at joelkirk.org or follow him on Instagram at joeltkirk.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jill Reese

Attorney - Wagner Reese

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Stephen Wagner

Partner - Wagner/Reese

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Jill Zaniker

Manages Jeff Zaniker Memorial Foundation for the Arts

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Randy Sorrell

SURROUNDINGS by NatureWorks

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David A. Temple

Partner- Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP

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Lezlie Morgan Heath

Non-Profit Leader

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Albert John "A.J." Allen MD, PhD 

Senior Medical Fellow, Eli Lilly and Company

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Anthony Lazzara

President - LRG Restaurants LLC

Anthony's Chophouse and 3UP

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Dean Glascock

Sr. Residential Broker - F.C. Tucker

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Sam Arce

V.P. - F.C. Tucker

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Brian Bondus

Director - ALO Property Group

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Karen Barnes

Volunteer

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Lisa Miller

Volunteer

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June McCarty Clair

Volunteer

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Phil Kirk

Realtor - Plat Collective

Owner - IndyRustic LLC

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Lynda Goeke

Owner of Goeke Group/Chaos Catering

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David Owens

Corporate Marketing Analyst - Salesforce

ADVISORY BOARD

Chair

Frank Basile

Senior Vice President - Gene B. Glick Company, Retired

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Joanna Taft

Executive Director - Harrison Center

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Terry Anker

Chairman- Anker Consulting Group

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Don Woodley

Principal - Woodley Farra Manion Portfolio Management

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Stan Hurt

Retired

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Mo Merhoff

President - OneZone Chamber of Commerce

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Lawren K. Mills

Partner, Ice Miller LLP

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Doug Wilson

Chairman - Monon Capital LLC

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Dave Neff

CRO - Prolific

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Kelly Butler Smith

Community Leader