Bio

KelsyAnne Schoenhaar (Executive Director / Founding Artistic Director & Resident Playwright) A Jane-of-all-trades, Kelsy has mixed career of music (began performing professionally at 12 years old and has played everything from rock to symphonic to jazz), theatre (worked in professional theatres in the Chicago area as a musician; in addition began her writing career writing “to” actors, as she wrote, directed & produced original children’s theatre); and human services (has been a professional in the field for 30 years). Receiving a full scholarship to the Northern Illinois University School of Music, Kelsy continued her professional education graduating Summa-Cum Laude and earning an MBA from Cal Southern in 1996. Since she began her work at Encore in May of 2000, she has written roughly 50 productions; many full-scale. In her spare time, Kelsy consults with other theatre companies, is an active film-maker and freelance writer and speaker with a recent featured article in Our Lives Magazine and a featured speaker at TEDx Madison 2015. Kelsy continues to share her vision and mission of showcasing the talents and amazing stories of people with disabilities.