Christopher Kurtz

Education

• MFA, Scenic Design, Wayne State University
• BA, Theatre, St. John's University

Biography

Christopher Kurtz is a versatile designer, technician, and educator with over three decades of professional experience spanning Broadway tours, regional theatre, and academia. He currently serves as Teaching Faculty II at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he designs scenery and instructs courses in Stagecraft, Advanced Studio, and Theatre Production & Design, as well as specialized seminars in Special Effects for Stage Scenery.

A veteran of the entertainment industry, Chris has been a Journeyman with IATSE Local #13 since 1999. His extensive technical portfolio includes work as a Head Rigger and Carpenter for the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, as well as an Install Supervisor for the Vee Corporation. His professional rigging and technical direction have supported national Broadway tours, large-scale concert events, and notable regional productions at the Skylight Musical Theatre, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Little Shop of Horrors.

As a scenic designer, Chris’s recent credits at UWM include Scapino (2025), Dames at Sea (2024), and Macbeth (2023). His work is a fixture in the Wisconsin arts community, where he has designed extensively for the Oconomowoc High School Players—earning many Jerry Awards for productions such as White Christmas, and Footloose, and Cabaret—as well as Summer Stage of Delafield, TheateRed, Acacia Theatre Company, and Sunset Playhouse.

Before joining the faculty at UWM, Chris held teaching positions at Cardinal Stritch University, Wisconsin Lutheran College, and the University of Southern California. He is also a co-founder of the Namaste Theatre Company in Los Angeles.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from St. John’s University and a Master of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from Wayne State University. He remains committed to mentoring the next generation of theatre practitioners by bridging the gap between classroom theory and the rigorous demands of professional, live entertainment.

Curriculum Vitae, CV (PDF)