randall Dodge

Co-founder / Artistic Director

Randall has performed and directed throughout the country, most notably in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Anchorage, Washington DC and Dallas. Here in Milwaukee, he most recently played Fagin in Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Oliver!, Captain Emil DeBecq in Forte Theatre Company’s production of South Pacific, and Captain Hook in The Fireside Theatre’s production of Peter Pan.

Favorite credits include Javert in Les Miserables, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Daddy Warbucks in Annie, Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun, Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods, Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, Carl Magnus Malcolm in A Little Night Music and the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Randall previously served as interim Artistic Director for Wonder-Ramma Theatre Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he helped cultivate a number of one man shows including Crazy Love by John Branyon, Spitwads and Dodgeball by Ron Pearson and Freaking Out Loud by Jerry Miner. During his decade long association with Arimaw Productions on the west coast, Randall produced, directed, stage managed and wrote educational outreach programming, festival performances, and live interactive main stage shows for the world famous San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.

Randall studied theatre at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, the professional union for stage actors and stage managers.

ANGIE BIER

Executive Director

Angie first encountered Forte Theatre Company as a parent of a student actor, and quickly became and avid volunteer and, later, board member. When the opportunity to take on a formal leadership role as Executive Director arose, she was honored to be chosen for the role. A passionate supporter of the arts, her combination of organization, vision, and community connections will position Forte for its next chapter after an initial five seasons of bringing Milwaukee’s talent to the Southwest suburbs.

Angie graduated from Lawrence University in 1998, attended medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and completed a pediatrics residency at the University of Arizona, in Tucson, where she  began her medical career. Upon returning to Wisconsin, she joined the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There she cared for pediatric patients at Children’s Wisconsin and Clinics and pursued an academic interest in medical education. She served in numerous advisory and leadership roles, presented at national conferences, and advised students and residents.  Later Angie retired from medical life, taking several years to find her next thing. That next thing was raising her two daughters, and engaging in extensive volunteer work and community service. She also began writing, publishing her first book in 2022 with a second due to be released in 2025.

molly kempfer

education director

Molly’s bio coming soon!

abby james

company stage manager

Abby is proud and honored to have been with Forte Theatre Company since its beginning having had the honor of Stage Managing and Lighting Designing its inaugural production of Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play back in December of 2019. She has since been made an Associate Artist and has worked on nearly every Forte Theatre Company production; youth and mainstage alike.

Abby graduated from Marquette University in January of 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts and Theology & Religion. While at Marquette in her Theatre Arts major, she “double-emphasized” in Performance and Lighting Design. She is currently working toward her Master of Arts degree in Systematic Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. In her free time, Abby enjoys playing with her dog (Zuko), catching up on the latest nerdy shows/movies, and spending time with family and friends.

liam ledford

company sound designer

Liam joined Forte Theatre Company in January of 2024 as Sound Designer for Legally Blonde Jr. He has since been the primary Sound Designer for every Forte production. As an actor, he has performed with numerous Milwaukee area theatre companies. Favorite credits include RENT with Outskirts Theatre Co., Kinky Boots &  Next to Normal at Waukesha Civic Theatre and All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 with Vanguard Productions.

Liam graduated from Purdue University in 2020 with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and a Certificate in Applied Music Technology, and then obtained his masters in Engineering Technology through Purdue in 2023. Liam returned to Wisconsin in late 2023, after an opportunity arose for him to engineer and commission the audiovisual systems at the new Green Bay Packers Conditioning, Rehab and Instruction Center (CRIC) with AVI-SPL. Liam currently works for AVI-SPL as a Project Engineer during his days, and has designed and engineered systems for Northwestern Mutual, American Family Insurance, The Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Rockwell Automation, The United States Air Force, The Indianapolis Colts, The Green Bay Packers, and countless others. In his (limited) free time, he enjoys hunting for rare vinyl records, building Legos, and downhill skiing.

nikki heiniger

company costume designer

Nikki began working with Forte Theatre Company on their production of The Music Man Jr, and has since costumed both mainstage and youth productions there. Nikki’s design work has been featured outside of Forte including memorable shows such as Moana, Jr. for Dare to Dream Theatre; Thoroughly Modern Millie for Waukesha Theatre Company; and the world premiere of RIP: Musical Comedy About Life and Death, presented at Next Act. Her work has been nominated for various awards, and Nikki won a 2019 Footlight Award for Best Costume Design in a Professional Production, for the Zie Magic Flute, with Quasimondo Physical Theatre and Milwaukee Opera Theatre.

Nikki graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, IL with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre. She also holds a Master of Fine Arts in Costume Production from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Professional Theatre Training Program. When she is not creating costumes for the next production, she can be found creating vintage inspired jewelry to sell at area markets under the name Vintage Nicolina, When she has free time, Nikki enjoys going to museums,

concerts, and spending time with her husband and extended family.