ABOUT JONATHAN HETLER

Jonathan is a director, casting director, and producer based in Milwaukee. He currently serves as the Artistic Producer at Milwaukee Rep, where he line produces across the season and collaborates with artists from first design meeting through final performance.

As a director, he recently helmed It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play for Milwaukee Rep, following four seasons remounting the company’s beloved A Christmas Carol and Dino! An Evening With Dean Martin. Outside his artistic home, he has delved into immersive, site-specific productions, including La Cage Aux Folles and Rent.

As a proud member of the Casting Society (CSA), Jonathan has cast more than 40 productions for Milwaukee Rep and continues to champion inclusive, thoughtful casting across all projects.

In his producing capacity, Jonathan has played a key role in Milwaukee Rep’s $81 million capital campaign, helping articulate the institution’s vision throughout the development of its now-opened state-of-the-art Associated Bank Theater Complex. He has curated talent for a wide range of private donor events and works closely with community partners, trustees, and supporters to advance the Rep’s artistic and civic missions. Before returning to the arts, Jonathan spent nearly a decade in the corporate world, ultimately serving as Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for a software company, where he oversaw recruitment, training, budgeting, operations, and DEI initiatives.

He believes deeply in storytelling that brings people together—and in building theaters that feel welcoming, collaborative, and alive.