The Constructivists – Our Origin Story

Born out of rebellion, necessity, and a hunger for truth, The Constructivists emerged in 2017 as a defiant answer to the question: What is theatre for?

Our founder, Jaimelyn Gray, a seasoned artist and provocateur with a deep love of raw, human storytelling, looked around at Milwaukee’s theatrical landscape and saw a gap—between what was safe and what was necessary. She envisioned a space where urgent, thought-provoking, darkly comic, and socially relevant stories could take root and thrive. Where artists could take risks. Where audiences wouldn’t just be entertained—they’d be challenged, discomforted, transformed.

Inspired by the etymology of the word CONSTRUCTIVE—originating from the Latin word "construere," meaning "to build," and then later, “being helpful”–The Constructivists set out to make theatre that dismantles assumptions and reconstructs perspective.

Our early seasons featured bold, award-winning, and rarely produced plays like The Nether, God of Hell, To Fall in Love, and Women Laughing Alone with Salad. We stripped productions down to their essential elements—raw performances, evocative design, and ideas that mattered. The work was often intimate, visceral, and always unapologetically political.

But more than just a company, The Constructivists became a community—of artists, misfits, thinkers, and risk-takers. We believe theatre is not a mirror held up to reality, but a scalpel that dissects it. We make art for those willing to go there—with us.

Today, from our home at the Broadway Theatre Center in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, we continue to push boundaries and provoke dialogue in our 8th Season and beyond. Whether through contemporary world premieres or dangerous classics, we are dedicated to building theatre that confronts the now and dares to imagine what’s next.

the constructivists MISSION

live theatre, and the human connection it provides, is needed now more than ever. the constructivists are committed to creating accessible, viscerally-driven live theatre, exposing and exploring the complexity of human nature and the perils it creates. this in an effort to challenge, enlighten, educate, and entertain a diverse mature audience.

the constructivists are:

Founder and Artistic Director
Jaimelyn Gray (bio)

Company Members
Sarah Harris, Resident Set Designer (bio)
Les Zarzecki, Resident Set Craftsman (bio)
Maya Danks, Actor, Director, Playwright, Resident Casting Director (bio)
Liz Ehrler, Actor, Director, Producer, Resident Business Liaison (bio)
Rebekah Farr, Actor, Director, Educator, Resident Education Director (bio)
Ekene Ikegwuani, Actor, Musician, Resident Local Music Liaison (bio)
Matthew Scales, Actor, Husband, Father of Two, Company Non-Equity Deputy (bio)
Ellie Rabinowitz, Resident Lighting Designer, Mentor (bio)

Artistic Associate Artists
Vee Delgado, Costume Designer (bio)
Nicole McCarty, Singer, Actor, Teacher (bio)
Logan Milway, Actor, Educator (bio)
Clayton Mortl, Actor, Playwright (bio)
Laura Sturm, Actor, Director, Educator (bio)
Kellie Wambold, Actor, Playwright, Musician (bio)

Advisory Board
Amanda Bowen, M.A., Program Manager for Go Learn at Continuing Education at The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Michael Rebekah, Director and Producer, Chicago, IL
Dave Knox, Attorney, Phoenix, AZ

Artistic Advisors
J.R. Sullivan, Director, Actor, Teacher, Chicago, IL (bio)
James Pickering, Actor, Director, Teacher, Milwaukee, WI (bio)