Sweet Tea Shakespeare, the Fayetteville-based theater company known for its community-driven productions, is undergoing a transition of leadership by welcoming a new CEO and artistic director.
Effective Thursday, Jessie Wise became the executive director and CEO, and Traycie Kuhn-Zapata took over as artistic director.
Wise will be leading the company's overall efforts. With a background in theater education and management, Wise brings a blend of skills to guide and nurture Sweet Tea Shakespeare (STS) into its next chapter.
Kuhn-Zapata will be bringing her creative vision to the artistic endeavors of the company and its productions.
Both Wise and Kuhn-Zapata are long-standing STS company members and have served in various roles both on stage and behind the scenes. By promoting those who have been engrained with the company nearly since its inception, the values of Inclusive Community-Building, Exploration of Artistic Expression & Co-Creation, and Memorable Audience Experiences of Delight and Fun will continue to be at the forefront of Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s ethos.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare Founder and most recent CEO Jeremy Fiebig moves to the role of director of mission, stepping away from day-to-day operations and focusing on furthering the organization's core values and broader impact while also tackling other passion projects.
Jessie Wise, CEO
In the role of CEO, Wise brings not only her stage experience, but also a background in theater education, Shakespearean history, and event planning, plus a passion for building authentic relationships that support the mental health benefits of being part of a creative and inclusive community.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare Board President Gerard Falls said, “Jessie brings a passion for the mission of Sweet Tea Shakespeare, is an accomplished actor, and has the skills and vision to lead us forward into our next chapter.”
Under Wise’s leadership, Sweet Tea Shakespeare is committed to an increased focus on igniting a sense of community in the theater and beyond.
“We love when audiences love our performances,” Wise said. “But even more, we truly hope they will find themselves welcomed, encouraged, and uplifted in ways that go far beyond entertainment. We hope they will feel like family — and find ways to plug into the STS community. Whether it is volunteering, giving financially, inviting friends, performing or in any other way, each person is a part of shaping the Sweet Tea Shakespeare story.”
Later this month, Wise makes her main stage directorial debut with Sweet Tea Shakespeare's "Blue Ridge Juliet," an original script that weaves the classic tale of star-crossed lovers with the evocative melodies of the Appalachians. The show runs Feb. 22 to March 3 at Methodist University. Tickets are on sale at sweetteashakespeare.com
Traycie Kuhn-Zapata, artistic director
Kuhn-Zapata, a long-time member of Sweet Tea Shakespeare, is known for her roles as an actor and singer in many STS productions through the years. She has also led key projects like the Green Tea Youth Company and the LIT drunk Shakespeare series. Her deep involvement in season programming showcases her dedication and creativity. As artistic director, Kuhn-Zapata is set to steer Sweet Tea Shakespeare toward new heights of artistic achievement and community involvement.
“I am incredibly grateful and honored to become artistic director of Sweet Tea Shakespeare," Kuhn-Zapata said. "If my 10 years with the company has imprinted anything on me, it is that love is the strongest choice. Our performances are an expression of how our company feels about each other and our community. I am excited, then, to move these ideals even further by incorporating innovative and unique ideas for both upcoming productions and our company as a whole.”
Members of the community are invited to connect with Wise and the new leadership team for additional information. Please contact Wise at jwise@sweetteashakespeare.com or 910-420-4383 and Kuhn-Zapata at tkuhn-zapata@sweetteashakespeare.com.
