Mark Clements is an award‑winning international theater director whose work has been seen in more than 100 major theaters across Europe and the United States. His 17 seasons as Artistic Director of Milwaukee Repertory Theater launched a new era for the institution by bringing large‑scale musicals to the mainstage—now a signature highlight of every season since 2010. His acclaimed musical productions include Cabaret, Next to Normal, Assassins, Ragtime, Dreamgirls, The Color Purple, Man of La Mancha, Guys and Dolls, In the Heights, West Side Story, Titanic the Musical, and Come From Away.

During his tenure, Milwaukee Rep completed an $80.1 million transformation that culminated in the opening of the state-of-the-art Associated Bank Theater Center in October 2025. The new facility expanded the organization’s artistic capabilities with flexible performance venues, enhanced community gathering spaces, and a dedicated Education & Engagement Center. It also strengthened Milwaukee Rep’s ability to develop new work, support artists, and create productions that can reach audiences in Milwaukee and beyond, including future transfers to Broadway and other theaters across the country. 

In addition to his musical work, Mark has directed more than 40 productions at Milwaukee Rep, including the World Premieres of Run Bambi Run by Eric Simonson and Gordon Gano, Antonio’s Song by Dael Orlandersmith, Things I Know to Be True (American Premiere) by Andrew Bovell, One House Over by Catherine Trieschmann, his own adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Five Presidents by Rick Cleveland, and American Song by Joanna Murray‑Smith. He also conceived and directed several original works for the Stackner Cabaret, including Piano Men, Women of Rock, The Greatest Love for Whitney, and The Craic. Additional notable credits include McNeal, The Coast Starlight, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Junk, The Glass Menagerie, Of Mice and Men, Othello, Death of a Salesman, The History of Invulnerability, End of the Rainbow, Clybourne Park, and Bombshells.

Mark’s New York and international credits include Speaking in Tongues, The Milliner, and Blunt Speaking, as well as creating and directing the West End and UK National Tour of Soul Train. Before joining Milwaukee Rep, he served as Associate Artistic Director for several UK theater companies and spent a decade as Artistic Director of the award‑winning Derby Playhouse (1992–2002), where he directed more than 40 productions.

His work has earned nominations for the Olivier Award and multiple UK Theatre Awards, along with three Barrymore Awards for productions at Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Mark is currently collaborating with Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar on the stage adaptation of Akhtar’s critically acclaimed novel American Dervish, which will make its World Premiere at Milwaukee Rep in an upcoming season.

Chad is the Ellen & Joe Checota Executive Director of Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Since his arrival in 2013, Bauman has overseen a significant period of growth for a company that produces about 700 performances a year, making it “the city’s most prolific performing arts organization (Milwaukee Business Journal)” presenting seasons that can “rival anything in Chicago and beyond (Chicago Tribune).”

During his tenure, Milwaukee Rep has eliminated all debt, more than doubled its annual budget and endowment, achieved operating surpluses annually, grew net assets from $16 million to $111 million, raised more $108 million across four successful capital campaigns, and has opened the Associated Bank Theater Center, the largest regional theater complex to open in the United States in the last decade. Under his leadership, Milwaukee Rep has been recognized by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune as one of the most successful regional theaters in the country. 

Previously, Bauman was the Associate Executive Director at Arena Stage where he was instrumental in the 2010 opening of the Mead Center for American Theater, a three-theater performing arts complex dedicated to American voices. While at Arena Stage, he more than doubled earned revenue, reversed a decline in subscriptions by doubling the base, shattered several company sales records and helped raise $145 million in capital funds. In addition, he worked on the Broadway transfers of Next to Normal (Pulitzer Prize; Tony Award), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Tony Award), Wishful Drinking starring Carrie Fisher, Looped starring Valerie Harper, and John Grisham’s A Time to Kill in addition to other notable plays including the world premiere of Marcus Gardley’s Every Tongue Confess starring Phylicia Rashad and Red Hot Patriot starring Kathleen Turner.  

In 2025, Milwaukee BizTimes recognized Bauman as its “Community Leader of the Year” in addition to naming him one of Wisconsin’s most influential business leaders. Bauman has also been Non-Profit CEO of the Year and a notable LGBTQ Executive by BizTimes, a Champion of the Hispanic Community by the United Community Center, Top 40 under 40 and an Annual Power Player by the Milwaukee Business Journal, and one of the most influential leaders under 40 in Washington, DC by Washington Life Magazine. 

Bauman is currently a doctoral candidate in the Organizational Learning and Leadership Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also a graduate of Brown University's Leadership and Performance Coaching Program, Harvard Business School's Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management program, and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Producing from CalArts. Bauman has served as an adjunct professor at American University, Drexel University, and CalArts. He and his husband reside in Whitefish Bay, WI along with their five year old son, and are currently hosting their ninth AFS international exchange student.