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.