Board of Directors
CARLA MILARCH
President
is a former Artistic Director of the award-winning Performance Network Theatre, whose passion for new plays led her to found Theatre NOVA. As a dramaturg, director and artistic director, she has brought over 25 brand new plays to world premieres, as well as hundreds to staged readings, including those at the Michigan Playwrights Festival, the Fireside New Play Festival, the National New Play Network (NNPN) National Showcase of New Plays, and the Kennedy Center's MFA playwright's showcase. She served as a board member on the NNPN for 10 years, and co-founded the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance, on which she served as Board President from 2011-2014. Some awards include “Best Overall Season/Artistic Direction” from the Oakland Press, “Outstanding Contributions to an Ensemble” from The Detroit Free Press, “Most Valuable Performer” from the Oakland Press, and the Between the Lines “Angel” award for outstanding contributions to the LGBT community, as well as numerous awards for acting and direction. Carla started her career as an actress. By her early teens, Carla's love for the arts flourished and she was accepted to the world-famous Interlochen Arts Academy in the acting department. Attending high school with Jennifer Ehle and Elizabeth Marvel, and later college with Parker Posey, Seth Gilliam, and Reno Wilson at SUNY Purchase, Carla studied alongside some of today's most talented actors. Carla’s love and experience for both sides of the stage have taken her from producing theater at The Barn Theater in Port Sanilac Michigan, to co-founding a theater in Amarillo, TX with her Purchase classmates, to working at MiraMax Films in New York City, to helping establish Performance Network as an artistic leader in Michigan, to producing theater in a barn again, this time in the middle of a world class city, at Theatre NOVA. She is a proud resident of Ann Arbor, where she lives with her husband Phil Powers and son, William Tyrone, a proud producer of regional theater, and a proud advocate of the American New Play.
PHIL POWERS
Secretary
Phil is an actor and director. Most recently he appeared as "Me" in Clutter. He also played Julius, the big-time Hollywood director in TN’s Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes. He has worked professionally in the Detroit area for 20 years at Meadow Brook Theatre, City Theatre, Gem Theatre, Tipping Point, Performance Network, Purple Rose, and the Hilberry stage. He directed Grounded for Theatre NOVA and Becky Shaw for Performance Network. He has been awarded by the Detroit Free Press, the Oakland Press, and EncoreMichigan for his work. TV credits: Hung (HBO) and Low Winter Sun (AMC). Film credits: The Butcher’s Wife, Frozen Stupid, Beyond the Mask, Street Boss, Escanaba in ‘da Moonlight, and Super Sucker. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. He is married to Carla Milarch, the founder of Theatre NOVA, and he is as proud of her dedication to making great theatre as he is of their son, William.
BECKY FOX
Treasurer
DAVID WOLBER
Former Director of the Children’s Theatre Network at Performance Network Theatre for 25 years, she directed and/or performed in 2 to 4 shows a season touring to schools and community centers all over southeast Michigan. Becky believes the arts can change the world because she has seen success firsthand. She has taught hundreds of students of all ages through theatre workshops and classes as the Director of Educational Outreach at Performance Network, Drama Supervisor for the Ann Arbor Public Schools Community Education and Recreation, and now the Education Director at Theatre NOVA. Becky has witnessed the power of theatre and creative drama which awakens the creativity, intellect, and compassion of students for further learning in all of their studies. Becky started her career as an actress performing in summer stock and dinner theatre productions and has a Bachelor of Science with a theatre major and marketing minor from Eastern Michigan University. She and her husband, Michael Fox own the Fullhouse Restaurant in Ypsilanti and have a daughter, Hallie Fox attending the University of Michigan’s Honors Program. Becky is proud to be on staff at Theatre NOVA because the Shows are so darn good!
​
​
David Wolber is an actor and director. He served as the Artistic Director at Performance Network Theatre from 2007 to 2014. Most recently, he directed Apple Season by E. M. Lewis at Theatre NOVA. David has performed and directed at many professional theatres across southeast Michigan, including Detroit Repertory Theatre, Meadow Brook Theatre, Williamston Theatre, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Matrix Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, Performance Network Theatre, Boarshead Theatre, and he performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. You may have seen him in a handful of commercials and independent Michigan films. David is an alumnus of Wayne State's theatre program. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and Americans for the Arts, and he's an Associate Producer on Jasmine Rivera's short film American Prophet. Follow your path. davidwolber.com
CATHERINE ZUDAK
is a writer, producer, director and actor in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has a wealth of administrative experience as a volunteer with nonprofit organizations, including grant writing, database management, direct fundraising and event planning. She also has demonstrated a passion for live theatre, with an emphasis on new works. She inaugurated and produced Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s new play festival from 2006 to 2015. For the last five years, she has directed table and concert readings as an independent producer as well as for local theatres Ms. Zudak has served on the board of directors for Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, Orchid: A Literary Journal, and Carriage House Theatre. She recently founded a nonprofit organization, Pass the Hat Promotions, to develop new works on socially relevant topics and facilitate community conversations. She has a master’s degree in public administration from George Washington University and is a member of the American Society for Public Administration, Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, Ann Arbor Storytellers Guild, Detroit Institute of Arts Museum, Detroit Zoological Society, Dramatist’s Guild, 5th From the Left Writer’s Workshop, Film Independent, MIchigan Theatre, People’s Food Co-op, George Washington University Alumni Association and Temple Beth Emeth.