Justin Lucero
Artistic Director

Email: justin@latteda.org

Regarded as a leader of the theater field and in theater education, Justin Lucero (he/him) serves as Artistic Director of the award-winning musical theater company, Theater Latté Da, in Minneapolis. Previously he was a tenure-track member of faculty at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama as a Professor of Directing for The John Wells Directing Program, of which he was also Associate Chair. Justin is Artistic Advisor for this 30th anniversary season of El Paso Opera, where he served as Artistic Director for six of his thirteen seasons there. He is the recipient of prestigious engagements such as a Directing Fellowship with Asolo Repertory Theatre (Florida), a Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Observership at South Coast Repertory (Los Angeles), a FAIR Assistantship with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and a Directing Attachment at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (London’s West End). He was named to the 2021-2022 BIPOC Leadership Circle by artEquity, in partnership with the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, and is a 2022-2023 TCG (Theatre Communications Group) Rising Leaders of Color awardee supported by Opportunity Fund and Walt Disney Imagineering, as well as a member of TCG’s board-level governance in the inaugural Next Generation Taskforce. He also served on the Blue Ribbon Panel with The American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League to select the 2023 Tony Award winner for Excellence in Theatre Education, and continues to be a grants evaluator for the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition, he was selected to be a member of the 2023 OPERA America Leadership Intensive cohort, a highly selective program which seeks to identify and develop “leaders who will move opera forward for years to come.” Training: London’s top-ranked East 15 Acting School (MFA in Directing with Distinction).

Elisa Spencer-Kaplan
Managing Director

Email: elisa@latteda.org

A native of Minnesota and graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, MN, Elisa Spencer-Kaplan (She/Her) holds an MFA in Theater Management from Yale School of Drama. She served five years as Executive Director of The Acting Company in New York City. The Tony Award-winning repertory theater presents national tours as well as Off-Broadway repertory seasons in New York City and Shakespeare tours in New York City schools, while focused on new play development, a reading series, and K-12 education programs serving students in economically disadvantaged communities, both locally and nationally. Prior to joining The Acting Company, she worked in administrative, finance and planning roles at Second Stage Theatre, York Theatre and CAP21 Conservatory and Theatre Company, all in New York City. Her career also includes work with the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis and Shattered Globe Theatre in Chicago. Spencer-Kaplan most recently served as Managing Director at Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, FL.

Elissa Adams
Associate Artistic Director & Director of New Work

Email: elissa@latteda.org
Phone: 612-339-3003

Elissa Adams (She/her) has spent her career developing new work. In her 19 seasons as Director of New Play development at Children's Theatre Company, she commissioned and developed more than 45 new plays and musicals that premiered at CTC and went on to productions across the country. She was Literary Manager/Dramaturg at La Jolla Playhouse and Director of Playwright Services at The Playwrights' Center, where she oversaw the Center's Jerome and McKnight Fellowships and served as Artistic Director of PlayLabs. She is a frequent dramaturg at the Sundance Theatre Lab, an Adjunct Professor at MCAD, a recipient of the McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship and a former Board Member at Open Eye Figure Theatre and TYA/USA. She holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from UC San Diego.

Allen Weeks
Director of Production & Operations

Email: allen@latteda.org
Phone: 612-746-1783

Allen (He/Him) has been working in the Twin Cites as a production manager, stage manager, and designer since graduating from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree in Technical Production. Before working with Theater Latté Da he was the Production Manager at Penumbra Theatre and Actors Theater of Minnesota, and the Company Manager at Climb Theater.  Allen has also done work with Sample Night Live, Theatre Mu, Walt Disney World, Sesame Street Live/VEE Corporation, ShopNBC, Bloomington Civic Theatre, Virginia Luoma Dance, Minnesota Fringe Festival, Keane Sense of Rhythm, and many others.

Brittany Wallman
Director of Marketing

Email: brittany@latteda.org
Phone: 612-767-5646

Brittany (She/Her) has been a communications consultant, marketing strategist & event organizer in the Twin Cities for over a decade. With a passion for the arts, entertainment, and environments that foster creativity, Brittany is most excited about work that centers on building connections between people and their spaces.  Before joining the Theater Latté Da team, Brittany spent time fundraising as the Director of Advancement with Minnesota’s longest-standing women’s political organization, Women Winning. Brittany has also spent time consulting with various nonprofits in Minnesota including Flip the Script Fest, Women’s Advocates, and The Ordway Center for Performing Arts. 

Bethany Reinfeld
Technical Director

Email: bethany@latteda.org

Bethany Reinfeld (She/Her) describes Technical Direction as "Building worlds for characters to come to life in". She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theater and Drama with a specialization in Technical Direction from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She also has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design Tech with an emphasis in Technical Direction and Scenic Design from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She is a native to the Twin Cities and has done work with Mixed Blood Theater, Normandale Community College, Yellow Tree Theater, Jungle Theater and Sesame Street Live/VEE Corporation to list a few. She is thrilled to be continuing her artistic craft at Theater Latté Da.

Christian Erben
Associate Production Manager

Email: christian@latteda.org

Christian Erben (she/her) is a contract stage manager in the Twin Cities and is so excited to be working at Theater Latte Da! Christian was born and raised in Austin, TX and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, where she emphasized stage management, properties, and performance. She has been working professionally in stage management since 2018, and made a big move up to Minnesota at the end of 2022 to pursue a career in theatre. In the cities, she has worked with The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Theater Mu, Mixed Blood Theater, and Lakeshore Players Theatre, with upcoming contracts at  Artistry MN and Lyric Arts. She serves on the board of VIBE ATX, a non-profit dance company focusing on inclusivity and accessibility in Austin, TX, and is the secretary on the board for Maestro Arts Project, a theatre non-profit based in San Marcos, TX, where she previously was their Director of Communications. Maestro Arts Project focuses on providing training and resources to theatre teachers in underfunded and rural areas of Texas, as well as making classes and services to their students more accessible to help set up kids for successful futures in the arts.

Gillian Constable
Development Associate

Email: gillian@latteda.org

Gillian Constable (She/Her) is an actor, dialect coach, singer, and flautist. A dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia, Gillian made the Twin Cities her home after graduating from Luther College in 2017 with a BA in Theatre and minor in Music. Since then, she has acted with various theatres including Frank Theatre, Lyric Arts, BARd Shakes, Fearless Comedy, St. Croix Festival, Lakeshore Players, and more. Gillian spent the first 18 months of her time at TLD as the Box Office Manager before transitioning into the Development Associate and Access Coordinator role. She is passionate about forging relationships within the TLD community and is committed to making TLD accessible to all folks who want to experience its wonderful art.

Peter Rothstein
Co-Founder

Peter Rothstein (He/Him) has directed 78 mainstage productions for Theater Latté Da, including 11 world premieres. He served as TLD’s artistic director for 25 years before joining Asolo Repertory Theatre as its producing artistic director in July 2023. Other collaborations include the Guthrie Theater, the Children’s Theatre Company, Minnesota Opera, Ten Thousand Things, Minnesota Orchestra, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater, the Zach Theatre, Boston Lyric Opera, and Asolo Rep. He is the creator of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 which won the 2019 New York Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience. Peter was named the 2015 Artist of the Year by the Star Tribune, Theater Artist of the Year by Lavender, and Best Director by City Pages. He has received nine Ivey Awards and has been awarded grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the McKnight Foundation. He holds a B.A. in Music and Theater from St. John’s University and a Master of Fine Arts in Directing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. www.Peter-Rothstein.com.

Denise Prosek
Co-Founder 

Denise Prosek (She/Her) has worked extensively as a music director, pianist, and arranger in the Twin Cities for the past twenty years, including over 40 mainstage productions for Theater Latté Da. She has also music directed for Children’s Theatre Company, the Guthrie, Park Square, Mu Performing Arts, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Hennepin Theatre Trust, and the Ivey Awards, among others. Denise holds a Bachelor of Music from St. Olaf College. She was named a Play­wrights’ Center McKnight Theater Artist Fellow in 2013-2014, Outstanding Musical Director in 2006 and 2008 from Star Tribune, Best Music Director in 2010 from Lavender, and Theater Artist of the Year in 2012 from Lavender.