PROFESSIONAL BIO
Stewart Troupe is a Cultural Entrepreneur, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in Management and Producing from the California Institute of the Arts in May 2015. Stewart’s path to producing is about as varied and unexpected as could be. Stewart graduated from the University of the Pacific in 2002 with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, specializing in operatic performance and song recital. While at Pacific, Stewart originated the Stage Directing Seminar with Director James Haffner, developing a curriculum that balanced experimental theater exploration with traditional opera directing lessons, developing designs and stage plans for 5 one-act operas. After freelancing as a concert vocalist and stage director for many years, Stewart embarked on his first community-based business venture, The Blue District.
The Blue District aimed to be the first of it’s kind; a high-touch marketing experience, blending the benefits of curated retail experiences with the convenience of online reviews and social media promotions, leading to shared governance and economic dominance of it’s clients in select geographic markets. As Chief Marketing Officer, Stewart’s work was three-fold: to work with each small business client to identify and highlight key values of the business, to create detailed guest experiences, and to galvanize the general public to feel empowered to engage in conversation with the owners and the management through online channels.
Although The Blue District went the way of many startups in 2008, Stewart became engrossed in the local business community, developing sales plans for local restaurants, and, in 2010, volunteering his time with California Music Theater. During his time with CMT, Stewart headed up the already existing Subscriber Benefit Program, which saw the theater company pairing with local small businesses to deliver rewards and incentives for season subscribers. Stewart worked diligently to balance business and marketing needs of each small business, with proper incentives appropriate for CMT’s target demographic.
While at the California Institute of the Arts, Stewart served as the Communications Strategist for the CalArts Center for New Performance. Stewart also produced many community based art pieces that explored the intersection of originally created art and theater, and specific community demographics. In 2013, he produced the initial workshops of L.A. Founding Families, an original theater piece created by Marissa Chibas, starring Roger Guenveur Smith and actress and political activist Tonantzin Carmelo, which explored the diverse racial and cultural makeup of historic Los Angeles. L.A. Founding Families was performed at the historic Pico House in downtown Los Angeles in May 2013. Other projects at CalArts included serving as Executive Producer and Creative Director for CalArts Spring Event 2013, an outdoor electronic music festival, and serving as head of the producing committee of DRAG, an annual festival of gender and performance, advocating for the LGBTQ audience on CalArts, featuring several guest artists and lecturers from the Los Angeles drag and performance art scenes.
Currently Stewart functions as Producer, Director, and Community Activist, developing site-specific works to be produced both in Los Angeles and New Orleans in 2017. He is directing a new play with writer John Michael Johnson, and has started work on his first feature-length film. Stewart lives in the Los Angeles area, with an actor roommate and a needy houseplant that takes up most of his time and attention.