Empowering artists to do their best work — I’ll handle the rest.

M E E T J O E L L E

Artistic & Creative Manager

I make things—immersive shows, unforgettable events, joyful teams, and systems that actually work.

For 15+ years, I’ve worked at the crossroads of theatre, events, and creative collaboration. I’m a producer, stage manager, director, creative coordinator, and artistic partner—someone who can hold both the vision and the calendar, the story arc and the budget spreadsheet. My process is rooted in collaboration, communication, creativity, and integrity. And from what folks tell me, I’m a bit of an “artist whisperer”—the person who can meet a team exactly where they are and help bring out their best work.

My creative home base for many years was Sacramento, where I directed, produced, performed, and led with organizations like Artistic Differences, Big Idea Theatre, and the UC Davis School of Theatre and Dance. I also spent nearly a decade with Unseen Heroes, a creative agency focused on placemaking and culture-shifting event design. There, I helped grow the Midtown Farmers Market into a beloved city staple, led brand and event strategies for clients like Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office and Planned Parenthood, and eventually served as Creative Operations Manager—mentoring a multi-disciplinary team and shaping systems that helped the work thrive without losing its heart.

Along the way, I co-created Boxed Up, an episodic, immersive romantic musical staged monthly in an apartment loft. It grew from a small living room idea into a seven-month theatrical experiment involving 80+ artists—and it sold out nearly every time. The experience taught me how to dream big while staying deeply rooted in community and care. One of my collaborators later said I make “even the most obscure projects feel familiar and accessible”—and I hold that as high praise.
I’m also a longtime creative partner on Ranked, a Musical, which gained national attention after its 2019 premiere and was later featured in HBO’s My So-Called High School Rank. I led the show’s initial marketing and brand development, directed the concert performance for HBO, and recently rejoined the team in 2025 as producer and creative coordinator for a weeklong workshop at Texas State University. From launch strategies to tech week to post-show breakdowns, I’m there to elevate the work and the people behind it.
As a proud member of Actors’ Equity, I’ve stage managed with Capital Stage, Sacramento Theatre Company, and others, and taught production and leadership to emerging artists through UC Davis and other programs. Whether I’m building out a rehearsal process, facilitating creative strategy, or leading a team through a whirlwind of logistics, I show up with care, clarity, and a deep respect for the people I’m working alongside.
Now based in Seattle, I’m excited to collaborate with theatre companies, arts orgs, and creative collectives who value process as much as product—teams who know that trust, joy, and communication are what make the magic sustainable.
Let’s build something brilliant, weird, and wildly effective together.