Michael Ritzert

Title: Former DTAA Graduate Assistant

Biography

Michael Ritzert is a second-year student in the Arts Administration Graduate program. He earned his B.A. in English from Kent State University in 2013 and currently serves as the President of Carnation City Players (CCP)—a nonprofit performing arts organization based out of the historic Firehouse Theater in Alliance, OH. This past summer, Michael worked at The American Dance Festival in Durham, NC, on Duke University’s campus, where he served as the School Administration intern. He also recently interned at Playhouse Square in its Community Engagement and Education department. Michael has developed and led theater outreach programs for the YMCA of Central Stark County, Rodman Public Library, local schools, and has directed two-week youth workshops at CCP. While active off the stage, Michael has also performed in over forty productions at venues throughout Northeast Ohio including CCP, The Players Guild Theatre of Canton, Weathervane Playhouse, The Akron Civic Theater, Kent State Stark, Mighty Goliath Productions, and Shakespeare at the Castle—an annual theater festival held by The University of Mount Union. Some of his favorite roles include Jack in Into the Woods, Peter van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank, Dickon in Secret Garden, and Grumio in The Taming of the Shrew. His combined experiences in nonprofit organizations and theater led him to The University of Akron to pursue Arts Administration.