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In addition to serving as the president of First Look Buffalo Theatre Company, Mike has also been president of First Look Buffalo, for three seasons and a director on Music is Art, for over 10 years, Music is Art, is a Buffalo non-profit founded by Goo Goo Dolls bassist, Robby Takac. Robby created the foundation to explore and reshape music's cultural, social, and educational impact on the Buffalo community, providing numerous programs and events to youth that might not otherwise be able to develop their musical interests.
Prior to retiring, Mike worked as an executive for several real estate technology companies and founded his own consulting company, WAV Group, in 2003, which he ran until retiring in 2020 with the onset of Covid.
Mike spends his days now supporting the non-profitis he works with, spending time with his family, writing and recording music, woodworking and golf, when, when the Buffalo weather allows.
Prior to retiring, Mike worked as an executive for several real estate technology companies and founded his own consulting company, WAV Group, in 2003, which he ran until retiring in 2020 with the onset of Covid.
Mike spends his days now supporting the non-profitis he works with, spending time with his family, writing and recording music, woodworking and golf, when, when the Buffalo weather allows.
Joel HusVar - Vice President
Joel HusVar serves as Vice President of First Look Buffalo. Mr. HusVar brings over 15 years of business experience to First Look Buffalo. He was the general manager of HusVar Fine Art in Buffalo in 2009 and has since founded multiple companies. His experience is across multiple industries including art, real estate, finance, fund raising, venture capital and manufacturing. As the current owner of HusVar Real Estate Mr HusVar leads over 60 agents. He recently served as the President of the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors with over 3.700 members, a Director of the New York State association of Realtors and is a Director of the National Association of Realtors. We are excited to bring so much national experience to First Look Buffalo.
Lori Lenoci
Lori is a Western New York native, originally from Amherst, now living downtown in the heart of Buffalo’s Theatre District. As a former “theatre kid,” Lori has had a lifelong love of singing, dancing, and the arts in general. Moving downtown and becoming more immersed in Buffalo theatre has reignited the spark to get involved both as a performer and behind the scenes. She serves as a volunteer for the MusicalFare Ambassadors program and looks forward to expanding her role as director with First Look Buffalo Theatre Company. Lori has spent the bulk of her working life in public service but also spent some years as an esthetician and massage therapist. She holds a degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from the University at Buffalo, as well as a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from SUNY Buffalo State. Lori is excited to be a part of the First Look Buffalo family, and looks forward to participating in the continued expansion and success of the Company!
Susan Rusch-Oconnell
Susan has been a board member of First Look Buffalo since its official start in January 2022. Her desire is to make the art of theater available to all age groups and economic tiers. Susan has worked for a variety of business corporations and self-owned companies, including General/Operations manager for The Gap/ Old Navy, buyer and management positions for a variety of retail venues, loan officer and mortgage broker, real estate agent and currently she is an assistant manager for Robert Basil Buick GMC Cadillac in Orchard Park, NY.
Susan has vast experience working for non-for-profit organizations, including a board member of ActsMetro in Columbia, SC from 2008-2014. She has been a mentor to families in crisis, a leader of Act Teens and Girls in Action/ girls organizations (2000-2006) among
several other mission and outreach projects throughout her life. She currently lives in Dunkirk NY with her husband Billy. They have 2 daughters and 7 grandchildren.
Susan has vast experience working for non-for-profit organizations, including a board member of ActsMetro in Columbia, SC from 2008-2014. She has been a mentor to families in crisis, a leader of Act Teens and Girls in Action/ girls organizations (2000-2006) among
several other mission and outreach projects throughout her life. She currently lives in Dunkirk NY with her husband Billy. They have 2 daughters and 7 grandchildren.
Dan Hope - Director
Dan Hope is an attorney based in New York. He currently serves as lead counsel for the creative, advertising, marketing and media division of a global professional services and technology company. For many years before becoming an attorney, Dan was an active member of the New York City theater community, where he acted, wrote, directed, produced and founded theater companies. Dan loves spending time with his wife and kids, traveling, cooking and woodworking. He’s a proud Buffalo native with deep roots in the city and is delighted to be part of the First Look Buffalo board.
Bob Rusch - Director/Artistic Director
Bob is the founder and former artistic director of SkyPilot Theatre Company in Los Angeles and is a co-founder and current artistic director for First Look Buffalo Theatre Company in Buffalo NY. He has produced over 30 productions, many of which were world premieres. Some of his favorite’s were KONG: A GODDAMN THIRTY FOOT GORILLA by Adam Hahn, WAR BRIDE by Samantha Macher, DETECTIVE PARTNER HERO VILLAIN by Brett Neveu and FURSONA NON GRATA by Jeff Goode. He also began teaching scene study and audition technique at Acting Studio 716 which he founded in 2016 in Buffalo NY.
As an actor, some of Bob’s favorite theatre roles are Mountain McClintock in REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT by Rod Serling, The Driver in HELLCAB by Will Kern, The Partner in DETECTIVE PARTNER HERO VILLAIN by Brett Neveu, Bernie in SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO by David Mamet and Ross in the 2014 World Premiere of RESET by Samantha Macher. While working in Los Angeles, Bob worked on such classic shows as WILL AND GRACE, ER, CROSSING JORDAN and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. Bob is most known for playing Doyle McPoyle on the cult classic ITS ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and the recurring character of Skeeter on the huge hit SONS OF ANARCHY. He also worked on many films including SAVING MR. BANKS, CHRISTMAS IN VERMONT, THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF WOLFBOY, WIDOW’S POINT and the critically acclaimed TOM OF YOUR LIFE directed by Jeremy Sklar.
When Bob is not acting or producing, he is very focused on helping people buy and sell homes all over WNY as a licensed real estate agent with HusVar Real Estate.
As an actor, some of Bob’s favorite theatre roles are Mountain McClintock in REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT by Rod Serling, The Driver in HELLCAB by Will Kern, The Partner in DETECTIVE PARTNER HERO VILLAIN by Brett Neveu, Bernie in SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO by David Mamet and Ross in the 2014 World Premiere of RESET by Samantha Macher. While working in Los Angeles, Bob worked on such classic shows as WILL AND GRACE, ER, CROSSING JORDAN and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. Bob is most known for playing Doyle McPoyle on the cult classic ITS ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and the recurring character of Skeeter on the huge hit SONS OF ANARCHY. He also worked on many films including SAVING MR. BANKS, CHRISTMAS IN VERMONT, THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF WOLFBOY, WIDOW’S POINT and the critically acclaimed TOM OF YOUR LIFE directed by Jeremy Sklar.
When Bob is not acting or producing, he is very focused on helping people buy and sell homes all over WNY as a licensed real estate agent with HusVar Real Estate.
Matthew Igoe- Director
Matthew Igoe graduated from Princeton in 2020 with a major in Religion and minors in Creative Writing and Humanistic Studies. After working at a publishing house in Boston, Matthew moved home at the end of 2023 where he is presently managing a career,assisting with the founding of a startup in Provincetown, MA.
Matthew’s publishing experience is a major bonus for FIrst Look Buffalo Theatre Company as he in integral in contributing to the upbuilding of the arts in Western New York. He is currently managing First Look Buffalo’s grant writing committee, working with multiple foundations throughout the U.S., to build First Look Buffalo’s financial security.
Matthew’s publishing experience is a major bonus for FIrst Look Buffalo Theatre Company as he in integral in contributing to the upbuilding of the arts in Western New York. He is currently managing First Look Buffalo’s grant writing committee, working with multiple foundations throughout the U.S., to build First Look Buffalo’s financial security.
Akshat Sharma
Akshat Sharma has acted extensively in the vibrant theatre scenes of Madison, Wisc., Boston, Mass. and now Buffalo, NY where he got his start with First Look Buffalo's 2024 New Play Reading Festival. His main stage début was with First Look's The Day I Learned to Fly. Currently, he serves on First Look Buffalo's board where his main focus is grant writing and fundraising. Akshat is also an immunologist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Centre where his research focuses on T cell-based therapies for solid tumours.
Sponsors/Grants
Erie County Cultural Funding Grant
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