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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.
Ryan Gruchala - Treasurer
Ryan Gruchal, is a Senior Accountant with The Bonadio Group. His office is in
East Aurora. Ryan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Accounting from
Canisius University, and is a Certified Public Accountant in New York State. He has
four years of experience in accounting and has worked with many nonprofits on
their compliance needs.
Ryan was active in the theatre productions at Saint Francis High School, during his
time there, and regularly attends productions at many of our local theaters.
When Ryan heard about First Look Buffalo, and our mission, he was very excited
about joining our board. He particularly likes our focus on developing new
Playwright material!
Ryan has also agreed to serve as Treasurer for our board!
East Aurora. Ryan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Accounting from
Canisius University, and is a Certified Public Accountant in New York State. He has
four years of experience in accounting and has worked with many nonprofits on
their compliance needs.
Ryan was active in the theatre productions at Saint Francis High School, during his
time there, and regularly attends productions at many of our local theaters.
When Ryan heard about First Look Buffalo, and our mission, he was very excited
about joining our board. He particularly likes our focus on developing new
Playwright material!
Ryan has also agreed to serve as Treasurer for our board!
Stacey Kosiorek- Secretary
Stacy works currently, with M&T Bank as a data analyst. Stacey has been interested in the film, theater and TV mediums for as long as she can remember. When asked as a child of what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would always answer the same: an actress, an Archaeologist (we can thank Indiana Jones for that) and an FBI Agent.
Stacey has worked in theatre, behind the scenes in productions, over the years, doing set work, painting, and quickly became the Props department for the productions she worked on. In 2016, she started acting classes with Frank Rossi and then classes with Bob Rusch. These classes also deepened her love and interest in supporting the local theater and film industries.
Stacey brings her valuable marketing and social media skills to First Look Buffalo, helping the company expand it’s viewer base and increase revenue as a member of our fundraising committee..
Stacey has worked in theatre, behind the scenes in productions, over the years, doing set work, painting, and quickly became the Props department for the productions she worked on. In 2016, she started acting classes with Frank Rossi and then classes with Bob Rusch. These classes also deepened her love and interest in supporting the local theater and film industries.
Stacey brings her valuable marketing and social media skills to First Look Buffalo, helping the company expand it’s viewer base and increase revenue as a member of our fundraising committee..
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.
Luigi Rodo – Director
Luigi Rodo is one of the top Realtors in the Western, NY market, consistently ranking in the top 5% annually for listings and sales, in addition to managing multiple rental properties and a successful property management business. Luigi has served as Treasurer for First Look Buffalo since season one. In addition to his real estate work and duties with First Look Buffalo, Luigi is active in multiple charities.
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.
Samantha Pangborn
Samantha Pangborn is the Fundraising Producer at Buffalo Toronto Public Media where she prepares, produces and directs both live and pre-produced pledge breaks across all of the PBS stations; both on radio and television. Through her position, she has received leadership training from attending 2023’s WNY Women’s Foundation Women’s Leadership Conference and from the Rising Stars Leadership Program with Buffalo’s Clementine Gold Group. Samantha received her education from SUNY Niagara with an Associates Degree in Theatre Arts and completed her Bachelors Degree in Media Production from Buffalo State University. She is elated to be a part of the First Look Buffalo Theatre Companies board where she is committed to using her leadership training and education towards the companies mission, working with top playwrights from around the country to introduce brand new productions to our audiences!
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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