About Me
Tommy Novak (they/them/their) is a non-binary, Chicago-based AEA/AGMA performer, director, teaching artist. Undergraduate degree Bachelor of Arts Degree in Acting Performance, Direction, & Dance as well as earned a Master's in Music Theater Vocal Pedagogy from Carthage College. Tommy is the Current Assistant Teaching Professor of Musical theatre for the theatre Conservatory in CCPA at Roosevelt. Where they teach The Acting for the Musical Stage Sequence and other musical theatre corses.
Tommy has worked as an actor for both regional and international theater companies, including The Lyric Opera Chicago, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Marriott Theatre, The Mercury Theatre Chicago, Skylight Music Theatre, Metropolis, Orlando Family Stage(Formerly Orlando Rep), Shawnee Summer Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago, First Stage Milwaukee, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Kwan Kwan Theater Jinan, iMusical Shanghai, and The Nanjing University Conservatory. Tommy is represented by Paonessa Talent.
As an actor, Tommy earned a 2016 Jeff Nomination for their performance as Max Bialystok in Night Blue’s production of “The Producers.” Tommy also is nominated the 2023 equity Jeff Awards for best direction & best midsize production for both CLUE and Pricilla Queen of the Desert at the Mercury Theater Chicago. Tommy's production of Romeo and Juliet won the 2019 Broadway World Regional Award for Best professional production.
As a teaching artist, Tommy is a member of the Music Theater Educators Alliance and has held several artist residences with several companies throughout The United States and China. They also specialize in working with Trans and Non-Binary Artists helping people through their transition vocally. They have performed and directed in China for two performance tours, including a 2018 cabaret and 2016 performance festival.
Tommy is the directing specialist with Kwan Kwan Music Theatre School of the Arts in Jinan, and Uptown Musical theater in Chongqing, China. Tommy Novak has also led educational workshops in Shanghai, Xi’An, Beijing, Nanjing, and Huairou. A multi-talented theater artist, Tommy Novak has worked on several wardrobe, wig, make up, and costume crews for First Stage, Milwaukee Rep, Up and Coming, and Utah Shakespeare Festival. Follow Tommy on Instagram for current theatrical endeavors @tommy.j.novak
- Musical theatre, Theatre, Voice, Trans voice, Acting, Directing,