Allison Chicorel grew up in Menomonee Falls. She went to Carroll University in Waukesha where she studied music, communications, business & theatre arts. Allison was never a school person and always felt most confident in artistic, musical, theatrical, non-academic settings. Having a career involving theatre arts or music was always a hope. But she was realistic in knowing how few people achieve what’s considered their dream job.
She spent most of her 20’s in nine-to-five jobs while participating in community theatre productions as consistently as possible. Typically she was in 7 or 8 productions a year, before beginning work at New Theatre on Main, in 2015. It is now known as The Box Theatre.
About Allison Chicorel
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I’m the youngest and only girl of my dad’s 6 children, with 2 brothers and 3 half brothers. My dog is really my kid, named Maestro, He’s 11 years old and is very rarely NOT with me. Yes, he goes to work with me every day, goes to friend’s houses with me, and runs errands with me. I miss him when I am away from him for longer than 1 hour, he’s basically my extra limb.
Q: Please tell us about your life and what you do (whether working in our community, a business owner, volunteer, etc.). How did you choose that path?
I am the Managing Artistic Director of The Box Theatre in Oconomowoc. The Box is a youth theatre organization that offers 10+ theatrical productions and programs per year. We do plays, musicals, workshops, cabarets, classes, private lessons and other performance opportunities and educational programs. While the title of my position is “Managing Artistic Director”, I also direct, choreograph and vocal direct usually half the productions at the theatre. I also light design and sound design the productions as well. Additionally, I am also the lesson teacher, group & private lessons in acting, voice and dance. Plus I manage marketing and run box office and accounting for the organization. I began working with this theatre as an actor in 2015 and over the next year was trained to essentially “take over” running the business. It was my decision in 2017 to begin transforming the then Adult Community Theatre into a Youth Organization after I found there was a much larger calling for youth theatre opportunities in the area than there was adult theatre opportunities.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
There isn’t much that I DON’T love about what I do so this is a difficult question! I guess I would say that I get to be creative, musical and artistic every day.
Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?
Definitely the biggest challenge was learning balance. I technically am my own boss and that takes a lot of self discipline. There’s a lot of trial & error in finding a healthy balance between work load & personal life. I’ve been doing this 8 years now and I’d say only within the past year or so have I learned to ask for help when I need it, hire more guest artists and directors to be leaders so that I can occasionally take a backseat in projects and do something for myself and finding more time to focus on relationships and myself outside of the work setting.
Q: What is the most rewarding part?
Definitely 100% the kids. This is the easiest question in the world. There is truly no better feeling I have ever felt than when I see our young actors improvements, confidence building, friendships formed, self esteem skyrocketing, watching them grow as artists and people, and knowing they feel safe and at-home in this space. I’ll never be able to put into words how enriching it feels to witness those things from these amazing kids.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?
Be a positive light. Be encouraging and be a team player in everything you do. I was not offered the position I have because of my “prior training and experience”. I actually had zero experience being a Managing Artistic Director. But people saw certain behaviors and personality traits from me that made them feel I would be good at something like this. I wasn’t interviewing for anything, I didn’t know anyone was considering me for anything. I was just being me, doing what I felt was good and right. Not to say that the only reason you should be a kind, positive person is so that you get something out of it! You should do that anyway, I’m just saying you never know what awesome opportunity might come out of simply being a good, hard-working person.
Allison Chicorel & Our Community
Q: Who is an interesting person you’ve met here in our community, and how have they inspired you?
Linda Flint. She’s the president of The Box Theatre executive board. I met her in 2017 when her then 7 year old, now 13 year old, came and auditioned for our production of Annie. Linda is an unstoppable, incredible business owner, wife and mother of 3 and has been the most reliable confidant and volunteer The Box Theatre has ever had. She’s lived in Oconomowoc forever and knows pretty much everybody, it’s kind of crazy, and her unending willingness to help others is extremely inspiring. The world needs more people like her.
Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?
Gotta say Ron’s Cozy Corner just because its a few doors down from The Box, so I frequent there more than I’d care to admit. Let’s just say I might as well just give them half my paycheck each month.
For Fun
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My friends. All my closest friends are also artistic people. Actors, singers, dancers, painters, designers… I am surrounded by beautifully gifted and talented people who are also extremely uplifting and kind. That inspires me to make others feel that way the most I can.
Q: What makes you the happiest?
The kids at The Box Theatre and my dog, Maestro. Also cookies.
Where to Find Allison Chicorel
Email: theboxtheatreco@gmail.com
Phone: (262) 560-0564
