New Muses Theatre Company is dedicated to producing intelligent, thought-provoking, and engaging theatre.  It is the belief of New Muses that theatre is an art form which can not and will not be compromised, commercialized, or trivialized and must instead engage the audience, production team, and individual artist in creative and energetic discussion of the human condition.

New Muses came into being as an outlet for young frustrated artists to find work in a fragile world.  Founded with a contract for a two show season at the Roxy Theater in Morton, WA, our first production set an opening night attendance record for the venue.  Utilizing a minimalist pure white set, romantic lighting, and a terrific cast, our production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest set a new standard for the Roxy.  Following up the lush romanticism of our first production we turned an ambitious eye onto William Shakespeare's masterpiece The Tragedy of Hamlet.  With a gritty, post-apocalyptic inspired production design and pulsing rock score, Hamlet was Shakespeare as it had never been seen before.  This ambitious production received notice beyond the reaches of the normal Roxy audience and even garnered a full two page article in the Centralia Chronicle.  After the success of our early productions we were invited back for a third show in the fall of 2010.  Taking a decidedly less experimental tack we turned to a traditional production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit.  Thanks to positive reviews and word of mouth the audience swelled to set a new company attendance record for our final performance of the rollicking comedy.

New Muses stresses the artistic integrity of the theatre by attempting to respect the text and audience in the hopes of creating art with a new vision and a new purpose.  As an outlet for the artist New Muses looks to become a leading producer of new works by new and/ or established playwrights, to reinvent classic texts with an eye on experimentation and new directions, and to showcase the finest work in the tradition of the avant-garde.  New Muses places an emphasis on vision, experimentation, and creativity.  New Muses is willing to take risks for the sake of artistic excellence, and it is our hope that we can continue to grow and create long into the future.

Niclas R. Olson-  Actor, playwright, director and founder of New Muses Theatre Company, Olson's work has been seen throughout the Puget Sound.  Directing accomplishments include David Mamet's Oleanna, William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Laura Cunningham's Flop Cop, his own Last Waltz on a Midnight Violin, Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, and Anthem: A Musical Theatre Cabaret.  Performance credits include roles in The Firebugs, Sweeney Todd, Hamlet, Children of Eden, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Blithe Spirit, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, To Be Frank (world premiere), South Pacific, Gypsy, Grease, Last Waltz on a Midnight Violin (world premiere), The First Warning, Seeking: A New Musical (world premiere), Oliver!, Dirty Laundry (world premiere), A Dream Play, Actor!, Red Noise (world premiere), Trifles, and Boise, ID.  BFA in Theatre from Pacific Lutheran University.  www.NiclasOlson.com

Lauren Nance- Lauren is an actor, singer, and dancer whose credits include Nine, Sweeney Todd, All Shook Up, H.M.S. Pinafore, RENT, Company, The Spitfire Grill, Our Country's Good, Proof, A Dream Play, Cabaret, Twelfth Night, Into the Woods, and Oklahoma.  Lauren is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University's BFA Acting and Directing program.

Gretchen Kelly- grew up in Washington, Utah, and New Mexico.  Following her graduation with a BA in Design Studies from the University of Washington she moved from Ashford to Chicago where she is currently working as a freelance graphic designer. Her portfolio of design work can be viewed at www.gretchenleekelly.carbonmade.com