Video & Content Producer | Arts Marketer | Dramaturg
DON REBAR
Welcome to my online portfolio!
PURPOSE
I believe that all theater presents opportunities to enter into a dialogue with an audience. My purpose as a video producer, content creator, & non-profit arts marketer is to create compelling points of contact which invite enjoyment, engagement, & curiosity about the play, its themes, & the greater impact on the communities around us.
WORK HISTORY
Video & Content Producer | Arts Marketer | Dramaturg
WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
2017 - Present
Director of Marketing (2018 - present)
Marketing Manager (2017 - 2018)
As a senior staff member at Wisconsin's largest non-profit community music school, my work has helped WCM achieve new levels of fiscal stability by leading & contributing to record-breaking marketing and development campaigns as head video & digital content creator, copywriter, graphic designer, & webmaster, while serving as head of its 2-3 person marketing staff.
WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE
2015 - 2017
Assoc. Director of Marketing (2016 - 2017)
Community Engagement & Digital Content Manager (2015)
My initial role at this 578-seat, LORT B theater focused on the production of dynamic video, print, web, email and social media content; as well as the strengthening of key community partnerships. Later, my duties evolved to include the creation of targeted mailing lists, season and single ticket campaign messaging, and campaign reporting. During my tenure, the theater had its highest grossing season in a decade.
THE GATEWAY (PLAYHOUSE)
2009 - 2015
Director of Marketing (2014 - 2015)
Assoc. Director of Advertising, Public Relations, & Social Media (2013)
Development Associate (2012)
Staff Writer (2011)
Box Office Associate (2009-2011)
My achievements as the company’s first marketing director helped steer it into solvency by increasing our subscriber base by 25% and growing single ticket revenue by 5% in the 2014 Season. Achievements include meeting ticketing goals at two houses (504 & 1,200 seats), improving the efficiency of sales campaigns, & introducing new digital strategies, such as responsive website design, social media advertising, & email marketing to this 60+ year-old legacy institution.
VIDEO SAMPLES
THEATRE & TICKETED EVENTS
Lerner & Loewe's "Camelot"
Mark Lamos, director
Campaign Series | Westport Country Playhouse (2016 Season)
For the extended run of this classical musical, reimagined by David Lee and featuring Tony Award-winner Robert Sean Leonard, I created a series of video pieces that focused on the soaring, familiar musical numbers as well as the romantic ideals of the failed Arthurian utopia. These pieces now have thousands of views on Youtube, and the production was the theater's highest grossing show in nearly a decade.
The Invisible Hand, by Ayad Akhtar
David Kennedy, director
Trailer | Westport Country Playhouse (2016 Season)
To create this short trailer for Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar's searing drama, I drew on tropes from cinematic thrillers. Fast cuts, echoing sound effects, and slow motion techniques were used to create tension that a viewer can feel through the piece. It was also important to strike a balance between two points of view - that of the prisoner and of his captives. Aktar's play provokes from both ends of the spectrum and I wanted the trailer to maintain this sensibility.
"Art"/"Red" in Rep, by Yasmina Reza & John Logan (respectively)
Mark Lamos, director
Thematic Teaser | Westport Country Playhouse (2016 Season)
In the early phases of this campaign, I needed to create a piece that would pique interest and begin to generate single ticket sales without relying on rehearsal footage, cast interviews, or other more traditional content. This high-energy piece highlights important questions about art that these two plays present - its purpose, its value, its importance - through an evocative montage intended to elicit the emotional qualities of experiencing art, such as joy, frustration, ecstasy.
Lettice & Lovage, by Peter Shaffer
Mark Lamos, director
Opening Animation | Westport Country Playhouse (2017 Season)
I created this opening animation for Peter Shaffer's comedy using vector graphics from our show's key art. All animation was done in Adobe Premiere Pro, and was intended to make our video content more appealing in social media feeds. Instead of just showing a still image of the key art, an animated version would "stop the scroll," and also communicate the feel & genre of the play.
All videos were shot using Canon professional HD video (such as the XA20) & Rebel series DSLR cameras. Editing was done in Adobe Premiere Pro.
VIDEO SAMPLES
FUNDRAISING
120th Anniversary Virtual Gala
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (2020)
Created & presented at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this 40-minute video highlights the importance & impact of the inspiring, accessible, exceptional music education that WCM provides. Highlights include interviews & segments with Milwaukee Public Schools administrators, Dan Bader (Bader Philanthropies, Inc.), Hank Herzing (Herzing University), & Jack Miller (Baird), as well as student/faculty profiles and performances. A record $80k was generated for student scholarships & financial aid.
Music Brings Us Together
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (2020)
This inspirational piece was first created for the 2020 WCM virtual gala and served as a standalone tribute to the inspirational power of music and the arts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using contributed photos, audio from TV news coverage, footage from virtual lessons and camps, and voiceover scripted by Karen Herzog, this montage showcases the WCM community at its strongest.
Music Takes You Places
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (2019)
This feature component of WCM's 2019 Fall Fundraising Appeal tells the story of Javon, a blind MPS student who has found his calling through music. Thanks to a caring WCM teacher, Javon gained the skills & inspiration needed to join the school drum line, compete in district competitions, and discover new friendships through his musical ability.
#GivingTuesday, ft. the Camelot Cast
Westport Country Playhouse (2016)
Produced in collaboration with the WCP development team, this video montage was intended to raise awareness for the national day of giving, #GivingTuesday. Thanks to the actors' love of theater & its impact, we were able to raise nearly $10,000 for the annual fund.
All videos were shot using Canon professional HD video (such as the XA20) & Rebel series DSLR cameras. Editing was done in Adobe Premiere Pro.
VIDEO SAMPLES
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY
Conservatory Connections: Three Stories
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (2018)
WCM's Conservatory Connections program impacts over 10,000 students & community members each year through curriculum-based classroom instruction. This video provides an up-close look into three classrooms, with commentary by MPS teachers, administrators, & WCM teachers. First aired at the annual Play Your Part Gala, this piece closes with testimonials on the importance of supporting music education, as well as a soft call-to-action.
WCM Instrument Drive, ft. Grace Weber
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (2019)
For the second installment of the WCM Instrument Drive, the Fiserv Forum gave us access to musical performers at the first Chords & Curds Music Festival. Grammy winner & Milwaukee native Grace Weber was one of our featured guests as we asked: "what did your first musical moment mean to you?" This short promo holds the highest level of social media engagement during my time at WCM. To date, WCM Instrument Drives have collected hundreds of gently used instruments for Milwaukee-area kids in need.
#MKEsingalong - Music Videos
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (2020)
As part of WCM's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our team organized community sing-a-longs inspired by impromptu balcony performances in New York, Chicago, & Milan. This community initiative was featured by major TV (FOX12, CBS58) and print (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Community Journal) outlets. Users posted music & dance videos to social media, which were then compiled into a weekly video intended to inspire during this global health crisis.
All videos were shot using Canon professional HD video (such as the XA20) & Rebel series DSLR cameras. Editing was done in Adobe Premiere Pro.
PHOTOGRAPHY
My work as a photographer has been featured in traditional media outlets such as Newsday, one of the country's highest circulated newspapers, as well as in organizational publications (brochures, websites, social media, etc.).
These photos were taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T5 & T6 DSLR camera.
