Ted Wioncek III
Stage Director
Ted Wioncek III, an award-winning professional stage director, has spent the past sixteen years as an Artistic Director, leading creative teams in experiential playgrounds across the invigorating world of live theatre. As a strong conceptual thinker, vibrant visual artist, and strategically focused designer, his hands-on leadership has garnered him a reputation as “a master in storytelling.”
In 2006, Wioncek founded The Collaborative Act Studio, a process driven theatre, dedicated to producing professional touring productions of rarely presented work. As Founder/Producing Artistic Director, Wioncek was featured in numerous publications regarding arts and business, including The Philadelphia Inquirer and SJ Magazine’s “Someone to Watch,” where he was deemed a leader in the Greater Philadelphia theatre movement for his success as one of the Tri-state’s up-and-coming business builders.
In 2010, he was appointed Associate Producing Artistic Director of The Ritz Theatre Company, Inc., serving the historic 95 year old theatre in several initiatives from marketing to educational outreach.
In 2011, Wioncek co-founded The Eagle Theatre with a mission dedicated to redefining regional theatre. Under his tutelage, Eagle Theatre
became South Jersey’s only year-round Equity theatre and transformed into a nationally recognized regional theatre and tourist destination, producing more than 180 live performances each year, including full-scale Broadway caliber World Premieres and re-conceptualized revivals. In addition, the theatre became home to The New Jersey Fringe Festival, New Works Development Series, a touring Theatre for Youth Audiences program specializing in providing arts education to schools in underserved communities, as well as the Eagle Theatre Conservatory, a year-round tuition based theatrical institute for all ages and levels of professionalism.
Throughout his tenure, Eagle Theatre amassed numerous grants and private donations from the most esteemed arts donors and philanthropists in the Delaware Valley, including the largest first year gift ($250,000) in The Wyncote Foundation’s history, as well an unprecedented $500,000 Grant and Loan package from USDA.
Wioncek’s work has garnered a plethora of awards and nominations, including twelve nominations from Theatre Philadelphia’s Barrymore Awards, a nationally recognized symbol of excellence for professional theatre in The Greater Philadelphia Arts Community. In addition, Wioncek was hailed as an “illusioneer of stagecraft” by IEN Engineering Europe, which featured his experiential storytelling through medium advancing technology, including; special effects, custom designed stage mechanics, motorized moving walls and winches, scent-sensory experiences, and immersive walk-through exhibits.
Wioncek’s passion for the stage can be matched only by his dedication to patron outreach. He has created and hosted numerous initiatives, including private Donor Events, over 250 Talk-Backs, and 30 Please Touch Performances, a special tactile post-performance event that encourages patrons to step on stage and explore.
In 2016, Wioncek co-founded The New Jersey Fringe Festival, a three-day street fair and theatrical marathon, featuring multiple eclectic productions, a beer and wine garden, pop-up art, food, live music, and street performers.
In 2018, he recieved critical acclaim for his groundbreaking original work, NOIR: The 3D/4D Semi-Cinematic Satirical Thriller, a one-man show that seamlessly blends live-action with three-dimensional cinematography, using hip-to-the-minute technology and theatrical techniques to immerse the audience.
In 2021, Wioncek founded SWFL Showstoppers, an entertainment company dedicated to touring Broadway-style musical revues to clubs, communities, and resorts throughout Florida.
Wioncek has worked with multiple Regional Theatres including; Walnut Street Theatre, Wilma Theatre, Act II Playhouse, Montgomery Theatre, Mum Puppet Theatre, Storybook Musical Theatre, BCKSEET Productions, and Flashpoint Theatre Company.
Select Directorial Credits; Little Women: The Musical (Philadelphia Inquirer – Best Musical, 2018 Broadway World Award, Barrymore Recommended), Godspell (Barrymore Nomination – Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical), John & Jen (Barrymore Nomination – Outstanding Direction of a Musical), Peter and the Starcatcher (Barrymore Nomination), Catch Me If You Can (Barrymore Nomination), The Civil War: The Musical (Barrymore Recommended), Our Town, Glengarry Glen Ross and HAIR.
Playwright; NOIR: The 3D/4D Semi-Cinematic Satirical Thriller, Season’s Greetings: A Musical Celebration of Holiday Traditions from Around the World, Jane & The Humongous Pear (A Choose Your Own Adventure Play), and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Wioncek has served as an arts educator and orator for several arts institutions and was inducted into the Southern New Jersey Academy of Performing Arts’ Hall of Fame. He is former member of Actors’ Equity Association, current member of Stage Director & Choreographers Society, and was recently honored with the New Jersey Theatre Alliance Award of Excellence.
He lives in Southwest Florida with his beautiful wife, Kimberly, their adorable retired medical research beagle (Professor Indiana Bones), and their little sunbonnet from the Sunshine State, Lilly Evelyn Wioncek!