A Letter from COS’s New Artistic Director

Hello friends of Company OnStage!

It’s with deep gratitude and great excitement that I introduce myself as the new Artistic Director of Company OnStage. My name is Makaylee Secrest, though friends call me Mak, and I’d love to invite you all to do the same. I’m a theatre director, arts administrator, and lifelong lover of storytelling. I’m originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I first fell in love with theatre as a child actor. What began as a creative outlet quickly became something much more: a way to process big emotions, to explore my identity, and to feel part of something larger than myself.

Theatre has always felt like home to me. It’s a space where we’re invited to be our whole selves: curious, messy, joyful, vulnerable. Theatre has a remarkable ability to nourish young imaginations and reignite the childlike sense of wonder and play that so often gets buried in the rush of adult life. I cherish the ephemeral magic of live performance: the spontaneous act of a story coming alive, uniting a room full of strangers, and offering each person a glimpse of themselves reflected on stage. In our fast-paced, digital world, there’s something radical about people gathering to sit in the dark together, to listen, to feel, to imagine. That act of collective attention is sacred to me.

Over the years, I’ve had the honor of working with theatre companies of many shapes and sizes, from intimate storefronts to major regional institutions, and I’ve found that the most transformative work always comes back to the same thing: people. Theatre is an art form rooted in human connection. It asks us to understand different perspectives, to wrestle with complexity, and to meet each other with empathy.

That spirit is exactly what drew me to Company OnStage. Since its founding in 1977, this company has championed accessibility, inclusivity, and community. These values are more than talking points; they are the very fabric of the company’s legacy. As I step into this role, my vision is to honor and expand that legacy by strengthening and diversifying the ways these principles show up in practice and programming.

Accessibility means continuing to produce excellent, high-quality theatre that is affordable and welcoming to all, while also exploring new ways to meet audiences where they are. Inclusivity calls us to invite a greater diversity of thought, identity, and experience into every level of the artistic process. I believe that diversity of thought enriches artistic exploration by challenging assumptions, encouraging innovation, and allowing us to tell more truthful, layered, and resonant stories. It’s not just about who is on stage, but who is in the room when decisions are made. And community means fostering an environment where artists can grow through collaboration, and audiences can find not just entertainment but also a sense of belonging.

I’m eager to get to know the vibrant and passionate community that has made this theatre thrive for nearly five decades. If Company OnStage has been a meaningful part of your life, I would love to hear your stories. If you have ideas or hopes for the future, I want to listen. My door and inbox are always open!

Together, let’s build a bold and joyful future for Company OnStage, one that honors where we’ve been, reflects who we are, and welcomes everyone to the table.

See you at the theatre!

Makaylee Secrest