Story: Local Actor, Producer, Director and Artistic Director DiMonte Henning

Thanks to your support, local artists like DiMonte Henning are returning to presenting electrifying performances safely in front of a live audience.

"I look forward to having that connection with the audience and feeling their immediate response," DiMonte said. "Artists on stage feed off the audience. Each performance changes based on the audience."

"What I love most about my career is being able to inspire and entertain audiences through storytelling," said DiMonte, an actor, producer, director and artistic director who has worked with many UPAF Member Groups including Black Arts MKE, First Stage, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Next Act and Skylight Music Theatre. DiMonte also serves as the Producing Artistic Director for Lights! Camera! Soul!

A Milwaukee native, DiMonte began acting at Dominican High School’s Summer Theater program. His formal theater training took place at Milwaukee High School of the Arts and UW-Milwaukee, followed by Milwaukee Repertory Theater's Emerging Professional Residency.

"Inspiring change and providing an escape through storytelling is how we as artists leave our mark on the world," DiMonte said. "Art is expressive for me. It's how I release what I’m feeling. It’s how I connect with myself and others."

When the pandemic first hit in March 2020, DiMonte had been offered three contracts for the 2020-21 season.

"As the COVID-19 cases started to rise, those shows were cancelled or postponed, leaving not only myself, but other actors and designers with enormous income loss going into the 2021-22 season," DiMonte said.

Despite the cancellation of his contracts, DiMonte continued making an impact in our community, including as part of the collaboration that brought the first annual Milwaukee Black Theater Festival to life virtually. He also starred in Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's production of The Island and directed The Niceties for Madison's Forward Theater Co., both of which streamed earlier this year.

"Oftentimes whenever we are going through challenging times we turn to art, we turn to artists as a way to help us heal, as a way to inspire us," DiMonte said.

In the upcoming season, DiMonte is excited to get back to directing live, in-person productions for UPAF Member Groups and Lights! Camera! Soul! He was also part of the team that brought to life the second annual Milwaukee Black Theater Festival, which was held safely in-person in August after being launched virtually last year.

Additionally, Lights! Camera! Soul! has been working on the third season of its podcast, Blacker the Berry, a storytelling podcast illuminating the voices, stories and experiences of Black artists. The organization will also be launching its second podcast this summer — a new series giving emerging theater artists a platform to showcase their work and artistic endeavors. Watch for info on the Lights! Camera! Soul! Facebook, Instagram and website. 

Because of your support of UPAF, the next act is beginnning for DiMonte and thousands of other artists in our region.

"UPAF has impacted me as an artist in a number of ways," DiMonte said. "They have provided support for theater companies to thrive. If it had not been for the support from UPAF, I probably would have only been able to do a fraction of the shows I’ve had the privilege of working on. It is paramount that we have a city where the performing arts are not only alive, but accessible to all neighborhoods in Milwaukee."

"My hope is that more artists, designers and producers will be cultivated and feel supported to create arts in Milwaukee," DiMonte said. "I believe in the best for Milwaukee, and we can all work together to find avenues to provide stages of forward progression."

Thanks to your support, local artists like DiMonte Henning are returning to presenting electrifying performances safely in front of a live audience.

"I look forward to having that connection with the audience and feeling their immediate response," DiMonte said. "Artists on stage feed off the audience. Each performance changes based on the audience."

"What I love most about my career is being able to inspire and entertain audiences through storytelling," said DiMonte, an actor, producer, director and artistic director who has worked with many UPAF Member Groups including Black Arts MKE, First Stage, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Next Act and Skylight Music Theatre. DiMonte also serves as the Producing Artistic Director for Lights! Camera! Soul!

A Milwaukee native, DiMonte began acting at Dominican High School’s Summer Theater program. His formal theater training took place at Milwaukee High School of the Arts and UW-Milwaukee, followed by Milwaukee Repertory Theater's Emerging Professional Residency.

"Inspiring change and providing an escape through storytelling is how we as artists leave our mark on the world," DiMonte said. "Art is expressive for me. It's how I release what I’m feeling. It’s how I connect with myself and others."

When the pandemic first hit in March 2020, DiMonte had been offered three contracts for the 2020-21 season.

"As the COVID-19 cases started to rise, those shows were cancelled or postponed, leaving not only myself, but other actors and designers with enormous income loss going into the 2021-22 season," DiMonte said.

Despite the cancellation of his contracts, DiMonte continued making an impact in our community, including as part of the collaboration that brought the first annual Milwaukee Black Theater Festival to life virtually. He also starred in Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's production of The Island and directed The Niceties for Madison's Forward Theater Co., both of which streamed earlier this year.

"Oftentimes whenever we are going through challenging times we turn to art, we turn to artists as a way to help us heal, as a way to inspire us," DiMonte said.

In the upcoming season, DiMonte is excited to get back to directing live, in-person productions for UPAF Member Groups and Lights! Camera! Soul! He was also part of the team that brought to life the second annual Milwaukee Black Theater Festival, which was held safely in-person in August after being launched virtually last year.

Additionally, Lights! Camera! Soul! has been working on the third season of its podcast, Blacker the Berry, a storytelling podcast illuminating the voices, stories and experiences of Black artists. The organization will also be launching its second podcast this summer — a new series giving emerging theater artists a platform to showcase their work and artistic endeavors. Watch for info on the Lights! Camera! Soul! Facebook, Instagram and website. 

Because of your support of UPAF, the next act is beginnning for DiMonte and thousands of other artists in our region.

"UPAF has impacted me as an artist in a number of ways," DiMonte said. "They have provided support for theater companies to thrive. If it had not been for the support from UPAF, I probably would have only been able to do a fraction of the shows I’ve had the privilege of working on. It is paramount that we have a city where the performing arts are not only alive, but accessible to all neighborhoods in Milwaukee."

"My hope is that more artists, designers and producers will be cultivated and feel supported to create arts in Milwaukee," DiMonte said. "I believe in the best for Milwaukee, and we can all work together to find avenues to provide stages of forward progression."