Eric Simonson, Founder
Simonson, a Wisconsin native and part-time Door County resident, has a rich and varied career, including writing, directing, and acting in Broadway plays, and directing for opera, film, and television. He has been nominated for a Tony, an Emmy and an Oscar, winning the Oscar for his documentary film “A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin.” He is an ensemble member of the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago and has developed television shows for HBO, STARZ, USA, FX, History Channel and NatGeo networks.
Alan Kopischke, Producer
Alan Kopischke is an actor and arts consultant with a long career in new play development and producing collaborative arts events. As an actor, he won a Dramalogue Award and performed with the American Conservatory Theatre, Steppenwolf, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Organic, Peninsula Players and Victory Gardens, in addition to film and television appearances including “Walker, Texas Ranger.” He has produced play reading series for American Conservatory Theatre and Peninsula Players and produced The Big Read Door County. Alan is an Intimacy Choreographer and an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay where he directs and teaches acting.
Robert Simonson, Mixology Expert
Robert Simonson has had a long career as a journalist and author, writing about theater, cocktails, food and travel for newspapers, magazines and online. His work has appeared in such publications as The New York Times (25 years contributing), The Wall Street Journal, Imbibe, New York magazine, Punch, Bon Appetit, Esquire, Playbill, The Village Voice, Time Out New York, Food & Wine, Whiskey Advocate, Eater, Lucky Peach, Saveur, Variety and Vinepair. He has four theater books and eight cocktail books under his belt. The cocktail books include The Old-Fashioned, The Proper Drink, 3-Ingredient Cocktails, The Martini Cocktail, Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails, Modern Classic Cocktails, The Encyclopedia of Cocktails and, coming this fall, Bourbon and Rye Cocktails. He was nominated for James Beard Awards in 2018 and 2020. He had been nominated for a Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award 20-plus times—more than any other writer—winning twice. He has been nominated for IACP awards seven times, winning three, most recently for his Substack, The Mix with Robert Simonson, which he co-founded with Mary Kate Murray in January 2022. The newsletter—which covers everything from cocktails and regional food to travel and theater was also nominated for a Spirited Award in 2023. Simonson is the co-author, with Martin Doudoroff, of two apps, “Modern Classics of the Cocktail Renaissance” and “The MartiniCocktail.” Also known for his passion for and writings on hot dog culture, his Simonson Dog is currently served at PDT in New York. A native of Wisconsin, he and his wife, Mary Kate, moved to Milwaukee this year, prompting them to create a second Substack, The Milwaukee Mix. He began making cocktails for DKAF during the festival’s second year and has done so ever since.
Dan Klarer, Associate Producer
Dan is a professional theater artist living in Door County and works as an actor, teacher, fight director, stage manager, and costume designer. He has performed these jobs and more for theater companies around the Midwest including: Third Avenue PlayWorks, Peninsula Players, Northern Sky Theatre, Door Shakespeare, First Folio Theatre, Artists’ Ensemble, Theatre at the Center, Children’s Theatre Madison, Madison Ballet, Chicago Kids Company, and the Goodman Theatre. Dan has taught stage combat and worked at a variety of sanctioned workshops through the Society of American Fight Directors and Dueling Arts International. He has choreographed and directed stage violence for all four professional theaters in Door County and taught/assisted at several schools across the country, including UW-Green Bay and Stevens Point, Pace University, and Adelphi University. Dan received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama from UW-Stevens Point and his Master of Arts degree in Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. He currently serves as Educational Coordinator for Third Avenue PlayWorks.