Our Mission

As Exchange Artists we create theatre inspired by cultural exchange at home in Austin, TX and abroad. Through international collaboration and community engagement we empower our artists and audiences with fresh perspectives, new experiences and a strengthened sense of connection.

Key Players

Rachel Wiese

RACHEL has a happy history of collaborating on original works as a director, actor and dancer. Before graduating from Rhodes College with a BA in Theatre (Performance and Direction) and Religious Studies, she co-directed "Higher Ground" the first-ever student directed work to be produced as part of the McCoy Theatre's main-stage season. In New York, she created ensemble roles for Rapscallion Theatre Collective's "Inferno Project" and Dramatic Adventure Theatre's "Flight 360", created while traveling throughout Ecuador, and originated roles for Counts Media, and the contemporary dance group The Poisonous Ladies. After moving to Austin in 2008 she collaborated on a movement narrative "Oceana" with The Vortex, and returned to Ecuador to direct "Flight of the Condors" an original piece blending three American women's experiences in love and an Andean Legend. As an actor Rachel has played the spectrum from Woodstock in "Snoopy the Musical" to Ona in Trouble Puppet's "The Jungle". She has taught drama and dance classes for Watoto de Afrika and Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN and at The University of Arkansas's summer arts intensive, Envision U. Her choreography credits for the stage include "Big Love", "Into the Woods", "The World Goes Round" and "Tom Sawyer the Musical" as well as non-musicals such as "Hamlet" and "Miss. Julie".

Shannon Martin Quisenberry

Shannon has a musical theatre background and became involved with the Exchange Artists in early 2010 as a co-collaborator on two World Theatre Day projects, including the "Whole Foods Musical" as lyric writer and performer.
Shannon's professional credits include Peter Pan, Fiddler on the Roof, and Gypsy. She has trained with Theatre Under The Stars, A.D. Players, Marci Lynne-Solomon, the University of Texas, and Austin Musical Theatre. Other experience includes lead children's drama teacher, commercial video production and recording, lyrics writing, and numerous engagements as a vocal soloist and song leader. Shannon holds a degree in Business from the University of Texas at Austin, and has lived and worked in Austin, Houston, and New York City.