Quick Chat: Grace Vosen

Get to know APT's Administrative Assistant, Grace Vosen!

Grace Vosen joined our team at the end of our 2024 season as our Administrative Assistant, running APT-mission control from her desk at the front of the Bravo Center. Since then, Grace has become an essential part of the APT ecosystem, working across departments to support the daily (and sometimes unexpected) functioning and logistics of a theater company in the woods. Grace is a passionate naturalist and educator, so we think it's a perfect fit. Read on to meet Grace and discover why the Driftless area is such a special place.

APT: Hi, Grace! Welcome to Quick Chats! What have you been up to this winter?
Vosen: Hello! I’ve been diving into the importance of routines in the new year. I’m highly susceptible to cabin fever, and I cope with it by making sure to do the same things in the same places at predictable times. This just means that I spend a lot of hours sitting in coffee shops or reading on the couch. I am not a winter person.

APT: You've been working as APT's Administrative Assistant for around six months. Congrats - half a year! What's something surprising you've learned in that time about the responsibilities of your position?
Vosen: Thank you! I’m most surprised, and pleased, that I get to help with some aspect of every department here. I assumed there would be corners of the office where I never ventured, but everyone has welcomed my participation and input.

APT: Do you have a favorite part of your job, or something you're looking forward to doing when the season starts up?
Vosen: Speaking of routines, I miss the rhythm of coming into work in the morning and imagining what the previous night’s show was like: if the weather cooperated, which moments in the play were especially poignant, what item in the gift shop caught someone’s eye, who needs to be reunited with their lost jacket or hat, and so on. I got a taste of this when I was hired last fall – it makes me feel like I’m in attendance at every show.

APT: What is your APT story? What was your first introduction to APT, and do you have a favorite production or one that has really stuck with you?
Vosen: I grew up in nearby Cross Plains, where you can tell that an APT show is taking place by observing the line of cars heading west on Highway 14. My parents had been patrons since the beginning. The first show I got to see with them was The Play’s the Thing in 2005. I attended a student matinee that same season. David Daniel may also have made an appearance at my school.

Two of my favorites over the years are from 2016: The African Company Presents Richard III and the first half of a rained-out Arcadia. The 2021 season also has a special place in my heart as the first season I attended after moving to Spring Green.

APT: You’re currently a participant in the Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) program! Very cool! Want to share anything you’ve learned from your time there that you’ve found helpful in this position?
Vosen: This could be a whole article in itself! One thing that has come up often in SCIL is “the power of the pause.” When you’re having a conversation with someone (whether it’s a coworker, patron, or community member), it’s less important to be heard than to make sure you are hearing and understanding the other person. It never hurts to pause and listen.

APT: Grace, you are a very active member in the Spring Green community! Between writing pieces for the Valley Sentinel and other local publications, participating in River Valley Players productions and leading many walks and talks about prairie restoration, you have experience in so many of the things that make Spring Green distinct. Care to share a little bit about why Spring Green is so special to you?
Vosen: Spring Green is a place where a majority of the residents have a real, visible affection for where they live. Whether they grew up in this area or moved here, I see my neighbors choosing to put their whole selves into building a life and community in our tiny town. This attitude allows for artistic expression, the exchange of ideas, an appreciation of the natural landscape, and a general sense that we are in it together. I feel the most at home in places like this.

APT: Putting some of your nature knowledge to use, can you share some signs of spring you're looking forward to the most?
Vosen: I always like hearing the first meadowlark and killdeer calls out here on the prairie. And I wouldn’t be a devotee of Aldo Leopold if I didn’t include the first pasqueflower on this list.

APT: This June will mark the official start of your first, full-length season at APT. Any specific plays you're really looking forward to seeing?
Vosen: I got chills when you said that! I’m just looking forward to spending some languid July evenings in the Hill Theatre with some of my favorite people. Working “behind the scenes” at APT has only added to the magic of these outings.

APT: Wild Card Question: So many people come to the Driftless area to feel in touch with nature and spend some time off their phones. Do you have any suggestions on places to hike, visit or just appreciate the beautiful surroundings for folks looking for new destinations this spring and summer?
Vosen: Ferry Bluff (Wisconsin DNR), Spring Green Preserve (The Nature Conservancy), and the trails at APT all offer a climb and a view. I recommend doing some research on prairies and the Driftless Area ahead of your visit so you can enjoy the full significance of what you’re seeing. For example, the Wisconsin River is millions of years old and used to flow in the opposite direction! The UW-Madison Arboretum is a great learning resource and also has trails that take you through a variety of ecosystems.

APT: Thanks for taking some time to answer my questions, Grace! Before we wrap up do you have anything else you’d like to share with the APT audience?
Vosen: Thanks for the opportunity! I’ll say the same thing I said in my cast bio for the recent River Valley Players show: community is everything.