Nathan Dale Short
Co-Founder
Artistic Director of literature
Nathan Dale Short (they/them) is a passionate theatre-maker, making their start in the local high school production of Seussical their mother tricked them into auditioning for at age ten. Three days in, they were hooked. Performing all over the midwest, Nathan has been seen in over fifty productions, including All Shook Up (Chad), A Moon for the Misbegotten (Tyrone, Jr.), South Pacific (Emile), Big River (Pap/The Duke), Finian’s Rainbow (Senator Rawkins), Clue (Ensemble), The Wizard of Oz (Uncle Henry), and Legally Blonde (Ensemble), The Fox on the Fairway (Justin), She Loves Me (Kodaly), First Date (Aaron).
Chicago performance credits include Mauritius most recently, as well as Love/Sick with Parker Players, Rumors (MadKap), The Minutes (Edge of the Wood - Jeff Nom), Promises, Promises (Blank - Jeff Nom), An Act of God (WSRep), and 13 Suits (The Outer Loop).
Founder of Sunrise Theatre Company in Topeka, Nathan served as the Producing Artistic Director for two years, directing productions of The Realistic Joneses, Other Desert Cities, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Gloria, and 30/60, a show inspired by the Neo-Futurists Too Much Light Makes Baby Go Blind. Nathan also produced God of Carnage and Co-Produced several cabarets while working with Sunrise before making their move to Chicago.
Chicago directing credits include A Short Leap’s inaugural production of Beth Hyland’s Clearing as well as readings of new musicals Give it a Year, Kissing the Frog Prince, and Q2Qsical: The Q2Q Musical. Nathan also loves serving as a Casting Director, having helped DC Cathro cast several of his new works, including the three listed here; as well as readings of Chomp, Clone, So I Was Dating This Serial Killer…, and others.
Nathan is also an avid reader, professional mixologist, House DJ ‘thatoneguy', a coffee connoisseur, an aspiring cicerone, and roommate to the two old men masquerading as a dog and cat, Theo and Al.
“Lift while you climb. Can’t reach? Use my shoulders.”
ASL Credits: Clearing, Friends With Guns, Director (2025)