Amy Ryan
Executive Director | amy@bensontheatre.org

Amy Ryan was raised in North Omaha. After college, she served as a women’s advocate and director of children’s programs at the Newhouse Shelter for Domestic Violence. She returned to Omaha in 1995 to pursue a graduate degree in counseling psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Prior to beginning her full-time duties as the theatre’s executive director, Ryan owned and operated a successful Benson restaurant, The Pizza Shoppe Pub, for 22 years. In 2005, she opened the Pizza Shoppe Collective, an event venue connected to the restaurant.

Ryan was named SCORE’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007 and received 40 Under 40 recognition from the Midlands Business Journal in 2009.

Michal Simpson
Programming | michal@bensontheatre.org

Michal began performing at the age of 4. As a founder and longtime board member of SNAP! Productions, Michal served as Artistic Director for 26 seasons; directing, choreographing, staffing, designing and overseeing show and season selection.

Michal has appeared in numerous theatrical productions, cabarets, films, commercials, and training films as well as voice work for local and regional distribution. He has acted, designed, directed and/or choreographed in multiple professional and amateur theatrical venues in the area, as well as local and regional High School productions and show choirs.

A long time Theatre Arts Guild (TAG) member, he has been the recipient of multiple TAG Awards for directing, choreography and performance. He has been honored with the Norm & Louise Filbert TAG Lifetime Achievement Award.