About
Born in Portland, OR and raised in Minneapolis, MN, Luke Hiland (Any/All) is a queer, multi-hyphenate theatremaker based in Minneapolis & Duluth, MN. Their work focuses on theatre as ritual and activism, with a focus on its ability to stimulate individual, social, and economic change. They have experience not only in artistic direction and programming, but also business organization, team management, and marketing.
Luke has founded and served as leadership for multiple organizations. They served as both Executive Director and Production Manager for their undergraduate program’s student-run theatre company, in which time they developed internal structure, oversaw production processes, and managed personnel. In their sophomore year they founded a student-led improv troupe which still operates today. Their work with the troupe included not only developing company structure, but programming and marketing as well. They are the founder of the Duluth Shakespeare Project, a local company creating Old School Shakespeare (No Director, One Rehearsal, Serious Actors, in a Bar) with the aim of building solidarity amongst local communities through free events as well as by highlighting and raising money for local non-profits and charities. They also does freelance work involving project development, team management, and company structuring.
Luke’s work as a director and theatremaker has focused on theatre's role in our communities on both macro and micro scale. In an age of isolation, separation, and disillusionment with our impact on our communities, they believe that theatre as ritual and activism has the ability to directly serve our neighbors in a way other few other forms can.
In 2026, their semi-immersive production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar was commissioned for a remount by Zeitgeist Theatre (the transfer was never fully realized). Their work as manager for the Duluth Shakespeare Project has continued to bring Duluth audiences from all backgrounds together for community gatherings and to fundraise for local non-profits. Luke derives immense joy from bringing artists together and faciliting artistic spaces, and he continues to fight for the best environments for those he collaborates with.
Spotlight
JULIUS CAESAR
By William Shakespeare. Adapted by Luke Hiland.
Produced by Stage 2 Theatre Company - Feb 2026
This semi-immersive adaptation centered around the power of every individual’s voice in a democracy by allowing the audience to actively engage with the story and actors, up to and including deciding the ending of the play by vote. This production featured hip-hop, text from other Shakespeare plays, audience interaction, the words of famous political figures and more. 100% of profits were donated to select local, national, and global non-profits and charities, and audiences were provided with more resources to make a difference in their local communities. The production was then commissioned for a remount by Zeitgeist Theatre- although this transfer never came to fruition.
Photos: Cadence Pipenhagen, Julia Balmanno, Anja Horsman
ART
By Yazmina Reza. Translated by Christopher Hampton.
Produced by Stage 2 Theatre Company - Apr 2024
Staged in the round with multiple actors playing each part and the combination of actors changing every night, this production highlighted Reza's themes of subjectivity in art by creating a completely new experience every night.
Photos: Katy Lacy
Breakfast
Ideas
DULUTH SHAKESPEARE PROJECT
Duluth, MN
Est. Feb 2026 (Founder/Manager)
Inspired by the work of The Backroom Shakespeare Project, DSP is a performance company creating old school Shakespeare (No director, one rehearsal, in a bar) with the goal of raising money for local Duluth non-profits and charities. You can follow them at @duluthshakespeareproject on Instagram and Facebook or visit their website HERE
Photos: Reyna Fleck-Perez, Eliza Lou Divine