Anthony Sisler-Neuman (Theater 2003) Mentors the Next Generation of Young Artists

July 15, 2025

Each spring, seniors in the Perpich Theater program participate in their Senior Capstone, a quarter long, process-driven project required for graduation by the Perpich Theater Program. This serves as the “capstone” Perpich experience, bringing together two years of coursework and productions in theater arts and musical theater, and preparing students for life and work after departing Perpich Arts High School. Each Senior is given a Community Mentor, a professional in the field that supports Senior Capstone work, from theater directors, performers, costume design, voice talent, and animators. Anthony Sisler-Neuman (Theater 2003) was the professional theater mentor for all 2025 Theater Seniors.

Anthony Sisler-Neuman (Theater 2003)

Anthony is cofounder for Graceful Monsters Educational Theatre Collective, a process-driven educational theatre in Minneapolis, MN that fosters a safe space for young artists to create, learn, and be empowered to explore their own stories. He grew up as a theater kid in the Twin Cities, working at most of the local youth companies. He went on to study theater at Perpich Arts High School where he learned the love for verbatim theater and shifted gears to playwriting at Columbia College Chicago. Anthony has been directing and educating youth since 2012, while continuing to work as a theater professional. His lifelong dream of having an educational theatre collective has finally come true, alongside his wife, which is truly the only way it could have happened. He is an avid believer that theater changes lives and continues to be inspired by the young artists he works with every day.

Perpich – What can you tell us about your work?
Sisler-Neuman – “I run Graceful Monsters Educational Theatre Collective, which is wrapping our 5th year in business this summer. We are an educational collective that fosters a safe space for youth to grow and create. We have a full season of our own along with partnering with schools, community education, and other communities to bring theatre to young artists where they are. We also have programming specifically for LQBTQIA+ youth interested in theatre that is very close to my heart. I also occasionally direct grown-ups when they ask nicely! I had the pleasure of coming back to Arts high to work with seniors on their capstone pieces this last year and it was such a joy to be back in those halls that hold so much creativity! I was so grateful to be asked to come back and work with the young artists where I learned to really advocate for myself as a young artist. It feels very full circle for me!”

Perpich – How did you learn about Perpich?
Sisler-Neuman – “I had a friend from a youth theatre I was part of for a long time that was there in her junior year. I went to shadow her for a day and I was hooked!”

Perpich – What was the experience of attending Perpich like for you?
Sisler-Neuman – “Arts high changed everything for me. I thought I was going to study acting forever and make my way to NYC and try for Broadway. Arts high helped me to find my love of playwrighting (though, if you ask Tory [Peterson] he’ll say I hated it then…which might be true) and ultimately showed me how many professions are in the theatrical world without being on stage. Those are lessons I pass along to my students now so they understand that the be all end all of theatre isn’t always Broadway! I was not someone who liked school until I was at Arts high, and even there I was a student who often talked my way out of assignments or into late passes from Patti in the office, but there was something about knowing that everyone saw each other as equal in a place where we all came in feeling so different that was empowering. As a high schooler I couldn’t name it, but now I look back and know it was the community that made it so great.”

Perpich – Can you see connections to your arts high school experience and your current work?
Sisler-Neuman – “All the time! I find myself saying things that Tory or Barbara said to me to my students. Arts high also taught me how to network with other artists, and that is how my business has grown so quickly.”

Perpich – Are there any people or experiences that were particularly important that you’d like to mention?
Sisler-Neuman – “Barbara [Morin] taught me so much about authentic performance that I think I’m still discovering things. I learned how to write a proper paper from Herr Clark [Kevin Clark] in Analysis and Criticism class and got compliments on my structure constantly after that. Tory is for sure the reason I switched my focus in college to writing and a huge part of why I’m confident in talking about my work.”

Perpich – Is there anything you’d like to share with us that we didn’t ask?
Sisler-Neuman – “I was a trans kid at Arts high in 2003, which was really before trans kids talked about being trans much. But everyone was really sweet and supportive of me at Arts high, and as an educator now I’m always making space for young artists like me that need to take up more space in the industry.”

Anthony Sisler-Neuman (Theater 2003) grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota and attended Woodbury High School before attending Perpich.