Who we are
Theater on the Verge is an independent theater company based in Spokane, Washington.
We believe theater should be a visceral, personal experience—one that ignites conversation, inspires connection, and leaves a lasting impact. (To quote one of our favorite shows, we’d rather be “nine people’s favorite thing than a hundred people’s ninth-favorite thing.”)
Our mission is to bring personal passion to public performance by producing high-caliber shows in stunning venues featuring exceptional local talent.
CHRIS JENSEN grew up in the Spokane Valley and graduated from Freeman High School. Way back in 1999—before he knew any better—he attended the MFA Acting program at Michigan State University for one deeply unhappy year. Upon his return to Spokane, he became the culture editor at a long-gone newspaper called The Local Planet, where he met Troy Nickerson after writing an unreasonably catty review of a play that shall remain unnamed.
In the years since, he’s worked as the stage columnist at SF Weekly, the creative director at a New York-based fintech startup, and a content marketer for Google, Microsoft, Netflix, VMware, and Salesforce. While he enjoys crafting copy in praise of our robot overlords, he’s proudest of his volunteer work as a crisis counselor on the 988 Suicide Lifeline. He holds an MA in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of California at Berkeley.
(Photo credit: Heads and Tails Photography)
TROY NICKERSON grew up in Spokane and graduated from Shadle Park High School. As a director, he’s taken on the struggles of teens (Heathers, Equus), apostles (Corpus Christi, Jesus Christ Superstar), divas (Gypsy, Mame), stone-cold killers (Assassins, Sweeney Todd), and people just trying to get by (Rent, The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof).
From the campy (The Rocky Horror Show, Evil Dead the Musical) to the magical (Mary Poppins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) to the profound (Wit, Fun Home, The Trip to Bountiful), Troy’s work has delighted local audiences and garnered national awards. His portrayal of Jody in Lonely Planet won “Best Actor in the Nation” at AACTFest 1999, and his production of I Never Saw Another Butterfly won “Best in the Nation” in 2003. Local honors include the Spokane Arts Leadership Award for his contributions to local charities, including Beyond Pink, Odyssey Youth Movement, Vanessa Behan, and the West Central Community Center.
(Photo credit: Emily Jones Photography)