Colt Neidhardt

bio

Colt Neidhardt (he/him) is on a mission to help people free their creative self-expression and cultivate their own unique presence as artists. As a performer, director, and educator, he champions this cause across the country through his work with Regional Theatre Companies, Colleges, and Community-Based Organizations, such as, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, Virginia Repertory Theatre, Lake Dillon Theatre Company, Nebraska Shakespeare, Quill Theatre, The Rose Theatre, and many others. 

Colt is a graduate of Louisiana State University’s Professional Actor Training Program where he studied under Kennedy Center American Theatre Fellow, George Judy. During this time he was also able to study under and collaborate with other nationally recognized artists, such as, Sean Daniels (Arizona Theatre Company), Jane Page (UC Irvine), Dr. Jennifer Martin (UMKC), Guillaume Pige’ (Corporeal Mime), Leigh Fondakowski (Tectonic Theater Project), and Fiasco Theatre Ensemble.

Most recently, Colt was recognized for his acting work as a 2019 recipient of the Denver Center for Performing Arts True West Award for his performance as the Narrator in Duncan MacMillan’s Every Brilliant Thing.

Colt can also be seen as the co-host of Good Life, Great Beer- a food and travel show created by the Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild to share the stories behind the brewers, and visionaries of some of Nebraska’s best local businesses.

As an educator, Colt has helped hundreds of students to identify and slay the vampires that prevent them from exploring their work with a sense of ease and presence. Colt’s work as an educator is built around the central concept that learning environments must be safe and transparently led spaces in order for students to access and give of their authentic selves. He also believes in the power of life-long learning, resisting the urge to ever become static or rigid in his practices, and is committed to deepening his critical consciousness to decolonize commonly taught Western views of theatre as a means of recognizing and celebrating diverse perspectives and lived experiences among student and community groups.

Outside of the theatre, Colt is an advocate for the power of small businesses, organic farming, and sustainable food systems. Colt is an avid gardener and proud “plant dad” for around 30 varieties of plants. He is also irrationally enthusiastic about pie and is currently cooking his way through Erin Jeanne McDowell’s The Book On Pie.