about edward schoelwer
Edward Schoelwer has made a professional career in performing arts production, management, sales, and marketing for over 35 years with American Opera Auditions, New York Shakespeare Festival, Lotus Music and Dance, Shakespeare & Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and now as the founder and president of Red Shell Mgmt.
Edward Schoelwer’s official service to Dance Theatre of Harlem began in 1990, with a break from 2004 – 2007, and then continued uninterrupted until his departure from DTH at the end of July 2020. His production and touring experience began in 1993 as assistant to Arthur Mitchell, co-founder and artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem. From 2001 to 2004 he was general manager of the company. He has traveled with and on behalf of DTH and organized tours on five continents and co-produced seasons in New York City and Chicago. Edward has has organized talks and exhibitions at Lincoln Center, NYC and the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, NY.
During the period 2004 – 2007 Edward Schoelwer was the executive director of Lotus Music and Dance, the marketing and communications director for Shakespeare & Company, and a consultant for Optometrists Network, a digital publishing company and internet content marketing network. His efforts at Dance Theatre of Harlem from 2007 to 2020 were focused on returning Dance Theatre of Harlem to its status as an international grade touring cultural attraction which was lost during the hiatus of 2004 – 2007.
In 2018 he founded Red Shell Mgmt to provide services for the Limón Dance Company, Collage Dance Collective and Rhapsody in Black. In 2020 NYTB-Chamberworks joined the Red Shell Mgmt roster.
Edward is passionate about building and sustaining engaged audiences for dance and other performing arts organizations. Many years ago — as a result of his continued observation of cultural and economic trends —Edward identified the need for quality film, video and digital performing arts content, especially in the dance field.
In 2009, as a founding member of the Rosendale Theatre — a community-based arts center specializing in film — Edward founded a monthly Dance Film series that frequently included “value-added content” before or after the film showings (i.e., moderated panel discussions, live or on-screen interviews with the dancers or choreographers, live performances, and lecture demonstrations). Edward curated, produced and marketed the monthly Dance Film series for nearly ten years.
From 2010 - 2019, Edward was also the co-director of the programming committee and a board member of the Rosendale Theatre. He also founded, curated, produced, and marketed a monthly Opera Film series which ran from 2009-2014. Tales of the Hudson Valley, a live theatrical experience for Hudson Valley tourists, was developed by him and members of the Rosendale Theatre Collective, and has run annually since 2014.
Edward is dedicated to the gustatory pleasures of the kitchen and the table as a creative personal pursuit. Readings and productions of plays written by him have been performed worldwide. He is a member of APAP, NAPAMA, and Dramatists Guild.
TESTIMONIALS
“You’ll find no more creative and hard-working individual in service to the art than Ed Schoelwer. Thank you, Ed, for your decades of work for Dance Theatre of Harlem. You remained true to Arthur Mitchell’s vision through thick and thin, and I am grateful.”
“Ed Schoelwer is one of the most dedicated artist representatives I know, and his care and passion for each company and artists he represents certainly shows in his tenacity, work ethic, and ability to work with many different presenter needs.”
“Working with you to bring DTH to Wilmington, North Carolina in 2015 for the first time ever. The project was a part of Celebrating President L. B. Johnson Signing the Arts and Humanities Arts of 1965. It was frightening and exciting at the same time. This was of one of the largest project I set out to present with a newly formed Countywide CDC Humanities and Arts Community Outreach Committee . This project was successful with your help. I created new partners. I used these partners to bring DTH back in 2018 for a sold out show.
Thank you for all your hard work and ideas for fundraising that made these project a success. ”
“Great line up with Red Shell. Having worked with you over the years and witnessed how well you represent those under your watch. They are lucky to have you represent them. From a presenter’s view you have always been great to work with— understanding the presenter’s needs and responding quickly.”
“I have had the privilege to work with Ed Schoelwer for over twenty years. In fact, as my presenting career has moved me from Detroit to Chicago and, now, Memphis, Ed, as the agent for DTH, has made certain I presented Dance Theatre of Harlem in all three cities. Ed is a passionate advocate for his companies, an ethical colleague and a pleasant person with whom to do business.
Now, Ed represents one of Memphis’ cultural gems in Collage Dance Collective. As a fan of the company, I could not be happier for them for securing Edward Schoelwer and his Red Shell Management for their touring representative.
With a roster that includes Limón Dance Company, NYTB/ChamberWorks, Rhapsody in Black, in addition to Collage Dance Collective, Ed and Red Shell Management represent the highest caliber of artists working in America today.”
“I have had the pleasure of working with Ed for more than 25 years, specifically with our presentations of Dance Theatre of Harlem. We are looking forward to Rhapsody in Black, a virtual program which we are pleased to have co-commissioned. Ed is a passionate arts purveyor, a consummate professional, always a gentleman, and ALWAYS enthusiastic!”
“Ed Schoelwer and I have been working together for over 20 years, starting during my time at the Kennedy Center presenting Dance Theatre of Harlem. In the ensuing years, we have added two additional venues to the list: Kenan Auditorium in Wilmington, NC and now Northrop at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. Ed has always been communicative, knowledgeable, and straightforward - not to mention a purveyor of recipes and fascinating historical anecdotes. Ed knows his artists, he listens to his presenters, and he’s generally a great, trusted colleague.”