ABOUT US

Scandinavian American Theater Company (SATC) is a non-profit theater company founded to provide Scandinavian perspectives through the new generation of Scandinavian playwrights and theater artists. We present contemporary plays and inventive takes on the classics from the Nordic region, which includes Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

We are committed to strengthening the relationship between Scandinavia and the United States through collaborations and interdisciplinary artistic exchange that examine and challenge the cultural status quo.

Since our founding, we have presented 14 fully staged productions, 44 readings, and worked with more than 250 actors, 52 playwrights and 26 directors. Our work is regularly reviewed both in the U.S. press, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Time Out, as well as in Scandinavian press.

We are the largest gateway for Nordic talent to present their work in the United States. Our close relationship with all the Nordic consulates and art councils offers invaluable support alongside the financial support provided by foundations, organizations and valued donors.

For more information on how to support us, click here

THE SATC TEAM

Hallfridur Thora Tryggvadottir
Artistic Director
halla@satcnyc.org

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Hallfridur Thora Tryggvadottir (Halla) joins SATC after a decade of producing, directing and marketing theatre, films, and festivals in Iceland, New York, and internationally. From her home office in Iceland, Halla collaborates with artists and partners across Scandinavia and the globe to tell cross-cultural stories, reimagine the relationship between audience and performers, and bring artists from different disciplines together. Halla holds an MFA in Theatre Management & Producing from Columbia University.

Vanessa Johansson
Literary Director
vanessa@satcnyc.org

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As Literary Director of SATC, Vanessa is always on the lookout for compelling contemporary Scandinavian plays to bring to the New York theater scene. Born and raised in NYC to an American mother and Danish father, she is in a unique to position to straddle both cultures as an artistic associate of the company. Vanessa is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts; she acts in film & theater and has an extensive voice over resume.

Ida Biering
Literary Manager
ida@satcnyc.org

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Ida is the resident dramaturg and literary manager at SATC. She is also a coordinating member of the development department. Originally from Denmark, she came to NYC in 2010 to work in the theatre and arts industry, after studying/working in theatre and film in Europe (Scandinavia, Austria, the Netherlands, U.K.) As a dramaturg and script consultant, her work has been seen around New York City at the Connelly Theater, the Kraine Theater, HERE Arts Center and Classic Stage Company, among others. Ida holds an MFA in theatre (Dramaturgy/Script Development) from Columbia University.

Jason Beckmann
Personnel Coordinator
jason@satcnyc.org

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Jason Beckmann is an actor/writer and personnel coordinator in SATC. He is responsible for organizing and reaching out to SATC’s larger network of creative personnel and helps to coordinate for future productions and providing opportunities to diverse range of artists who help fulfill the creative mission of the company. Jason recently received his B.F.A. in Acting from The University of the Arts and his studies abroad at The Moscow Art Theater and recently finished residencies at the Dragon’s Egg and Eugene O’Neil Theater Center.

Kwasi Osei
Marketing Director
kwasi@satcnyc.org

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Kwasi Osei is the marketing director for SACT and leads the development of seasonal marketing and production design. Born in Denmark, he has worked for many years as a creative director in New York, before pursuing a career in acting. he has appeared in projects directed by Oscar winner Sofia Coppola and BAFTA winner Joe Wright. As a director he has worked with SATC on several theater productions as well as various commercial and tv productions.

Ingrid Kullberg-Bendz
Events coordinator
ingrid@satcnyc.org

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Ingrid is SATC’s special events and audience coordinator, and at times assistant producer. She is very passionate about Scandinavian storytelling and embraces every opportunity to share her Scandinavian cultural heritage. Ingrid spent many years as a performing artist (actor, singer, dancer) in Sweden and Europe before settling in NYC, and she loves being part of creating a vibrant platform for Scandinavian culture here. She also teaches Swedish, in case you want to learn the language

Martina Djerf
Development
martina@satcnyc.org

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Martina is an actor and artist originally from the south of Sweden and graduated from the 2-year Professional Evening Conservatory at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City in June 2019. Martina became a member of SATC in October 2019 and is currently active on the development side. Martina’s heart belongs in New York City as much as in Sweden and Scandinavia and she finds joy, purpose, and meaning in mixing the two worlds together. She is thrilled that she can continue to bring Scandinavian storytelling to the city she loves so dearly with SATC.

Lucas Serby
Development
lucas@satcnyc.org

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Lucas Serby is an actor originally from Stockholm, Sweden and is one of the newest additions to the SATC team and part of the fundraising department. Having already made appearances on Swedish television, he moved to New York City in 2016 to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to further his education in acting and was introduced to the company in 2018. Lucas is looking forward to help bringing new works from Scandinavian playwrights to the New York Stages (and the rest of the US) as well as working on events that highlight Scandinavian culture. www.LucasSerby.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Albert Bendix
Co-Founder

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Albert Bendix is a founding member and former co-artistic director of SATC. In 2009, he got the idea for SATC because he thought contemporary Scandinavian plays were underrepresented in the United States. Albert works as an actor and theater producer both in Scandinavia and the United States, and he is the Head of Culture for Copenhagen Pride in Denmark. He is a graduate from the Danish National School of Performing Arts and from William Esper Studio in New York. Albert lived in New York 2006-2019. Since then his home base has been in Copenhagen.

Henning Hegland
Co-Founder

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Henning is a founding member of SATC. He has worked as a director and performer in the UK and across the US since 1997. His work ranges from devising new performances, to opera, to re-contextualizing classic masterpieces. His is a recipient of a Wallenberg Grant, Kurt Weill Grant, Schubert Grant and has an M.A. in Devised Theatre from Dartington College of Arts and an M.F.A. in Directing from Columbia University.

Lisa E. Laskaridis
President

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Lisa E. Laskaridis, a national of Sweden and Greece, is the Head of Press and Communication at the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations, with a particular focus on Sweden’s term on the United Nations Security Council 2017-2018. Lisa was the President of the Swedish Women’s Educational Association (SWEA) in New York for over four years (October 2013 – February 2018), and has extensive experience of promoting and highlighting Scandinavian culture in an international context.

Jens Brandt Nellegaard
Secretary

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Jens holds the position as Senior Commercial Advisor at the Consulate General of Denmark in New York. He is the initiator and leader of the SDG Financing Initiative at the Consulate, which engage Danish institutional investors around the financing of the SDGs. Prior to this position he worked for the Clinton Global Initiative, Clinton Foundation, where he was involved in renewable energy, sustainable cities and infrastructure from a financing perspective and authored an internal guiding white paper on the topic. Before moving to New York City, he was a Researcher covering financial services at the executive search company Amrop in Copenhagen.

Annemette Andersen
Board Member

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Annemette Andersen, from Denmark. She has followed SATC since the beginning and performed in many readings over the years. A graduate from the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Washington DC. She has worked with the oldest repertory theatre in the US, Hedgerow Theatre, and as a longterm company member of Tim Robbins’ theatre company, The Actors’ Gang in Los Angeles. Recent international TV series include Danish network TV2’s “NORSKOV” (avail Amazon Prime) and Danish network DR1’s “FOLLOW THE MONEY”. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, UK equity, and DSF in Denmark. See more info at: www.annemetteandersen.com

Martin Trautmann
Treasurer

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Martin Trautmann is a partner in the Life Sciences practice of Navigant Consulting, a publicly traded consulting firm. In his role, Martin advises biotech and pharmaceutical companies on their business development needs and helps commercialize products.  Martin also serves on the board of directors of Network 20/20, a non-for-profit group that helps build in-depth understanding of foreign policy issues through briefings and field trips.

FOUNDING MEMBERS

Lisa Bearpark (Sweden/USA)
Albert Bendix (Denmark)
Henning Hegland (Norway)
Anette Norgaard (Denmark)
Sebastian Nyman Agdur (Sweden/UK)
Jane Pejtersen (Denmark/USA)
Vigdis Hentze Olsen (The Faroe Islands)