Profile
Juergen K. Tossmann

Bunbury Theatre's Mission

The Mission of Bunbury Theatre is to create enriching, diverse, live theatrical experiences for the community and its artists in an intimate and professional setting.

Bunbury Board of Directors

John Campbell Finnegan – President
Bob Westerman - Current Past President
Bob Smith – Treasurer
Brenda Shown – Secretary
Bill Atherton - Vice President
Fran Levy Westerman
Chris Dreisbach
Laura Ross
Gary Lloyd
Kim Butterweck

Past Presidents and Board Members

PAST PRESIDENTS
Bob Westerman
Susan McNeese Lynch
Patty Marguet
Mike Mays
Robert Slaton
Herb Armstrong
Robin Hunter
Al Eastman

Past Officers

Judy Beam
Jill Bell
Jim Broome
Kara Brown
Lisa Baize
Mackenzie Hindman Woodward
Lana Wertz
Larry Fisher
Sandy Davidson
Kara Dietrich
Thomas Flaherty
Robert Hatfield
Maurice Johns
Doug Kottke
Julie Kredens
Tina Kustes
Phillip Koenig
Peter Litzau
Mike Mays
Vicki Miller
Dick Mix
Mary Nelle Osborne
George Rapp
Sandy Reese
Sean H. Robbins
Adolfo (Ben) Ruiz
Phil Speicher
Paula Spugnardi
David Thomas
Troy Thompson
Joanna Travis
Tony Williams
Aaron Zibart

Past Capital Campaign Chairs
Phil Lynch

Please forgive us if your name is not on this list. Send us an email at Bunburytheatre@gmail. com and we will make sure you are listed!


The Company

Since 1985 we've tried to maintain a positive working environment for all of our artists. We treat our company members with respect and we strive to make the working environment as professional as we can. We do not tolerate negativity and we work toward developing positive experiences for all of our artists and volunteers. 

We're not perfect! We don't always get it right. But whatever our shortcomings, we work hard at solving problems and we try to focus on the details.

Our volunteers are the key to our longevity. Without our volunteer base and support we would not be part of this community. From the Board of Directors to the ushers to the production volunteers, all are vital members of our company.

A Note from the Producing Artistic Director:

May 5th marks my 20th Anniversary with Bunbury Theatre Company, and September 26th we will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary Season with the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre play entitled MURDER AT THE HENRY CLAY.

For the last 20 years I've tried to stay true to our mission and present diverse theatrical experiences for not only the community, but the artists that live and work right here in Louisville. 

Over the years we've seen tremendous growth and we've suffered through hard economic times. It hasn't always been a bed of roses but our art form has weathered many a storm and we continue to stay focused on presenting the best productions possible.

With your support we just keep learning and growing; and make no mistake about it, we need your support now more than ever.

If you own a small business, a large business and would like to contribute to Bunbury's ongoing efforts, there are myriad ways to do so. If you'd like to advertise here on our website or in our playbill, we have great rates. Please email us at bunburytheatre@gmail.com and we’ll send you a rate sheet. 

If you don’t own a business, would you please consider purchasing a product or service provided by our supporters? Without their help we couldn’t spread the word about Bunbury.

Finally, if you’d like to volunteer with Bunbury please give us a call or send us an email. We’d like to get you involved! Bunburytheatre@gmail.com

Please come and experience all we have to offer and don't forget to give the gift of "live" theatre to your family and friends!



Juergen Tossmann

About Juergen

Juergen K. Tossmann is Bunbury Theatre's Producing/Artistic Director. Mr. Tossmann is a graduate of Otterbein College (now Otterbein University) and began his professional theatre career in 1978 after his apprenticeship at Actors Theatre of Louisville where he met Jon Jory who had a tremendous influence on his career. In 1978 Juergen’s first professional job had him working with such icons as Myrna Loy and Sandy Dennis. After a brief three years in Hollywood where he didn’t find his fame and fortune, he and his wife Kit relocated to Louisville in 1984 where he apprenticed with Stage-One. At the ripe old age of 29 he considered himself “The Oldest Living Apprentice.” From Stage-One Juergen went to Derby Dinner Playhouse for two seasons working as a production assistant, fill -in actor and director. At Derby Dinner he met John Huffman and they co-wrote several Children’s Theatre musicals ultimately launching the Children’s Theatre program at Derby.

After Derby he became a free-lance artist. He was hired by Portland Elementary and Lincoln Elementary Schools as a drama consultant and worked with students on developing their artistic abilities. While working in the system he co-founded the improvisation theatre company “Kudzu” which toured throughout the state of Kentucky in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. He also began directing for Clarksville Little Theatre and was their quasi Artistic Director. His production of The House of Blue Leaves was taken to the Indiana Theatre Excerpts Festival where he won the "Best Director Award."

During the summer of 1990 he was hired as Production Manager for The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and spent nine seasons with the company. He moved from PM to Actor and Director having directed several apprentice showcases. In the fall of 1990 Juergen began his relationship with Bunbury Repertory Theatre Company. As Director, Actor and eventually Artistic Director. He moved the theatre from Baxter Avenue and renewed a friendship with Steve Woodring, Director of Production and Consulting Services for the Kentucky Center. Together they developed the 99 seat Theatre on 7th Street which became Bunbury's home for 13 seasons. Balancing his free-lance work, his summer position at KSF and his position at Bunbury became a strain, and in 1997 he focused his full attention on Bunbury. April 20th of 1995 he was awarded the City of Louisville Proclamation honoring that day as Juergen Tossmann Day. In April 0f 2000 he was awarded the Mayor's citation for outstanding service to the city and in the Spring of 2003 he graduated from the Leadership Louisville Network.

The 2010-11 Season marks his 20th anniversary season, having produced over 100 productions for the theatre and myriad events.


An accomplished director, actor and playwright, Juergen considers himself blessed to have honed his skills and develop new and innovative programs at and for Bunbury. With the help of his long time friend Susan McNeese Lynch and his relationship with Steve Smith of AXXIS he collaborated with Denise Troutman and The Center for Women and Families in developing MY NAME IS TRACY, a performance piece focusing on domestic violence. With support from YPO and with the help of inmates at Luther Luckett Correctional Facility HOW TO MAKE A KID A KILLER became a reality. This performance piece, dealing with gang violence earned Juergen the coveted YPO champion award. 


During the 2009-10 Season Juergen wrote, directed and performed in THE GREATEST CHAPTER OF LIVING in which he worked with Phil Marshall, Stephanie Smith and Kevin Swansy of Hosparus of Louisville to craft a play about end-of-life issues. In 1996 he was invited to take a Masters Directing Class by Jon Jory. This set Juergen on a path to exploring his playwrighting on a much deeper level. Juergen has written several Children's Plays and adaptations as well as seven adult plays at Bunbury. SALVAGE YARD, SALVAGE YARD REVISITED, GARAGE SALE, UNCLE SMILEY'S COMIN' HOME, LIVING WITH KLAUS, ASSISTED LIVING?, and AUTOCARE. In the fall of 2004 his screenplay for UNCLE SMILEY'S COMIN' HOME was turned into a full length feature film, directed by Doug Jefferson of Focal Point Productions. This season he will complete his Salvage Yard trilogy by presenting A SALVAGE YARD CHRISTMAS. As Bunbury's Producing Director, he has reversed the downward slide the theatre had taken in the late 1980's and has guided Bunbury through the current transition to its new home at THE HENRY CLAY.