Gretchen Wylder

Gretchen Wylder is an actor, writer, singer, and producer, known for writing and starring in award-winning queer comedy series "These Thems." The digital series screened at over 35 festivals worldwide (AT&T Audience Award at Frameline Film Festival) and has received over a million views since its initial digital release in 2020. Coming from a heavy theatrical background in NYC and abroad, Gretchen began creating her own short form video sketches after training at UCB and Second City. In 2018, she founded intersectional feminist production company, Wylder Womyn Productions LLC, which creates community-driven art with a radically loving and empathetic lens.

Hi, I'm Gretchen.

I grew up in the Midwest and loved watching "I Love Lucy" and SNL as a wee one. Later on, "The Matrix" and "Strangers With Candy" were added to the mix, on repeat. I listened solely to Original Broadway Cast Recordings and Weird Al Yancovic.

This explains a lot.

I went to school in Chicago at Columbia College and also studied at Second City during my time there. I sang personally for Julie Andrews when she came to speak to the graduating class and nearly peed myself. True story. Post college, I worked in the Chicago musical theatre scene and also became an international burlesque dancer (Don't tell my mother.) and even performed at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Vegas. After putting my tassels into retirement, I decided to move to NYC to work on Broadway!

That was a nice dream, wasn't it? I've lived in NYC for a decade now and although the Great White Way has alluded me, I have originated roles in three Off-Broadway musical comedies: Bedbugs The Musical (4 stars in the NY Times), Clinton The Musical (with Tony nominated Dan Knetgches, Kerry Butler and comedian Judy Gold), and Til Divorce Do Us Part (Drama Desk Award Nominee for Best Revue). I also played Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut in Avenue Q, an all time favorite role of mine. I've also done a bunch of Off-Off Broadway stuff, which is really fun if you like volunteer work.

Another career highlight was performing in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in a sold out production of Rent, co-directed by Anthony Rapp. Working with him on that show for a month in Scotland basically means that all of my 13 year old dreams came true, by the way. So, from here on out, I'm good.

I've also trained at UCB, the PIT, and Magnet schools, focusing on improv, sketch writing, character work, and musical improv. I started creating my own videos in 2015, which you can watch if you click the Comedy tab. It's mostly political stuff because, well, of course it is?

I had a successful film festival run for my dream project, THESE THEMS, which I spent two years writing, crowdfunded for, and was able to film by hiring an entirely queer, intersectional crew. The show features out actors in queer roles and is a narrative episodic comedy following the lives of four friends in Brooklyn. The series has had a long journey and I hope it continues. Check it out at www.THESETHEMS.com

Since then, I've been producing more films and dreaming up new ones, writing my debut fiction novel, and spending energy on creating beautiful art with wonderful people.

Hey, I hope you have a really great day!

​~G

Gretchen Wylder (she/they) is a multi-faceted performer and artist. Owner of Wylder Woman Productions LLC, an intersectional feminist production company, Gretchen specializes in telling unique stories from an authentic lens. Her inaugural project, "These Thems" has been incredibly successful, experiencing a vast film festival run and a worldwide fanbase.

A working actor for nearly two decades, Gretchen's acting career began in her hometown of St. Louis before moving to Chicago, where she received her BA in Theatre at Columbia College. Gretchen studied writing and improv at Second City in Chicago and experienced an unexpectedly successful journey as an international burlesque dancer, performing in the Miss Exotic World competition at the 2009 Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. She retired her pasties and moved to NYC in 2010, studying improv and sketch at UCB, where she developed most of her comedic writing skills. For nearly a decade, Gretchen consistently acted in international, regional, and Off-Broadway musical theatre productions (Avenue Q, Rent, Urinetown, Bedbugs the Musical, et al). In 2018, she started Wylder Woman Productions, and shorty thereafter relocated to Los Angeles. She is now officially bi-coastal and enthusiastically willing to travel for acting or production work.

Wylder Woman Productions' debut film-making project, "These Thems," which Gretchen wrote and stars in, won six awards on the festival circuit, including the highly prized AT&T Audience Award at Frameline Film Festival. The first season had a well-received limited run on YouTube with over 700k views in 6 months. Currently streaming on Outfest Now, the "These Thems" team is seeking larger mainstream distribution. (Pitch deck and future season outlines available). www.TheseThems.com

Upcoming Wylder Womyn Productions include short film "Fraud," currently in post-production, and a sci-fi/comedy short film to be filmed in March 2022.

To nurture her introspective/spiritual side, Gretchen has been a professional tarot reader since 2013. Her clients include Lord & Taylor, The McKittrick Hotel NYC, and Joan Creatives. Gretchen regularly reads tarot at the Green Man Los Angeles, Esoteric NYC, and Party Psychics LA. More on her tarot expertise at www.WylderWytchery.com