Nate Bertone, Theatrical Storyteller

Creating Stories of Healing

Nate Bertone (CFA 2016) is a multi-hyphenated storyteller.

“Creating art, to me, is about understanding each other in ways deeper than we ever have before,” he says. “I create art not only to hold a mirror up to the world, but also to encourage collective shared experiences that empower people to heal.”

Through the lens of a director, writer, set designer and producer, Nate has built an internationally acclaimed career bringing stories to the stage. Recently, he directed and designed the Australian tour of a brand-new “Alice in Wonderland” adaptation. His work has been seen on world premieres of new musicals such as “Mystic Pizza,” based on the MGM film and Florida Georgia Line’s “May We All.” He works with companies including Disney Theatrical, Sony Masterworks and Google and on stages across the country.

On Broadway, he recently produced “How to Dance in Ohio,” a story of seven young adults with autism navigating adulthood. In September, his new children’s book “Nana, Nana” will be released nationwide and aims to help families open a dialogue about aging, Alzheimer’s disease and loss through the lens of a child’s imagination. It is available for presale now.

Nate’s new play, “The SeaView Nursing Home for the Newly Deceased,” is in development with Broadway producers attached ahead of an upcoming out-of-town tryout. His musical “Letters from War,” which began at Carnegie Mellon in Playground, will receive an industry presentation in New York City this year.

“Carnegie Mellon inspired me to dig deeper with what I create,” Nate says. “Pulling from all of these areas of storytelling, I’ve found that my most interesting art can be found at the intersections.”

Story by Elizabeth Speed