The Fourth Wall Staff Biographies

Thomas Monaco - President - Artisan

Born and raised in Massachusetts , Tom has always had a passion for working with his hands. From the age of four, when he completely disassembled the family vacuum cleaner, he has directed his attention to figuring out how things work, and the relationship of form to function. Educated at the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Production, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Design and Technology from the University of Missouri in Kansas City, Tom has focused much of his professional career in the arts, both as a professor at the University of Florida and Ohio Northern University, and as a professional theatrical technician and designer with theatres like the Weston Playhouse and the San Francisco Opera. Tom's professional theatrical experiences have taken him to over 30 countries worldwide and he has collaborated with national award winning designers such as Michael Yeargan, Kevin Rigdon, Joe Tilford, Gerard Howland and many others.

A master craftsman, Tom has over 20 years of furniture, cabinet, metalworking, painting and mechanical experience. From hot rods to clocks, custom choppers to dressing screens, Tom has done it all. He applies a unique perspective to all his projects because of his ability to not only visualize a concept, but execute all aspects of it; this talent combined with a meticulous attention to detail and a unique theatrical flair characterizes his work with singular distinction.

Hammers Redwing

Born into a family of professional athletes in Jefferson County , Florida as one of 12 offspring it could be said that racing was in Hammers blood. After a successful but short lived career, Hammer retired to the rural seclusion of northern Ohio . It is here he met Tom while he was auditioning for a guest role in a local ballet production. Unfortunately, Hammer did not get the part but he got to hang out backstage and the two have been steadfast friends ever since. Considered by many to be the brains behind the company, Hammer prefers to spend his time behind the scenes, chasing Sparky the cat and sleeping in his hand crafted custom bed.