Doug Brook — Executive Director
doug.brook@svshakespeare.org
Doug has been in senior management in Silicon Valley high tech since 2002. He received his B.A. and M.A. in Professional Writing with a minor in Theatre Arts from Carnegie Mellon University. As Executive Director, he guides the strategic direction of the company and oversees all programming and operations. As a theatre artist, he directed SVS’s Shakespeare in Hollywood and The Three Musketeers, and has directed for various local companies including several award-winning productions for South Bay Musical Theatre. He was a Theatre Bay Area Awards finalist for directing [title of show] (yes, that’s its name) at Los Altos Stage Company. He’s appeared on many local stages, including as Tevye in WVLO’s Fiddler on the Roof. As a playwright, twenty of his plays have been recognized or produced nationally, including two off-off-Broadway and SVS’s world premiere The Hood of Sherwood. He was a longtime vice president of the international Alliance for Jewish Theatre, and founded and directed Theatre Chevruta in Los Gatos.
Angie Higgins — Artistic Director angie.higgins@svshakespeare.org
Angie holds a B.A. in Creative Arts and an M.A. in Theatre Arts Education from San José State University, and has been teaching theatre arts since 2001. Angie develops and oversees all aspects of SVS’s productions, including play and artist selection. As a member of the artistic company, Angie directed SVS’s productions of As You Like It (2009), King Lear (2012), and Pride and Prejudice (2014); co-directed The Taming of the Shrew (2006), which was recognized as a Standout Classical Production by the Silicon Valley Small Theatre Awards; and has played many roles as an actor on the SVS stage.
Annalisa Tkacheff — Managing Director annalisa@svshakespeare.org
A bay area native, Annalisa holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in late Shakespearean plays from Santa Clara University. As Managing Director, she oversees company-wide operations, manages the audience services department, and helps bring strategy and execution together to ensure SVS’ mission and vision come to life. Annalisa brings 10+ years of experience working in Silicon Valley tech operations, a deep appreciation for the arts, and an endless love and fascination with Shakespeare’s works. As an active theater artist herself, Annalisa is especially proud to be part of this small-but-mighty team working to keep theater relevant in a modern world, making it more accessible to all, and inspiring and enabling our future artists of the world.
Melissa Jones — Education Director & Development Manager melissa.jones@svshakespeare.org
Melissa received a B.A. in Theatre from SJSU, with emphases in acting, makeup design, and children’s theatre. A theatre educator since 2000, she manages SVS’ Education Program and has taught, directed, and developed theatre curriculum for numerous local schools, children’s museums, and organizations. She is also SVS’ resident Hair & Makeup Designer, and freelances as a makeup artist and designer, teaching workshops throughout the Bay Area. In her role as Development Manager, she brings 10+ years of copywriting experience, a history with SVS dating back to 2006, and a deep love of the well-told story. She is a passionate advocate of the benefits of arts engagement, with its ability to foster personal growth and build community and cultural awareness.
April Culver— Marketing Director
april.culver@svshakespeare.org
A Midwest transplant, April holds a B.F.A. in Theatre from Drake University. As Marketing Director, April works to further awareness of SVS’s mission, as well as develop audience growth and outreach. In addition to working with SVS, she also serves as Marketing and Press Manager with New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco. She has acted with SVS since 2014, and loves working with her theatre family both on and off stage.
Tonya Duncan — Production Manager
tonya.duncan@svshakespeare.org
Originally from Virginia, Tonya holds a B.A. in Theatre with minors in English and History from Randolph Macon College. As Management Associate, Tonya helps with the implementation of strategic goals and planning while also acting as a liaison for the Board of Directors. With experience as an actor, stage manager, and director; Tonya loves being a part of every aspect of the theatre community with her only true goal in life being to just make art.
Doll Piccotto — Dramaturg
Doll achieved a B.A. in English from UCSB with an emphasis in Shakespeare in Performance and an M.A. from San José State University in Renaissance Drama. She has worked as an actor, dramaturg, or costume designer on more than 50 Shakespearean productions. She directed SVS’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2004), Pericles, Prince of Tyre (2012), and The Merry Wives of Windsor (2017), and wrote and directed Shakespeare’s Most Wanted which premiered in 2007 and was remounted in April 2009 and 2018.
Kevin Davies — Technical Director
Kevin’s building experience began with his high school teacher Ken Rawdon and “big brother” James Grissom. He got his start designing and building for Mt. Eden High School and Carlmont High School. Kevin has worked as a Master Carpenter, Set Designer, and Technical Director at local theatres throughout the Bay Area, including Sunnyvale Community Players. He first joined the SVS seasonal production staff as a Master Carpenter in 2017. He became the company’s Technical Director and Master Carpenter for the 2018 summer production season, building and overseeing As You Like It, The Hood of Sherwood, and Much Ado About Nothing. In 2019, he continued as Technical Director, now expanded to a year-round capacity.
Larry Barrott — Resident Fight Director / Artistic Director Emeritus
Larry is an accomplished actor, director, and scholar who served as SVS’s Artistic Director from 2005-2012. He holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Santa Clara University and an M.A. in Education from American Continental University. Larry directed SVS’s productions of Romeo and Juliet (2006), The Comedy of Errors (2008), Much Ado (About Nothing) (2010), Henry V (2011), and Tartuffe (2014). Larry received his certification in stage combat from Dueling Arts International and serves as the company’s resident fight director.
Dinna Myers — Founder, Executive Director Emeritus
Dinna was a co-founder of Silicon Valley Shakespeare (previously Shady Shakespeare). She received her B.A. in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in lighting design and directing from San José State University. An active artist with the company, she directed SVS’s productions of As You Like It (2000), Much Ado About Nothing (2002), Hamlet (2004), The Merry Wives of Windsor (2005), The Tempest (2007), Twelfth Night (2008), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (2010), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2011), The Lion in Winter (2012), and The Tempest (2015). She left the company in late 2015 to reside in Gisborne, New Zealand.
Sara Betnel — Founder, Artistic Director Emeritus
Sara was the founding Artistic Director of Shady Shakespeare Theatre Company (now SVS). She received her B.A. in Drama from the University of Washington, after which she attended the acting school at Ilkhom Theatre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and received an M.F.A. in Theatre Education from Boston University with a focus on Acting and Ensemble Creation. She directed SVS’s productions of Twelfth Night (1999) and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (2001), and resides in Washington.
