Production Team - Livermore Shakespeare Festival


	Lisa A. Tromovitch (Producing Artistic Director) is the founder of Shakespeare’s Associates/Livermore Shakespeare Festival, with over 40 professional directing credits in six states. She is a Backstage West Garland Award and Indy Award winner for her direction of Amadeus at PCPA, an Arty Award nominee (best direction of a musical: Forever Plaid and Honk! at Suisun Harbor and Solano College) and a Bessie nominee (direction of Having Our Say at Lost Nation Theater in Vermont). Most recently she directed ‘art’, The Comedy of Errors, and Twelfth Night for SA, and Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, and On the Verge, or The Geography of Yearningat University of the Pacific, Stockton, where she is a full-time professor in Theatre Arts. MFA from Southern Methodist University; BA, magna cum laude, from Dartmouth College, member Phi Beta Kappa.

	Gary Armagnac (Director, Romeo & Juliet) has been a professional actor, director, and educator for more than thirty years, working on stage and screen in New York, London, Los Angeles, and at major regional theatres around the nation. He has served on the faculty of the Southern Utah University, the Drama Studio London, California State University Long Beach, and University of California Santa Cruz, where he has appeared in numerous roles with Shakespeare Santa Cruz since 1986 including the title role in Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus. Gary was Artist-in-Residence and Director of Education for many years with the Tony Award® winning Utah Shakespearean Festival (USF). His work on stage there included the title roles in Richard III and Pericles, Iago in Othello, and Sir Toby in Twelfth Night. He received the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award in 1998 for Shakes: Rattle & Role, a documentary he wrote and directed for Public Television about his touring production of Hamlet. In 1984, he was presented with the Key to the City of St. Louis for his performance in the National Tour of the Pulitzer Prize winning A Soldier’s Story with the Negro Ensemble Company. Gary has also received many other awards for his work, including four Hollywood Drama-Logue Awards. Among his many television and film credits are guest starring roles on Star Trek: the Next Generation, LA Law, Hill Street Blues, Houston Knights, Brisco County Junior, Three Fugitives with Nick Nolte and Martin Short, and a cameo appearance in the Coen brothers’ Blood Simple. Gary recently performed the lead role of John Plunkett in the West Coast Premier of Conor McPherson’s Dublin Carol at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley, CA. At the invitation of Sister Helen Prejean and Tim Robbins, he directed the stage version of Dead Man Walking, by Mr. Robbins, in April 2006 at Univerisity of the Pacific, where he is a tenured professor in Theatre Arts.
	Matthew Ballin (Fight Choreographer Romeo & Juliet) was seen at LSF as Bottom the Weaver in last summer's A Midsummer Night's Dream at Concannon Vineyard, and he played one of the twin Dromios in the Comedy of Errors, and appeared in As You Like It at Retzlaff Winery. He holds a BFA in Theater from UC Santa Barbara and an MFA from Ohio State. He is the Drama Director at Washington High School in Fremont and lives in Castro Valley with his wife Pam, daughters Emmy and Hannah, and spaniel “Bing.”

	Laura Batti (Website/Logo/Program Designer) is a graphic designer and owner of Metier Marketing Communications, Inc. She has extensive experience in all forms of marketing, including graphic design, tradeshows, writing, web development, presentations/online demos, and project management. Laura has worked with Shakespeare's Associates since its inception, designing the website and Shakespeare Festival programs, as well as the company's logo art.

	Devin Bertsch (Scenic Designer) is a bay area scenic designer, technical director, carpenter and scenic artist and a graduate of the Santa Clara University Department of Theatre and Dance. He has trained under Scenic Designer Jerald Enos, Lighting Designer Derek Duarte, and Technical Director David Sword. His recent design credits include Lost in Yonkers and Execution of Justice for Santa Clara University, You Can’t Take It With You, The Importance of Being Earnest, Les Miserables, and Singin’ In the Rain for Valley Christian High School, The Book of Liz and The Shape of Things for Renegade Theatre Experiment, Oskar and The Bully Children’s Show for Theatreworks, and The Rose of Persia for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of San Jose. He also has worked as Technical Director for Pennisula Youth Theatre and Archbishop Mitty High School as well as Carpenter for Palo Alto Players. He is the recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Achievement in Design Award from Santa Clara Theater Department and he placed 2nd nationally in the Young Scenic Artist Competition for The Painter’s Journal. These are his first productions with Livermore Shakespeare Festival.

	Swetha Dixit (Props Master) trained in classical dances under Carmelita Maracci, Ron Montez, Darian and in Bharatanatyam under Guru Vasanti, VSM Pillai, Kalanidhi. She previously performed traditional arts of India assembly programs with Young Audiences of Northern California and also earned a BS in Physics. She has worked props for theaters such as Children's Fairyland, San Ramon Community Theater, Livermore High School, Christensen Middle School and Las Positas College where she was honored with a Lucas Performing Arts Award for Drama. She teaches Bharatanatyam at Kalaikoil in Dublin, where both she and her students have received awards from Pleasanton Arts Council, Livermore Rotary, and Alagappa University. Some may recognise Swetha as 'the mom' in a 'Safe Drive' film or in the crowd in a 'Fall Out Boy' music video.

	Randall A. Enlow (Technical Advisor) earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Akron and his Master of Fine Arts in Production Design and Technology from Case Western Reserve University. Since then he has worked both onstage as an actor and backstage as a Technical Director/Scenic/Lighting Designer. He created the lighting and scenic elements for the world premier of Dave Brubeck’s Cannery Row Suite for the Monterey Jazz Festival, designed sets and lights for The Seagull at The Bankhead Theater. Rand was also the Scenic and Lighting Designer for All’s Well at Retzlaff Winery, and Twelfth Night, The Compleat Wrks of Wllm. Shkspr (abridged) (revised), A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Seagull at Concannon Vineyard for LSF. He is a tenured professor at the University of the Pacific who designs regularly in the Central Valley area.

	Peta Grimes (Properties) has designed props for Shakespeare’s Associates productions of All’s Well That Ends Well, ‘art,’ The Comedy of Errors and Proof. She also works with props for the Las Positas College Theater Department.

	Christine Hornbaker (stage manager R&J) is currently attending Las Positas College as a Technical Theatre major. She has stage managed four shows at Las Positas College including The School for Scandal, Metamorphoses, and the touring children's show The Emperor's New Clothes. She has also been ASM for the production of Working and is currently ASM for RENT at Las Positas College. She is planning on transferring in the fall to a four year university to complete a bachelor's degree in technical theatre with emphasis in stage management.

	Nikolai Lokteff (Graphic Designer) is a graphic designer specializing in promotional materials, identity and illustration. You can see more of his work at www.getnikolai.com. He has also worked as an actor with Shakespeare’s Associates as well as many other Bay Area theater companies. Livermore audiences saw him most recently as the visiting Dromio in The Comedy of Errors, and as Sir Toby in Twelfth Night, and as Nikolai in The Complete Works of Wm. Shkspr (abridged) (revised)

	Joanne Martin (Costume Designer) is a Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Santa Clara University and has most recently designed costumes for A Few Good Men at City Lights Theatre in San Jose and Execution of Justice at Santa Clara University. Joanne has also worked during the summer seasons at Santa Fe Opera, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, CalShakes, Idaho Repertory Theatre, Valley Shakespeare Festival, and designed costumes for SA's productions of Proof and Art.

	Cathie McClellan (Costume Designer, Romeo & Juliet), although she first came to theatre as an actor at the age of 6, discovered her true calling in costume design and technology during her undergraduate studies. This decision led to a BA in Theatre from BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY in Provo, Utah and later to an MFA from the UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA in Tucson. As a costumier, her work has been seen on stages across the United States, such as Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Music Theatre Louisville, Music Theatre of Wichita, Tuacahn Summer Theatre in St. George, Utah, Indianapolis Shakespeare Festival, and Arizona Theatre Company in Tucson. She designed Carmen for Livermore Valley Opera and has designed twice for Livermore Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors (2007) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2009). She has taught many courses in costuming and make up, and is now an Associate Professor at the University of the PACIFIC, where she is currently serving as Theatre Arts Department Chair. Her career also includes work in film, television and commercials, as designer, wardrobe supervisor, and make up artist.
	Don Meeker (Props Team Associate) has a long term interest in the performing arts. Don is a retired Chemist from Sandia Laboratories and serves on the Human Services Commission.

	Sara Lydia Pruneda, (Production Stage Manager/Marketing Associate) a native of northern California, holds a BA in Drama from Trinity University, San Antonio, TX with minors in both Communication Management and Film Studies. She spent her last five years in San Antonio working with various theatre companies in many capacities. At Trinity, she stage-managed R&G are Dead, directed 1959 Pink Thunderbird, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show and assistant directed Fuddy Meers and Dog Sees God. With AtticRep, she assistant directed Fat Pig, Mr. Marmalade, and The Goat (also PSM), where she was the Assistant to the Producing Artistic Director. In 2007, she traveled with AtticRep to Washington DC’s Capitol Fringe Festival with One for the Road as ASM. Sara served as PSM and AD for The History Boys, and PSM for Almost, Maine, both at San Pedro Playhouse, San Antonio’s oldest live theatre venue. Recently, she stage managed the Alamo Theatre Arts Council Globe Awards Show at the Historic Empire Theatre, and is wrapping up Fire on the Bayou: The Cajun Voodoo Musical, a new musical where she was PSM, Assistant Director, and Production Manager.

	Karen Riley (Production Manager) joined Shakespeare’s Associates production staff as the Technical Director for Proof. She is looking forward to her first summer with the Livermore Shakespeare Festival, working on two shows at the new venue. Karen has participated in the Las Positas College Technical Theater Department for three years and will be working on her seventh show there this summer.

Neil Riley (Photographer) has retired from the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory to the arts! He is the photographer for both Shakespeare’s Associates and Las Positas College Theater.

	Peggy Riley (Dramaturg) taught English at Las Positas College for over twenty years, including studies in Shakespeare. In retirement, she’s delighted to return to her first love, theater. She’s worked on eight shows for Shakespeare’s Associates: The Gifts of the Magi, Wharton One-Acts, All’s Well That Ends Well, ‘art’, The Comedy of Errors, Proof, Twelfth Night and The Complete Works of Wm. Shkspr (abridged) (revised)as well as seven shows for the Las Positas College Theater Department. Peggy holds an MA in English from UC Berkeley and an MA in history from Montana State University.

	Ryan Shull (co-Lighting Designer/Technical Director) has been involved with theater for over ten years and has worked as a lighting designer and electrician in theaters from San Francisco to Los Angeles. While attending college at University of the Pacific, Ryan served as lighting designer and master electrician for several shows most notably Macbeth, for which he received a regional Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival nomination. While at Pacific, Ryan was the Technical Theater Student of the year three consecutive times and the proud recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award for the department. Graduating with his BA in theater he has been busy designing shows in the Bay Area. Some favorite lighting credits include Northside Theater Company’s A Christmas Carol, Peninsula Youth Theater’s production of Aladdin, and Los Altos Youth Theater’s Cheaper by the Dozen preformed at the Bus Barn Stage Company. In addition to lighting design Ryan serves as Pacific’s Department of Theater assistant technical director. He is thrilled to be working again with Shakespeare’s Associates last having designed lights for Copenhagen in the spring of 2009.