Shakespeare in the Valley Staff |
|
| Founding/Producing Artistic Director | |
|
DONNA DEVLIN- Having begun her career in theatre, Donna was accepted into and attended NYU's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts before switching her attentions to film and television, graduating summa cum laude from Hunter College's scholars program, The Thomas Hunter Honors Colloquiam, with a concentration in Media, English and Psychology. From there, this actress/producer/director has primarily honed her skills in the realm of television and film; creating and writing pilots for MTV/Broadway Video, Fox TV and Canada's CTV and Much Music, and being honored with awards at the Cannes, Houston and Vancouver Film Festivals. She has worked for Warner Brothers TV and the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, as well as being an award-winning producer/director of numerous tv commercial campaigns before being invited to serve as N.H.'s first female Film Commissioner. Since returning to her "first love" (theatre), she's attended the world-renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, U.K. and has appeared in London as Gertrude (“Hamlet”) and Maria in the world premiere of "Twelfth Night: The Musical", among others. She is a veteran of day and prime time television, feature films and many broadcast tv commercials as well as a passionate advocate for children, underserved populations and the differently abled. She has served as Founding/Producing Artistic Director since beginning the theatre in 2006. |
| Executive Manager | |
|
WILL HAMMOND- A fourth-generation Franklin, N.H. native, Will was one of the founding members of that town’s award-winning Footlight Theatre Company. After leaving the Marines, he decided to concentrate on acting and has never looked back: He has attended the renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, U.K., where he studied stage fencing with the legendary Richard Ryan (fight coordinator for the movie "Troy" and "Stardust"). Will has performed in London, playing the roles of Cassius (“Julius Ceasar”) and the Shepherd in(" The Winter's Tale") at the West End's GBS Theatre. He has starred as both Antipholus roles in "The Comedy of Errors" and as Laertes in "Hamlet" in northern California and has played various roles on national tours. In roles too numerous to list, he's been in every show we've produced since our inception, including outstanding turns as Macbeth in both 2008's World Premiere of award- winning author John Reed's play "All the World's a Grave" (and its' subsequent book tour) as well as in 2010's "Macbeth" (which was awarded a standing ovation by kilt-clad members of the actual Macbeth clan in attendance one night!) He also serves as Fight Choreographer for all of our shows each summer. |
| Set Construction | |
 |
CHRIS DEVLIN-YOUNG - A disabled veteran paralyzed in a Coast Guard plane crash, Mr. Devlin-Young is a 15 year veteran of the US Disabled Ski Team. In his tenure, he has won Paralympic, National, World Cup and World Championship titles many times over. He is the pioneering founder of the Trench Digger 5000—the first mono-snowboard for paraplegics as well as the first man to win a world title against an able-bodied field (in the World Synchronized Ski Championships). He won ESPN’s inaugural Disabled Skier-Cross at the 2005 X Games and was the first disabled skier to compete in both the National Extreme Ski and Snowboard Championships. With his wife, Donna, he was the founder and Head Coach of the New England Disabled Ski Team at Loon. In his roster: several Paralympic champions from 2002 and 2006 and the 2004 and 2005 World Cup Women’s Overall winner. As well, he placed an athlete on the US Team every year that he was Head Coach. On the Board of Waterville Valley-based "AbilityPLUS" and a coach for the adaptive ski program there, Chris travels the globe advocating for (and coaching persons with) physical disabilities. He volunteers his skills on behalf of the Disabled Veteran’s National Winter Sports clinics each year as well as countless other hours devoted to advocating on behalf of the physically challenged. He is the first disabled athlete asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the New England Ski Museum, an institution dedicated to the preservation and archiving of ski history as well as helping to shape the sport’s future. Christopher has designed and constructed the sets for all the highly-acclaimed TUTS/SITV summer seasons since 2006. He is an accomplished carpenter, builder and craftsman of fine furniture designed for wheelchair use. |
| Costumer | |
 |
MICHELE LANDRY - A 3rd generation Franklin, N.H. native, since 1996 Michele has been costumer and seamstress for the award-winning Footlight Theatre, designing and sewing costumes for “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Annie”, “Oliver!” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”, 2005's smash hit “Beauty and the Beast” (for which her inventive creations were nominated in the Best Costume category at the 2005 NH Theatre Awards) and was co-costumer (with daughter Esther) for Shakespeare in the Valley's inaugural 2006 Season, gaining kudos for her beautiful work, which was a stand-out with audiences. “Proud Mama” Michele is delighted to be a part of Shakespeare in the Valley, making it a “family affair” as she works alongside son Will (Executive Manager and Fight Choreographer), creating costumes for all of our Main Stage shows since 2007. |
