EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Arnab Banerji
Arnab Banerji is a Tovaangar (modern day Los Angeles) based theatre educator, dramaturg, and cultural consultant. They are the chair of the theater arts department of LMU. When not in a rehearsal room, Arnab can be found in a classroom in Loyola Marymount University teaching courses on dramaturgy, theatre history, and South Asian performance. Arnab has written on South Asian and South Asian American theatre. He has published translations and introductions to classical South Asian plays. Arnab is grateful to Artistic Director Leveque, and his team of actors, and the playwright, Darren Nash for trusting him with their faith, talents, and words. He can be reached at arnab.banerji@lmu.eduand on Instagram @arnabanerji.
Vice President: Janette Boyd-Williams
Janette has been with the company since it’s inception with Helen Borgers.That is over 20 plus years ago. When the company was called Bard In The Yard. She brings a lifetime of experience in the entertainment industry. Working in dramatic theater and variety arts.( primarily in Las Vegas and Paris) She was under contract with 20th Century Fox. She as appeared on national television Phil Donahue, Good Morning America, Entertainment tonight. She was train in ballet and Jazz. Performing in comedy and variety shows with Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, Merv Griffin, to name a few. She was a solo performer in Las Vegas producing her own Acts. Working in Bal du Moulin Rouge, Casino de Paris, Follies Bergere, Lido de Paris. She is currently working with Ken Borgers in membership at KSDS 88.3 San Diego. Also she is producing shows for trade show events for ICMAD. It has been a honor to be on the board over the years.
Treasurer: Lynne Frawley
Lynne joined the LBSC Board of Directors in 2012 as Treasurer, and also acts as the company bookkeeper. She grew up in San Bernardino and, after graduating from Cal Poly, Pomona, moved to Long Beach to accept her first job with the accounting firm of Windes & McClaughry. After having twin boys, Lynne retired from the business world and began a life of children and volunteering for her community in PTA, Boy Scouts of America, school libraries, and now with LBSC.
Secretary: Julie Rivett
Julie joined LBSC's Board of Directors in 2007, bringing with her a life-long love of the arts and a commitment to volunteerism that, over the years, has included many hours in service to scouting, booster clubs, local government, public schools, political and non-profit organizations, and KKJZ 88.1 public radio, where she first met Helen Borgers.
As granddaughter of mystery writer Dashiell Hammett, Julie worked with Helen to bring the first dramatic production of The Maltese Falcon to LBSC's Richard Goad Theatre in 2005. Moreover, Julie is a respected Hammett scholar and a passionate advocate for literacy. She writes, edits, advises, and provides programming for libraries, schools, and community reading groups across the United,States.
Holly first joined the Long Beach Shakespeare Company in 2010. She brings with her both enthusiasm and experience. Leveque trained at the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at Culver City High School (including two years with the Actors’ Gang) and attended Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a BA in Theatre Arts and an MFA in Feature Screenwriting. She served on the board of directors of Loyola’s Del Rey Theater, studied abroad with the Moscow Art Theater, and has worked in comedies, dramas, and theaters across the Southland.
Education and Community Outreach: Dr. Melanie Curtis Andrews
Dr Melanie Andrews is one of those rare African Americans who has directed, performed in, or designed every single Shakespeare Play, including TIMON OF ATHENS and CORIOLANUS. Her love for Shakespeare started as a child when her mother would read Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s dream to her at bedtime. “The beauty of the language and the grace of the stories captivated me. I never stopped loving Shakespeare.” The founder of Long Beach Performing Arts Collective.
As an adult she continued her romance with Shakespeare by majoring in theater in college and receiving several advanced degrees in literature, theater and design from major universities including the University of Southern California. She has also studied Shakespeare in action at the famed Ashland Shakespeare Festival. This summer she was invited to be part of a fellowship program for theater Educators at Juilliard School in New York City .She has divided her theatrical career between acting, teaching and directing . She directed over 100 plays in high schools, college and regional theaters. She has received dozens of awards for excellence in directing, including Best Director Award from the prestigious International Youth theater Association. Additionally she was named Theater Teacher of the year by the California Theater Teachers Association and the State of California. Some of her numerous awards include: California. Educational Theater Association. Fall Festival Best ensemble- POSITIVE SECRETS. Best Actor. Javier Barbosa; Drama Teachers of SoCal. Bronze Award for dramatic Scene Ceta. Multicultural award for excellence; World literacy Crusade. Community Service Award; UN award for supporting Human Rights for women; Governors award for. educational theater excellence; LAUSD awards for excellence in theater; CalState. Theater Competition. at Long Beach State University – Best Monologue. Both. first and Second Place; Best Dramatic. scene. first place International youth theater Association. 10 awards for excellence for Production of ZOOT SUIT.
Marketing and Membership: Christian George
Christian J. George is a dynamic force in the entertainment and media landscape, seamlessly merging the worlds of performance and public relations. Armed with elite East Coast training and degrees in Theatre, Communications, and Business, he brings a razor-sharp understanding of storytelling—whether on stage, on screen, or in the press. A champion of the performing arts in all its forms, Christian thrives on crafting narratives that captivate, influence, and leave a lasting impact.
Legacy Chair: Chris Garcia
Chris comes to us with 23 years experience in Environmental Health Care Management. His first experience with LBSC was when he volunteered for the 2001 production of Bram Stoker's Dracula. He still has fond memories of painting coffins in the alley at 3:00 am, behind our old storage and rehearsal space. He was also the stage manager for this production. His dedication, organizational skills, and talent for "taking care of the grown-up things", says Artistic Director Helen Borgers, soon led him to become our company president.
When the "grown-up things" have allowed him to, Chris has been an active behind the scenes crew member, assisting with prop construction, painting, erecting the festival stage, and doing whatever it takes to keep LBSC moving in the right direction. He was stage manager for the fourth annual festival at Sterns Park, and has produced all of the festivals since. Chris has been instrumental in establishing a rapport with the Aquarium staff over the past years, and is grateful to the Aquarium management for welcoming us back for a third year. Approaching his fifth year as company president, he has always considered his position as one of service, and in a supporting role.
He prefers to work behind the scenes, and makes every effort to assure that the needs of the Artistic Director, technical staff, crew and support staff are met. "Our company has attracted so many creative, talented, and committed cast and crew members, who have worked so hard to make every production a success," said Chris. "It is an honor to be of service to them."