Our Staff
Charles Pasternak
Pasternak’s SCS tenure as Artistic Director began in 2023, before which he served as Artistic Director of The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Co in Los Angeles for over fifteen years. He has had a wide-ranging career as an actor and director at theatres across this country including American Players Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Clarence Brown Theatre, The Denver Center, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, three seasons with The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis and four with Shakespeare Santa Cruz.
Lorne Dechtenberg
Joining the SCS team in 2023, Dechtenberg (he/him) brings more than fifteen years of arts management experience in venues ranging from theatres and concert halls to recording studios and film sets. Before coming to Santa Cruz, he served as Executive & Artistic Director of Bluegrass Opera & Music Theatre, where he produced dozens of challenging works, including the second staging of Broadway’s LoveMusik and the world premiere of ILLYRIA (a Gilbert-and-Sullivan-style adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night). Dechtenberg holds DMA and MM degrees from the University of Kentucky, as well as a second MM from the University of Houston.
Rachel Lee Rogers
Passionate about community, the arts, and especially Shakespeare, Rogers (she/her) has been developing and fundraising for theatre for twenty years. She was a founding member and Development Director for Shaking Will, a New Jersey Shakespeare Collective, and served as Development Director for Balagula Theatre Company before becoming Artistic Director. Most recently Producing Director for Bluegrass Opera and Music Theatre, her professional career includes years of acting (AEA), directing, design, and drama education, always with a commitment to outreach and the future of theatre. Rogers holds a B.F.A. in Acting/Directing and a B.A. in Literature and Playwriting from Northern Kentucky University with M.F.A. studies at Mason Gross School for the Arts, Rutgers, and post-graduate certification in Shakespearean and Jacobean Theatre from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
Rebecca Haley Clark
Rebecca was born and raised in Santa Cruz, and had her first meeting with Shakespeare at Gault Elementary. She received her undergraduate degree in Drama and Comparative Ethnic Studies at Columbia University, and is currently finishing her Masters of Fine Arts of Classical and Contemporary Text - Directing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She also completed a Fulbright research grant to study Shakespeare and race studies in Rio de Janeiro. She is excited to continue to work within the intersection of social justice, education, and the performing arts.
Alicia Gibson
Alicia is very grateful to be a part of the Santa Cruz Shakespeare team. She has loved Shakespeare since high school and is looking forward to introducing more people to the work. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara theatre directing program and has worked as a director and stage manager in Los Angeles for many years.
Artie Peralez
Artie Peralez (They/Them) is grateful to be currently embarking on their second season as the Company Manager with Santa Cruz Shakespeare. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts with the option in Production and Design degree from Cal State of Los Angeles, Artie brings a hardworking, humorous, energy while working. Over time, hands-on experience fueled a growing passion for management within the theatre industry. Driven by a deep-seated commitment to the arts, they aspire to spread the magic of theatre throughout communities. Artie continues to contribute significantly to the vibrant world of theatre.
Shannen Craig
Shannen was born & raised in Santa Cruz and is thrilled to be joining the Santa Cruz Shakespeare team in 2024. She has always valued artistic expression and has dabbled in a variety of mediums through the years. Shannen has many years experience in management and has worked for the leading weekly newspaper in Santa Cruz County since 2017 as Circulation Manager. She enjoys working with such an amazing community and is looking forward to meeting new people and broadening her knowledge in theatre arts.
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