Board
Bjorn A. Whitney | President & Artistic Director
Bjorn ended up in theatre largely by accident when his Freshman English teacher Mr. Evans, suggested that he take a drama class to fill an empty period. He immediately took to acting, changing his intended career path from delinquent/musician to actor/musician. After high school, Bjorn pursued and attained a degree in theatre, but a lackluster university experience all but killed his acting enthusiasm, resulting in what would be a 5 year performance hiatus. A close friend was the catalyst for his return to the stage when she encouraged Bjorn to audition for a production of The Tempest with Shakespeare Northwest. A few months after the end of the run, Bjorn relocated to Seattle, where he was encouraged to pursue the increased acting opportunities in both theatre and film and has been performing up and down the I-5 corridor ever since. Favorite roles include Master Xosaka in Through the Plot Hole, Owen Musser in The Foreigner, and Hamlet the prince of Denmark. When not involved with theatre, Bjorn can be found watching his beloved Seahawks, attending rock concerts, or playing Dungeons and Dragons with his closest friends.
Carolyn Travis | Founder Vice President
Carolyn hasn’t missed a season of Shakespeare Northwest since the beginning and counts herself beyond blessed to have been a part of this amazing organization since its very first year in 2001. She has played roles such as Autolycus in The Winter’s Tale, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Titania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, Tamora in Titus Andronicus, Prospero in The Tempest … to name a few. She has also written many of the touring shows including “Shakespeare’s Contest of Crowns,” “Once Upon A Shakespearean Tale,” “Shakespeare in Wonderland” as well as directed them. Carolyn supports her theatre habits by working as a LVT for Maplewood Animal Hospital in Bellingham and NOAH in Stanwood. Carolyn loves her Shakespearean partner in crime, Trey, and all their furry children!
Jessica Knife | Treasurer
Jessica became part of our theatre family in 2024. Her commitment to our mission quickly became evident, and later that year she brought her expertise and passion to our board by stepping into the Treasurer role. Jessica plays a vital role in overseeing our financial health, ensuring we can continue to deliver exceptional theatrical experiences for our community. Her involvement reflects her belief in the transformative power of the arts—and we're grateful for her contributions!
Tom Pitts | Senior Advisor
Tom was born In California but lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for 38 years. He worked as a Travel Agent for 35 years and in 1982 founded and co-owned agency for 19 years. In 2001 Tom moved to Anacortes and worked in Hospitality Industry for 8 years. He retired in 2012 but still works part time as an Activities Assistant at Chandlers Square Retirement Community in Anacortes. Tom’s brother-in-law Rob Slater was one of the founding members of SNW and invited Tom to join the group in 2011 where he then served as Treasurer 2012-13, President 2014-17 and again as Treasurer 2018-2024. Tom has a long volunteering resume including Little League positions, Optimist Clubs, and Booster Associations. He and his wife Maria have been married for 42 years and have one son, Daniel, who lives in Washington D.C.
John Metcalf | Director of Marketing & COmmunications
John has been a dedicated supporter of Shakespeare Northwest since its inaugural season in 2001, drawn in by the magic of Shakespeare under the stars. Since first joining the company in 2015, John has contributed his talent as both an actor and director, collaborating on various productions over the years. In 2024, he joined the board and stepped into the role of Director of Marketing and Communications, where he combines his creative experience with a strategic focus on audience engagement. John is honored to collaborate in making the magic of SNW happen, driven by his lifelong passion for Shakespeare and exploring what it means to be human. From an early age, these interests have shaped his artistic journey, fueling his belief in the timeless power of classical texts as a vehicle for examining our contemporary lives and fostering deeper connections between us. Born and raised in the north Puget Sound, John takes immense pride in contributing to the vibrant artistic landscape of this community through Shakespeare Northwest.
Miriam Smith | Costume Designer
Miriam has been working with SNW on and off since the beginning! Most recently she’s costumed The Winter’s Tale, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, As You Like It, and Henry V. She has also costumed Beauty and the Beast with TAG, among many other shows in the Valley. When not sewing up a storm, she is a lover of Renaissance Fairs and all things nerdy!
Josiah C. Miller | Secretary
Josiah C. Miller has been creating and performing for 17 years. Thanks to the recommendation of Caroline Rensel back in 2016, Shakespeare Northwest became a place to help Josiah foster his return to theater. You may have seen him recently as Andrew Rally in I Hate Hamlet and Jekyll/Hyde in Chemical Imbalance at the Phoenix Theater; and as Frank-N-Furter in Rocky Horror at Red Curtain. Josiah is forever grateful to the audience and community of SNW for their time, money, and the memories. He is thankful to the friends, family, and peers who have supported him all these years, and is especially grateful for Katie Wallace and everything she does. He is eager to be taking the exciting next steps in his career and life. For any inquiries or to see more information, visit www.josiahcmiller.com.
Meghan Mccloud
Meghan has been working with SNW since being Assistant Stage Manager during the 2019 season. She recently Assistant Directed As You Like It at ACT, stage managed Henry V in 2022, and Assistant Directed “Happily After Ever” in 2023. She also was stage crew for “A Calculated Retreat.” She is thankful for the wonderful opportunity theatre provides to make lifelong friends.
Former Board Members
Glynna Goff | Former Festival managing director
Glynna has been with Shakespeare Northwest since 2011. A transplanted actor from Southern California, Glynna was looking for an opportunity to get involved with local Shakespearean productions. She saw the entire 2010 season, and knew she’d be auditioning the following year. Glynna has performed a wide variety of roles on, and off stage, becoming more invested in the Festival each year. The friendships made through the Festival are some of the deepest, and most enduring in her life. Shakespeare Northwest is a wonderful, and unique organization, led by volunteers, who just want to share good theater, under the stars. Glynna is grateful to have served as Managing Director, and hopes to inspire others to lend their talents, and skills to the team.
Bob Voorhies | Facility & Maintenance Committee
Bob has an extensive background in construction and has recently started helping Shakespeare Northwest with planning construction for a new stage and building various carts to help make the actor’s lives easier. He also helps set up and tear down the Front of House with his wife Cindy.
Cindy Voorhies | Front of house Committee Chair
Cindy is at the Rexville Blackrock-Amphitheatre early every performance to start setting up the Front of House, audience aisles, and be a friendly face for the actors. She is great at selling SNW t-shirts, mugs, glasses, and more! Cindy has been serving on the Board since December of 2019.
Debbie Riegel | President Front of house COMMITTEE secretary
Debbie has worked at Skagit Valley Family Dental for over 25 years as a dental hygienist. She has been with Shakespeare Northwest for 15 years. Debbie has acted, and has been the Front of House manager for several years. She has been on the Executive Board for several years and is now serving as the President as well as serving as the President of Family Promise of Skagit Valley, a nation wide organization that helps homeless families. She’s acted in several of the plays at her church and is an outdoor specialist for the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. Debbie enjoy learning new skills and helping people when she can. -
Elizabeth Lundquist | President | artistic director Costume committee
Eal has been involved many different parts of Shakespeare Northwest. She has served as the Artistic Director and Board President for SNW as well as acting. She has portrayed Maria in Twelfth Night, the head maid in King Lear, a brawling brothel babe in Romeo and Juliet, and as the crazy school mistress in Two Noble Kinsmen. Eal has been active with many of the theatres in Skagit Valley. Recently she was seen as Queen Elizabeth I in Anacortes Community Theatre’s production of Shakespeare In Love in partnership with Shakespeare Northwest, Mrs. Beaver in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Ida Mallard in HONK!, and Martha Dobie in The Children’s Hour. When she is not on stage, she is in the director’s chair or behind the scenes and when she has any free time (what is that?) she enjoys spending time with her family, watching too much TV.
Gracie Johnson | Marketing & PR committee Chair | Social Media manager | Web designer & administrator
Named after Gracie Allen and Grace Kelly, Gracie feels she it is fitting that she found her way to acting and theatre. She started acting in high school in 2015 and is now pursing a BA in Theatre with a concentration in Acting and Musical Theatre from Western Washington University. After being in the SNW Iron Man audience since 2016, Gracie joined the Shakespeare Northwest family in 2019 during Anacortes Community Theatre’s production of Shakespeare In Love. During the following summer season, she was cast in her first ever leading role as Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. During which she ended up taking charge of SNW’s social media, creating videos, putting together actor bios, putting up posters, etc. which earned her a request from Bjorn to be on the Board. She now holds the Marketing & PR title. Check out SNW’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Redbubble to see her designs and other work. She also made this website!
Jacob TObey | Podcast editor
Jacob was born and raised in Anacortes, Washington and graduated from Washington State University with a bachelors in liberal arts. He has been in the IT field for 15 years and is currently a Cyber Security Threat Analyst for Skagit Regional Health, which his true passion. He has been in the audience of SNW shows for a while and was very glad to help with the SNW podcast!
His hobbies include hiking, boxing and anything related to technology! Oh and his cat, Cosmo!
James Brown | Costume Committee
James is excited to be a part of Shakespeare Northwest since 2004. Favorite previous roles include Launcelot Gobbo in The Merchant of Vegas, Banquo in Macbeth, Demetrius in Titus Andronicus all with SNW and Judas in Last Days of Judas Iscariot at Skagit Valley College. When not acting, James can be found designing and sewing costumes, making armor and properties. Lydia and James often spend their time offstage sewing up a storm, trying things on actors, and borrowing and collecting costumes.
Jessie Spangler | Secretary | Costume Committee
Jessie joined Shakespeare Northwest in 2015 after being asked to audition by Bjorn Whitney and hasn’t stopped since. Starting theatre in 2001, she found her passion and enjoys every element of it; onstage and off. She began tutoring actors of various ages in 2008, ranging from character and body work to improv to script analysis and beyond. While most of her time with Shakespeare Northwest has been onstage, the Summers of 2018 and 2019 had her “behind the table,” assistant directing/creating special FX for Titus Andronicus and then directing A Midsummer Night’s Dream the following year. She enjoys integrating puppetry and comedy into her work (some puppets are included in our touring productions!) and does her best to make theatre a positive overall experience for everyone involved. When not swimming in theatre, you can find Jessie hiking, relaxing with her cat, spending time with her family, or playing Dungeons and Dragons!
Lydia RandalL | Costume Committee
Lydia has been with Shakespeare Northwest since 2003. Favorite roles include Isabella in Measure for Measure, Ophelia in Hamlet, and Rosalind in As You Like It. When not onstage or behind the scenes, Lydia plays Dungeons and Dragons, leads quests for kids with Bellingham Majestic Adventures, and sews. Lydia and James often spend their time offstage sewing up a storm, trying things on actors, and borrowing and collecting costumes.
Trey Hatch | Founder | Facility & Maintenance Committee | Stage design Committee chair
Trey has been a plank member of Shakespeare Northwest since 2001 with his best friend and partner in crime, Carolyn Travis. He is a prolific director having directed shows such as King Lear, Antony and Cleopatra, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Macbeth, and All’s Well That Ends Well all with Shakespeare Northwest as well as The Producers with TAG, William’s Window with META, Romeo and Juliet, and Enchanted April with ACT. Roles in his Shakespeare Northwest career include Caliban in The Tempest, Cymbeline in Cymbeline, Titus Andronicus in Titus Andronicus, Claudius in Hamlet, and Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor, as well as many more.