LEADERSHIP & STAFF

Sharon has served on the Lyric Board since March 2019. She is a long-time supporter of the Lyric community as a volunteer and performer (La Périchole, ’89), and she sings with the Lyric Theatre Victorian Carolers. Her late son, Jim Martin, was also a performer (and print graphics designer) for Lyric for many years.  Her background is in project and program management. In 2008, she retired from Apple and began working part-time for a non-profit educational institute in Cupertino, where she manages grant programs and marketing. In her spare time, she gardens, reads, quilts, sings in the choir, and plays with family and friends.

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Ask Sharon about: Board of Directors

Steve first learned about Gilbert & Sullivan by listening to a children's record of G&S favorite songs, and when he arrived at Stanford as a freshman was fortunate to be involved in lighting design for dorm-based theatrical productions. He helped found the Stanford Savoyards and lit their first 4 productions. Joining GSSSJ in 1980 as Master Electrician for Ruddigore, he has since designed the lighting for over 40 Lyric Theatre productions. Steve has served as president (1999-2005), producer for several shows, secretary, and supertitles designer. He is currently our vice-president, manages our relationships with theater venues and the IT committee, and serves as chair of the Organization committee. By day he performs business systems analysis. 

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Ask Steve about:  Board candidacy, theater venues, IT, lighting design, company history

Paul has been a member of Lyric Theatre since singing Lord Mountararat in their 1984 production of Iolanthe. A public school music teacher for 31 years, he continues serving kids and families as an accompanist and organist for the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo and two high school choirs. Paul has performed and conducted for companies across the Bay Area including Lamplighters, Berkeley Opera, Oakland Opera, SF Opera, Pocket Opera, South Bay Musical Theatre, Tabard Theatre.

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Ask Paul about: Pianos, Vocal Coaching, and Virtual Choirs and Orchestras

Larry caught the performing bug following his 2000 Lyric Theatre debut in The Mikado and has appeared in more than twenty Lyric Theatre productions. Larry is a past President of the Lyric Board of Directors. In addition, he has been involved as producer, set designer, and master carpenter. A former board trustee and president of the Berryessa Union School District in San José, he is now retired from a career in the biotechnology profession.

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Contact Larry about: Set design, grants

Originally from Chicago, Chris found Lyric Theatre in the phone book in 1988 and ever since has (sometimes simultaneously) been a performer, an asst. stage manager, a stage manager, an asst. music director, a producer, a production consultant, a Board member and now spends time assigning the audience to their seats. Currently working in the Theatre Department at Foothill College and directs the St. Luke Lutheran Church choir.

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Ask Chris about: advice on producing a show, Lyric Theatre history

Ann is a long time board member and Orchestra Manager, she chaired the Repertoire committee for 7 years, and then the Production Staffing Committee, and was President of the Board from 2013 to 2019.  Ann is a violinist from childhood taught by her violinist father. With 38 years at Lyric Theatre, she loves playing in the orchestra and bringing this beloved music to life.

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Contact Ann about: orchestra, Lyric Theatre history

Jeff has been part of Lyric Theatre since birth, as his father is Bob Yaeger former Lyric board member and long time orchestra member. Jeff started playing in the orchestra in 2001, and debuted as music director in 2012. Jeff is currently the director of the Milpitas Community Concert Band, and is the Music Teacher at Cupertino Middle School. Jeff is an advocate for the lesser known Gilbert and Sullivan works Utopia and The Grand Duke, and is passionate about researching American composer James M. Fulton.

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Ask Jeff about: music research

Website: www.ForgottenAmericanMusic.com

Bruce's love of Gilbert & Sullivan propelled him to join up with Lyric Theater in 1990 as an accompanist for shows. He has worn many hats with the company over the years, including accompanist, treasurer, producer, music director, newsletter editor, and dramaturg. His enjoyment of operetta genre has led him to restore many shows for presentation in our Discovery series. He is currently also the president of the Victor Herbert Renaissance Project, LIVE!

 

Ask Bruce about: the Patter Post, operetta, Victor Herbert

Website: http://vhrplive.org/

Gary Stanford Jr is a Bay Area native (born in SF) and has lived in the Bay Area peninsula and South Bay for his entire life. He graduated from San Jose State in Computer Engineering and has worked for and done High Tech, Communications, Sports Gaming, Retail, and Online Business Companies in the Bay Area. Since 2019 he has been president of the Board of North California Arts Collective. He is also on the Board of Directors with Throckmorton Theater (Mill Valley), Z-Space theater (San Francisco), Woodside Community Theater, and Hillbarn Theater (Foster City).

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Ask Gary about: musical theater

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Tim has been a long-time patron of Lyric Theatre and enjoys Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.  He started to perform as a cast member two years ago in G&S’s “The Sorcerer” after he retired from his Urology practice.  Currently he serves as a volunteer Urology consultant at The Second Opinion, giving free consultations to patients with cancer diagnoses.  He is also a member of the San Jose Symphonic Choir and serves on their board of directors as well.  Besides music, Tim enjoys golf, cooking and traveling.

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Ask Tim about: musical theater, operettas

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Back in India, Aishu Ramamurthi started singing and acting in local theatre productions as well as assisting in stage productions backstage. After moving to the US, she has involved herself in more theatre work at The Tabard and Lyric Theatre, a cappella singing and more. Her day job is in operations and she is excited to join Lyric Theatre as webmaster.

 

Contact Aishu about: website questions/changes

Kathleen is an artist, costume designer, and seamstress who works with theatre companies all over the South Bay. She is also Lyric Theatre’s costume shop manager. Kathleen loves to bring the excitement of opera to the stage. Kathleen’s credentials include a 2017 costume design award from San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle, and a 2018 nomination for costume design from Bay Area Theatre. 

 

Contact Kathleen about: costume rentals

Dennis debuted in his first performance on stage with Lyric Theatre’s Iolanthe in 2007. Since then he has appeared in 14 chorus roles for Lyric Theatre, Opera San Jose, West Bay Opera, Mission City Opera, and Woodside Community Theater. Highlights include comprimario roles as Street Sweeper in OSJ’s La Boheme, Notary in La Perichole, Franz the Butler in Sound of Music, and Guccio in Gianni Schicchi. Dennis also enjoys hiking, golf, travel, and spending time with wife and families.

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Ask Dennis about: marketing