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DONALD SHENK, Artistic Director
Donald Shenk is the Artistic Director for The Stillspeaking Theatre, a new small Equity-approved theatre in the heart of San Marino, California. Mr. Shenk brings with him a wealth of theatrical experience from his years as an actor, director, and teacher on both coasts. While still in college, he studied in London, England and interned at the famed writer’s theatre, Playwright’s Horizons in Manhattan. After college, he toured most of Canada and the United States as part of an original theatre troupe called The MCC Players. He returned to his Alma Mater (Eastern Mennonite University) a year later to serve as the Artistic Director of the university’s theatre program and to teach acting and directing there for three years. While there, he directed nine main stage musicals and plays and oversaw numerous student projects and productions.
In the late 80’s, Mr. Shenk moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor. Los Angeles credits include the films, “Deadly Delusions”, and Brian Yuzna’s sci-fi thriller, “Progeny” (neither of which you should rent), a guest starring role on a long ago canceled CBS sitcom and a very long stint as “The Weiner Dude” spokesman for Weinerschnitzel. Is it any wonder he returned to the theatre?
Los Angeles theatre credits include a successful run with the West Coast Ensemble in Hollywood where he performed leading roles in “Blithe Spirit”, “The Lisbon Traviata” and Chris Hart’s original play, “Teeing Off”, which also ran at The Hudson Guild. Musical theatre credits include productions of “Damn Yankees”, “Can-Can” and a US tour of “Diamond Studs” where he donned cowboy boots to kick up his heels as one of Jesse James’ cohorts.
While pursuing his acting career, he worked at Paramount Pictures, Dick Clark Productions and DreamWorks SKG, as a legal assistant, and then moved on to assisting an executive producer at DreamWorks. It was this job that finally cured him of working for the industry as anything other than an actor or director.
At the turn of the century, Donald began working as the Director of Music and Drama at San Marino Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in San Marino. It was here, in this church filled with creativity and passion that the idea for a theatre arose. In 2006, Donald submitted a proposal for the creation of a small professional theatre to be housed in the large hall which had been the original sanctuary for the church.
After two years of working to outfit the theatre and hammer out its mission and purpose, The Stillspeaking Theatre will present its premiere production, “The Runner Stumbles” in April of 2008.
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