Gallo Center Repertory Company

Ryan Foy (Director of Produced Theatre & Special Programming/Director, Urinetown: The Musical)

Originally from Denver, CO, Ryan attended the University of Michigan Musical Theatre program and studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney, Australia. While based in New York City, Ryan appeared onstage in numerous national/international tours and regional productions across America, Australia, and Asia, including performances at Radio City Music Hall and the New York International Fringe Festival. A skilled director, Ryan has also helmed a wide variety of musical theater productions from coast to coast. Ryan's theatrical experience extends beyond the stage, with work in company management, Broadway marketing/advertising, and theatrical design and production. For GCRC, Ryan has directed Winter Wonderettes and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Da Vinci Code, and in 26/27 will direct Urinetown: The Musical.

Dustin Venicombe (Technical Manager)

Dustin Venicombe has been the lighting designer for GCRC since its conception; working on almost every show presented at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Known as a creative problem solver and cool dude, Dustin has been working in technical theater since the age of twelve with YES Company (1996-2002). As an active part of the local performing arts community, he has had the pleasure of working with Central West Ballet, Opera Modesto, Sankofa Theatre Company, Modesto Performing Arts, and Prospect Theater Project, as well as several Modesto area high school drama programs. Dustin brings his dedication and attention to detail to this new chapter of life and is excited to learn and hone his skills as the Technical Manager for GCRC.

Jewel Whitaker (Special Programming and Events Manager/GCRC Stage Manager)

Jewel Whitaker has stage managed a variety of GCRC productions, including All is Calm, On Golden Pond, To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Winter Wonderettes, 12 Angry Jurors, Born Yesterday, 1984, Boeing Boeing, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Into The Woods, and The Da Vinci Code. She also directed last season's Dial M for Murder, stage managed and co-directed (along with Jim Johnson and Wes Page) Twisted Tales of Edgar Allan Poe. An active part of Modesto’s performing arts community, Jewel has performed with Prospect Theater Projects’ Radio Cavalcade since its inception, with Center Stage Conservatory in 2019, and with Opera Modesto in their 2022 World Concert. She is married to local makeup artist extraordinaire, Vance Whitaker, and worked as the Marketing and Development Manager for Opera Modesto for the past few years. She is now the Special Programming and Events Manager for the Gallo Center for the Arts, overseeing all Rentals and Resident Companies and their partnerships with the center.

Noelle Souza (Costume Designer)

Noelle Souza is excited to be back working with GCRC! For the stage, she has recently designed Mamma Mia!, Oklahoma!, The Addams Family, Annie, YES Co.’s 30th Anniversary Concert Spectacular, and Singin’ in the Rain for YES Company, On Golden Pond, Holes, All is Calm, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Little Women, To Kill A Mockingbird, A Christmas Story, Of Mice and Men, Murder on the Orient Express, Winter Wonderettes, 12 Angry Jurors, Born Yesterday, 1984, Boeing Boeing, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Dial M for Murder, Into The Woods, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Da Vinci Code for GCRC, and Mother of the Maid and Rough Crossing for Prospect Theater Project. For television, she has worked as the wardrobe stylist for over 15 national commercials for the brand, Grocery Outlet. Ms. Souza holds a degree from the University of San Diego.

Patrick Norris (Director, The Play That Goes Wrong)

Patrick Norris is a Theatre Director and Educator at John H Pitman High School in Turlock, CA. A Central Valley native, he studied Directing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon and is thrilled to be directing again at Gallo Center Repertory Company. Patrick is passionate about creative collaboration and telling stories which explore the nuances of human interaction— the good, the bad, and the ugly. Previous directing credits include 12 Angry Jurors, A Christmas Story, Into The Woods (GCRC), Little Women, Peter and the Starcatcher, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Little Shop of Horrors, and Hadestown: Teen Edition (John H Pitman).

Colleen Hawks-Pierce (Director, She Loves Me)

Colleen Hawks-Pierce has performed in the Broadway companies of Shrek: The Musical (Fairy Godmother, Lady in Waiting, Duloc Doll, Dragonette, Tapping Rat and Voice of the Bluebird – available on Netflix and Amazon Prime), The Boy from Oz (Trio, back-up singer to Hugh Jackman), and Smokey Joe's Cafe. Other NYC credits include APAC's Blood Brothers (Mrs. Johnstone), MTC's The Wild Party (the original Andrew Lippa Premiere) and Paper Mill's Anything Goes starring Chita Rivera, among others. Colleen has performed numerous roles regionally and on tour. Favorites include Paulette in Legally Blonde, Polly in Crazy for You and the title role in Sugar. Film and TV Credits include The Narrows, Law and Order: C.I., and As the World Turns. Colleen has taught private voice lessons for many years. She has also taught voice, dance, acting, and musical theatre residencies in the New York and New Jersey area through such institutions as Disney Musicals in Schools and Pierre Dulane's Dancing Classrooms. www.ColleenHawks.com.

Lisette Sims (Music Director, She Loves Me)

Lisette Sims is excited to return to GCRC as Music Director, having previously collaborated with Jim Johnson on the 2021 production of All Is Calm, and with Patrick Norris on last season's Into The Woods. She brings to the role extensive experience, with credits that include work with Opera Modesto (The Merry Widow, Dead Man Walking, Sweeney Todd), Yes Company (Mulan Jr., A Year with Frog and Toad), and Turlock Youth Performing Arts (Seussical the Musical, Guys and Dolls, Bring It On: The Musical).

In addition to her theatre and music directing work, Lisette is deeply committed to arts education. Having previously served as choir and theatre arts instructor at Central Valley High School, she currently works as vocal coach for both Pitman and Ceres High Schools, most recently working on their productions of Hadestown – Teen Edition (PHS) and Into the Woods (CHS), while pursuing a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies – Musical Theatre Education at CSU Stanislaus. She has contributed to several notable university productions at Stan State, including The Wolves (as Director), The Thanksgiving Play (Associate Director/Music Supervisor), and Ride the Cyclone (Assistant Director/Assistant Music Director). Sims is also an experienced voice teacher, having maintained a large private vocal studio for many years, as well as a veteran performer and songwriter/composer.

Jack Souza (Director, The Importance of Being Earnest)

Jack Souza, raised in California’s Central Valley, is currently a Guest Lecturer in the Theater Department at CSU Stanislaus where he teaches Acting, Theater History, and directs in the university’s production program. Souza has also taught Humanities, Writing and Composition, Shakespeare, Communication, and Theater Crafts at Modesto Junior College, Merced College, and at CSU Stanislaus. He has a BA in Drama from CSU Stanislaus. He has also studied acting at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California, at Berkeley Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California, and at The Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. Souza earned his Master’s Degree in Modern Drama from the National University of Ireland, University College Dublin. His Master’s Thesis focuses on the works of Irish playwright Brian Friel.

Souza has been working steadily in theater for more than 40 years, principally as an actor, but also as a designer, technician, director, and producer. Memorable productions for Souza include the English language premiere of Karel Steigerwald’s Sorrow, Sorrow, Fear, the Rope, and The Pit in Seattle, Washington, Brian Friel’s Faith Healer for The Eugene O’Neill Foundation’s production of O’Neill’s Tao House in Danville, California, Titus Andronicus at The Lighthouse Theater in New York, New York, and Six Characters in Search of an Author in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. Souza’s extensive regional theater credits include Sierra Repertory Theater, Stage 3, Shakespeare on the Vine, Murphy’s Creek Theater, Modesto Performing Arts, Opera Modesto, Central West Ballet, California State University Stanislaus, Phoenix Creative Collective, and was recently seen as Hercule Poirot in GCRC’s production of Murder on the Orient Express.