BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brian Hough

President

Brian brought his experience in set building and acting to the Benicia Theatre Group in 2011. Initially assisting with the set build and back stage for the production of The Nerd, he found himself a new home and has been here ever since. He has taken on many roles as an actor, set designer and builder, also overseeing the House Managers for each show. He has remained on the board since becoming a member in 2013, and is currently serving his 5th term as Board President. His immense love and passion for the performing arts keeps him here! 

Veronica “V” Bearce

Vice President

Veronica “V” Bearce is a native Californian and a transplant from Southern California.  She wanted to be on the stage from the time she was little and remembers seeing Bea Richards in the Amen Corner as her first live theater experience. She was captivated. “V” was involved in theater in high school. She came to be involved with Benicia Theater Group after retiring from a career as an educator. Her daughter’s involvement with the theater lured her in. She remembers Dial M for Murder as the first BOTTG production she experienced. She has since been involved in behind the scenes activities: sound, stage manager, and all around willing to do whatever is needed volunteer.

Donna Telepak

Treasurer

Donna became involved with the Benicia Theatre Group in 1999 and served by working with costumes including an early production of the “Benicia Follies”, and has worked on almost every production in the 22 years since she joined the group. She has also volunteered for front desk, house manager, and as a board member – most notably as a long-time treasurer for the group.  Although she has no desire to perform on stage, she finds it very rewarding to be a part of the magic of theatre.

Cynthia Smith

Secretary

Cynthia joined Benicia Theatre Group in 2008 with their production of “Sugar Babies” and helped with costumes for the dancers. The only live theatre experience she had was as a munchkin in the Wizard of Oz when she was 7 years old. What she learned from that experience was that you didn’t have to be good to have fun. She wasn’t good, but it was definitely fun. There is something about live theatre that captures the imagination and transports you through the stories, whether you are on stage or in the audience.

Benicia Theatre Group draws very talented, creative, and courageous actors who tell stories beautifully. The skills of the stagehands and crew make the magic happen behind the scenes with lights, sets, costumes and music. She’s been volunteering ever since as secretary on the Board, with props back stage, as bartender and house manager, and creating programs and e-newsletters. Occasionally she’s been on stage.

Kelsey Bye

Kelsey joined the Benicia Theatre Group in 2022 as a front desk volunteer for the production of LAURA. After catching the acting bug, she took to the stage and performed in BTG’s 2023 production of BOEING BOEING, playing the role of an Italian flight attendant. She thoroughly enjoyed performing for her local community and getting to know more about the history and mission of BTG. Kelsey is a Southern California native and has been living in beautiful Benicia since 2018. Go Bears!

Sandra Sandi Grey

Sandi brought her love of performance art to the Benicia Theatre Group first as a volunteer assisting with costumes, front desk and serving on the play selection committee. She was involved in community theatre while living in Pennsylvania before leaving to actively pursue competitive ballroom dancing.  Having moved to Benicia and now retired from competition, she is excited to be a part of live theatre once again and looks forward to contributing in any way she is able and wearing as many hats as are needed.

Tom Kvech

Tom became a member of the Benicia Theatre Group in 2023, contributing to the production of  BOEING BOEING  as a Assistant Lighting Designer and technical support. His passion for theatre ignited in 7th grade while working on a production of GREASE. Over the years, Tom has collaborated with the Walnut Creek Civic Arts Rep, contributing to shows like Blythe’s Spirit, ‘84 Charring Crossroads, Pump Boys & Dinettes, and The Diviners. His skill set is extensive, encompassing audio, lighting, and all facets of tech. Tom recently relocated to Benicia from Moraga with his family.

Michael MacDonald

Michael began his tenure with the Benicia Theatre Group during the Fall 2022 production of LAURA, where he assisted in management of props and stage preparations. He continued in that backstage role for 2023’s BOEING, BOEING offering. He brings with him experiences in people and project management obtained through a day-job career in software development and support. In contrast, throughout his life he has been drawn to a series of creative outlets; most consistently creative writing, but minoring in photography and digital graphics manipulation, music and sound. He said, “Working in the theatrical space brings back memories of the joy of group creativity, and the opportunity to interact with a variety of creative specialists is priceless.” He hopes to continue learning technical aspects of stage production and to participate in the support of Benicia’s community theatre.

Trey McCulloch

Trey has recently joined the Benicia Theater Group, actively participating since the production of BOEING BOEING. He has been a resident of Benicia for over 20 years and has been volunteering for various local organizations since his retirement in 2020. Trey takes great pleasure in contributing to the lively arts culture in Benicia by volunteering for the theatre group and expressing his creative side behind the scenes. Being skilled in painting and knowledgeable about creative processes, Trey aspires to be a valuable addition to the Benicia Theatre Group.

Helen Nolan

Helen Nolan is an accomplished actor with a lifelong dedication to the stage. Her journey began as soon as she could walk, where she would perform skits and songs for any family who would watch. In school, she established herself by securing leading roles in various High School productions. Following her high school triumphs, Helen’s passion for theater led her to the vibrant world of community productions. Over the years, she demonstrated her versatility by seamlessly transitioning between leading and supporting roles in a total of nine community theater productions. Her talent for captivating audiences, coupled with her commitment to collaborative storytelling, made her an indispensable asset to each ensemble. A defining chapter of Helen’s acting career was her extensive involvement with the Bridgeport Community Theater Group. From 2007 to 2020, she stood as a dedicated member of this artistic family, contributing not only her acting abilities but also her boundless enthusiasm for nurturing the local theater scene. She continues to pursue her passion for the theater now, as a Member-at-Large with the Benicia Theater Group and is looking forward to continuing to contribute to the future of this successful cornerstone of the community.