BRIAN ISAAC PHILLIPS (Producing Artistic Director, Ensemble, Fourteenth Season)is celebrating his 10th season of artistic leadership of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. He was named Producing Artistic Director in 2010 after being Artistic Director since 2003. Prior to these responsibilities, he served with the organization as Associate Artistic Director for one season, as well as four seasons as a member of the acting company. He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and the Stage Director’s and Choreographer’s Society. Mr. Phillips is a graduate of Morehead State University and has been a resident of Cincinnati for almost fifteen years. In that time he has worked for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, The Children’s Theatre, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, New Stage Collective, as well as over 100 productions with CSC. Most recent credits include The Grapes of Wrath, Henry VIII: All is True, Macbeth, A Man for All Seasons, Bedroom Farce, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Handmaid’s Tale (world premiere), The Life and Death of King John, Dracula, Blithe Spirit, Krapp’s Last Tape, The Lion in Winter, All’s Well that Ends Well, Amadeus, Timon of Athens, The Seagull, Hamlet, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, King Lear, and Cymbeline. Outside of CSC Mr. Phillips has recently been seen onstage in Collapse at Know Theatre, Porgy and Bess at Cincinnati Opera, as well as The Seafarer and Dead Man’s Cell Phone at Ensemble Theatre. He staged Know Theatre’s recent production of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and served as dramaturg on Cincinnati Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mr. Phillips is honored that CSC was named as a finalist last year for Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce’s Non Profit of the Year. He is also thrilled that after next season CSC will have produced all 38 of William Shakespeare’s plays and, on a personal note, he will have either staged or performed in all 38 as well. Brian is the lucky husband of one of the most amazing actresses in town and the proud father of Holden and Annabel.
LETTIE VAN HEMERT (Managing Director, Sixth Season) is tremendously excited about CSC’s growth over the six years she has lived in Cincinnati, and is even more excited to see what comes next. In addition to her current role as Managing Director, she has been the Box Office Manager and Director of Operations for the company. She is from Lincoln, NE and holds a B.F.A. in theatre from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Lettie has found careers both on and offstage. She has performed with Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Flatwater Shakespeare Company, The Angels Theatre Company, and The Crooked Codpiece Company. Favorite shows include Metamorphoses and Love’s Labour’s Lost. As an arts administrator, Lettie has worked for the Lincoln Community Playhouse and Lux Center for the Arts. She also has fond memories of time spent behind the information counter at Joseph Beth Booksellers. Lettie is proud to be married to the most versatile actor she knows.
JAY WOFFINGTON (Executive Director, Debut) is not an entirely new face to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, having been on the Board of Trustees for the past 6 years. Jay also has been a key member of the Executive Committee of the Board, leading the development of the group’s long-term strategic plan. For over 15 years, Jay has led organizations and teams to innovative, world-class results. Most recently as Global President of Possible Worldwide/CEO of Bridge Worldwide, Jay led the rapid expansion of the digital marketing agency, growing the company from 30 people and $5MM net revenue to 1,000 people and $100MM net revenue in less than 10 years. In 2005, Jay initiated and completed the sale of the agency to WPP. Under Jay’s leadership the agency won coveted industry creative awards such as two Gold Lions at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity and developed an organizational culture recognized as one of the Top 25 Best Places to Work in America for five consecutive years. Jay also held a leadership position at P&G, where as a Brand Manager, he led the $2.3 billion acquisition of The Iams Company and was recognized by Advertising Age Magazine as one of the Top 100 marketers of 2001. Jay began his career in investment banking at First Chicago (in Chicago and London).
Jay’s theatre passion is credited to his father, a high school drama teacher in Pittsburgh. Some of Jay’s favorite roles include Biff in Death of a Salesman (New Edgecliff Theater), Mitch in Tuesdays with Morrie (Covedale Center for the Performing Arts), and the title character in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Showboat Majestic). Jay has also directed two CEA award-winning musicals (West Side Story and Children of Eden) for Footlighter’s in Newport, KY and will be directing Our Town there this fall. Jay has two children, Wendy (8) and Brett (5). Jay holds his masters from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and his undergraduate degree from Duke University.
