Producing Artistic Director Rebekah Scallet
Rebekah was raised in Little Rock, studied theatre at Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School, and has gone on to work regionally as a director, dramaturg, and educator. She received her B.A. in Theatre and English from Brandeis University, and her M.F.A. in Directing from Illinois State University. She lived and worked in Chicago for ten years, where she was a member of the Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, and also worked with Northlight Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Theatre Seven, LiveWire Chicago Theatre, Raven Theatre, The Grounded Theatre, Theatre Hikes, greasy joan & co., and the Piven Theatre. She has directed productions for Illinois State University, Eureka College, and the College of Lake County. The last five summers have found her working with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in a variety of capacities, from director to assistant artistic director to green show producer. Recently, she co-created and directed The Weaver’s Tales for the Fifth House Ensemble, a three part multimedia event that retold classic fairy tales through the medium of physical theatre and chamber music. With Fifth House, she is also currently writing In Transit, a new series of stories and music told through the lens of social media. Other favorite past productions include: Twelfth Night, As You Like It, The Tempest, The Philadelphia Story, Top Girls, One Flea Spare, and Orestes.
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Business Manager Liz Parker
Liz is the business manager and production coordinator for UCA Theatre and for AST. She holds a BS in Theatre from the University of Central Arkansas. She is responsible for the day to day coordination of activities and productions at UCA Theatre including promotions, marketing, and front of house. She serves on the James Bridges Scholarship Committee, is Director of the UCA Theatre Foundation, and coordinator of the Youth Theatre of Central Arkansas. She is also the business manager for the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. As an actress, Liz has appeared in numerous amateur and professional productions including Arsenic & Old Lace, Gypsy, The Sound of Music, Pippin, and Sweet Charity. She has also directed numerous productions including A…My Name is Alice, Marvin’s Room, and 6 Rms Riv Vu. She is a member of Conway Morning Rotary and in her spare time, she sings professionally with the local vocal group, Vintage.
Mary Ruth Marotte, Board President
Marotte, a native Arkansan, grew up in Little Rock and graduated from Central High School and Hendrix College. She earned a Master’s degree in English from UCA and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Tennessee. After spending several years in Tennessee and Palo Alto, California, she returned to Arkansas five years ago and has been involved with AST since its inception, serving as executive director last year and chair of special events for the past five years. In addition to her work with AST, Mary Ruth is an assistant professor of English and director of graduate studies in English at UCA. She is the author of Captive Bodies: American Women Writers Redefine Pregnancy and Childbirth and co-editor of Papa, PhD: Essays on Fatherhood by Men in the Academy and has published articles on Virginia Woolf, Tillie Olsen, and most recently, Sarah Palin. Mary Ruth lives in Conway with her husband Jeff and their three children, all big fans of the Bard.
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Volunteer Guild
Our volunteer guild is an extraordinary group of Conway and Little Rock’s best and brightest who volunteer their time and talents to make this festival soar. Thank them for their tireless work, their invaluable insight, and most of all, their patience and sense of humor!
Kevin Baer
Dr. Adam Frank
Angie Gilbert
Dr. Brent Gregg
Bobby M Kelly III
Cristal Lambert
Josh Leicht
Dr. Gary H. McCullough
JoDee McKenna
Chris Massingill
Dr. John Parrack
Dr. Paige Reynolds
Dr. Shelley Russell
Ann Turney
Guild Members: AJ Spiridiglozzi, Jan Spann, Melissa Kordsmeier, Wendy Shirar