Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey (Artistic Director) has been teaching, directing, and acting in theatres, colleges, and high schools for over two decades. He holds an MFA in Directing from Rutgers University, and his teaching specialties include directing, acting, stage combat, and rehearsal techniques. He is the former Education and Outreach Director for Taproot Theatre Company in Seattle, and has been a guest instructor at high schools, colleges, and universities.Nathan’s directing work includes productions for San Juan Community Theatre, Taproot Theatre Company, Driftwood Players, A Contemporary Theatre, American Globe Theatre, Abilene Shakespeare Festival, Transparent Storytellers Theatre, and the Seattle Play Series. In January of 2018, he joined San Juan Community Theatre as Executive Artistic Director and now divides his time between directing, acting, teaching, and leading SJCT’s team of talented staff and volunteers. He is thrilled to be a part of this vibrant and creative island community!
Penelope Haskew (Director of Education) has been working with kids at SJCT since 2010 . Since then she has been directing the Family Theatre productions each fall and has offered a variety of camps and workshops after school and in the summers. In 2015 she started the Summer Musical Theatre Camp which gives more experienced and enthusiastic kids an added opportunity to hone their craft as they create a fully-staged musical in three weeks. She has also started the High School Internship Program for students from Friday Harbor High School in order to provide more training in technical theatre. Students interested in the technical side of theatre can spend a class period with Penelope for a semester or entire year to get more hands on experience with what happens behind the scenes at a busy theatre. She is also an active supporter of the Friday Harbor chapter of the International Thespian Society which aims to provide even more opportunities for theatre loving youth to participate in theatre.Penelope has also been the Production Assistant at SJCT since 2012 and as such designs lights or sets for many of the theatre's productions as well as being a general jack-of-all-trades to help get the shows up and running smoothly. She has also occasionally been found onstage enjoying her first love, musical theatre.
Penelope has worked around the country at Illinois Shakespeare Festival in IL, Hackmatack Playhouse in Maine, Summer Fun Theatre in Montclair NJ, Trinity Rep in Providence RI, and Island Theatre Workshop on Martha's Vineyard. She grew up on the East Coast and studied in theatre programs at UConn, Catholic University of America, NYU and Illinois State University. She holds a BA in Technical Theatre from Rhode Island College.