Lyazzat Cohen has more than 20 years of experience in finance, both in the private and public sectors. Her experience resides in different areas of finance such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, treasury and general accounting, budget operations, and fiscal management.
Ben Dillon oversees comprehensive messaging from TDPS to the campus and wider community. Students, faculty, and staff may contact Ben with questions regarding TDPS marketing, box office operations, event promotions, social media, and website management.
Jean-Paul Gressieux has over 19 years of experience in nonprofit management, including 17 years in the San Francisco Bay Area theater scene. As Company Manager of Berkeley Repertory Theatre from 2012–2019, Jean-Paul supported and collaborated with hundreds of artists, artisans, and other...Read more about Jean-Paul Gressieux
Laxmi Kumaran has been with TDPS for over a decade. In addition to her role as Undergraduate Academic Advisor, she is a Continuing Lecturer for Technical Theater courses. She also teaches Stage Management in the Theater & Performance Studies Department at Stanford University. Laxmi...Read more about Laxmi Kumaran
After graduating from UC Berkeley in 2012, Megan was hired as the Office Manager for TDPS. She is now Program Associate, and her current duties include: course scheduling, enrollment, event coordination, and work-study supervision. She also teaches master classes on contact improvisation,...Read more about Megan Lowe
Jane Boggess graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Theater Arts from Nebraska Wesleyan University. From there, she became a costume shop intern at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis MN. She began her professional career at the Guthrie doing wardrobe in house and was Wardrobe Supervisor on the...Read more about Jane Boggess
Jamila Cobham (she/her) is a production manager and event producer with experience working in the United States and the Caribbean. Previously, she was the Production Manager for Cal Shakes (California Shakespeare Theater) where she managed numerous classics, as well as new works, that presented...Read more about Jamila Cobham
Peet Cocke is a director, playwright, and designer. His recent directing credits include Adam Esquenazi Douglas’s Pinned Butterfly, Susan Sobeloff’s Jubilee, and Naomi Wallace’s No Such Cold Thing. His original plays include Crush and Hum, Extraordinary Mysteries, Even at A Funeral, a movement...Read more about Peet Cocke
Prior to joining TDPS, Josh served for eight years as the Festival Technical Director for the Contemporary American Theatre Festival. At CATF he had the privilege of overseeing scenery for 46 productions, including 28 world premieres. He has also served as Technical Director for Idaho...Read more about Josh Frachiseur
Zoë started her theatrical career at a young age, performing and creating for family plays. Her first design work was helping her mother to make props and costumes for her family performance in the Commedia Dell'arte show at the Renaissance Faire. She continued her theater studies at Concordia...Read more about Zoë Gopnik-McManus
Tim Kopra comes from a fine art background making sculptural installations, public art, and interactive spaces for events. He has fabricated throughout California for various artists and institutions, notably MoreLab, Cathartic Productions, and Gordon Huether Studios. He has taught fine art,...Read more about Tim Kopra
Dio Ramirez (they/them) is a head electrician and board programmer. They began their theatrical career at Cal, TDPS class of 2015. Some titles they have held over the last eight years include: freelance electrician, building engineer, museum preparator, and, most recently, facilities...Read more about Dio Ramirez
Wendy Sparks has been designing and building costumes in the Bay Area since 1991. She studied under Professor Warren Travis and in that one year designed and built costumes for five shows in TDPS’ three theater spaces. Since then she has designed costumes for 25 shows at TDPS including the...Read more about Wendy Sparks
Francis Kofi Akotuah is drummer and teacher from Ghana. Born and raised in the capital city of Accra, Francis grew up in a melting-pot neighborhood immersed in the sounds of many of Ghana’s diverse musical cultures. After an 18-year career at the University of Ghana, Francis...Read more about Francis Kofi Akotuah
Ian Erickson is a composer and performer currently living in Berkeley, California. He is a graduate of Missouri State University with two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music Composition and Jazz Studies with an emphasis in Drum Set Performance. He also attended the Port Townsend School of...Read more about Ian Erickson
Ryan Huber is a multimedia artist with over a decade of experience providing musical and visual services for Bay Area dance and theater groups. He is a member of the San Francisco-based band, Battlehooch. In addition to music and video editing, he is passionate about yoga and biology....Read more about Ryan Huber
Ben Juodvalkis composes original music for dance, film, theater, corporate events, and museum installations. He has created scores for over 50 organizations and has had his music performed on four continents. Ben works from his studio in San Francisco as well as on location with his mobile...Read more about Ben Juodvalkis