William E. Curran (he/him/his) | Past President

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Bill attended public schools until he was admitted to Yale University at age 16. As an undergrad, he studied engineering, economics, and business management for three semesters before entering the Navy, where he served for eight years. After his service, he then returned to Yale to complete his degree. 

After being recalled for the Korean War, where he was a full lieutenant assigned as the Damage Control officer and Auxiliary and Repair Divisions officer, Bill pursued graduate studies in finance and management at Marquette University. He worked with an equity team at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, persuading that conservative company to buy their first common stocks. He then joined with Yale University‘s investment office to convince an equally conservative Yale Finance Committee to purchase growth stocks, such as IBM and General Reinsurance, for the Yale endowment.

Through the Jane and William Curran Foundation, his family and he have made significant donations to both Gateway and the Gateway Community College Foundation, as well as to Elm Shakespeare, New Haven Symphony, Long Wharf Theatre, Common Ground, and Yale-New Haven Hospital, just to name a few. The hallmark of Bill’s life has been his dedication to country, community, career, and family.

Victoria Dancy (she/her/hers)

A lifelong New Haven resident with over 20 years of leadership experience in non-profit and higher education sectors, Victoria is the Development Associate and Scholarship Administrator at Gateway Community College, where she has worked for 11 years. She is a graduate of New Haven Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program, and holds a Bachelors in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College, and an M.B.A. University of New Haven.

Victoria’s passion for the arts began at an early age and views community theater as opportunity to promote dialogue and engagement with diverse backgrounds. Victoria enjoys singing and loves to lend her gift wherever it is needed. She is the proud mother of one son who is an aspiring musician and a graduate of Cooperative Arts High School.

Currently, a resource specialist and professor at Gateway Community College, Victora has over 10 years of non-profit sector work and education, with expertise in Workforce development, project management and Community Outreach. She is a graduate of the New Haven Chamber of Congress Leadership Program. A New Haven native, she is a graduate of Hill House High School, Albertus Magnus College, and University of New Haven, where she earned her M.B.A.

Adele Edgerton (she/her/hers) | Treasurer

I have resided in New Haven, Connecticut for over thirty years. I grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. I attended Vassar College for two years and I graduated from Yale University in 1971. I have a J.D. from Boston University School of and an Llm. in Taxation from New York University School of Law. I am a self-employed Trusts and Estates Attorney. In New Haven, I have worked on a contract basis for Paul E. Farren, Jr., Laurence Nadel and Evans, Feldman and Associates. I have practiced law in New York City, Boston, and Harrisburg Pennsylvania. I was a member of the Board of Directors of Leila Day Nurseries for twenty years. I was a member of the Board of Directors of the Gesell Institute for Child Development. I am a member of the Board of Directors of Elm Shakespeare Company. I am a co-trustee of the Mabel Fischer Burchart Grant Foundation.

Andrew Forsyth (he/him/his) | President

Andrew Forsyth is the board president of Elm Shakespeare Company. Andrew is associate dean and chief of staff in Yale College, coordinating strategic planning for Yale’s undergraduate program, supporting the dean as a senior advisor, and serving as a liaison with offices across the College and the broader university. A native of Glasgow, Scotland, ESC’s outstanding professional performances, innovative educational programming, and community partnerships have enriched his life since 2011. He is proud to serve with enthusiastic and dedicated board members, Producing Artistic Director Rebecca Goodheart, and the company’s talented artists and staff in bringing people together through Shakespeare—of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences—to celebrate our shared humanity and strengthen community in Greater New Haven. Andrew lives in New Haven with his spouse Josh Goodbaum, a lawyer who represents employees and other civil rights plaintiffs in litigation and negotiation.

Evelyn Gard (she/her/hers)

Evelyn (Evie) Gard - Retired in 2022 from her role as Associate Dean of Communications and Marketing at Connecticut State Community College, where she oversaw the marketing, public and media relations teams for three of the State's twelve community colleges.

Evie is an advocate for community engagement and collaborated with Yale University for the MacNeil/Lehrer By the People project. She has also worked with the Festival of Arts and Ideas, WNPR, and national media to promote open dialogue and discourse on matters of civic relevance. Evie is a firm believer in the power of mentoring and has provided guidance and opportunities to scores of emerging professionals through her networks. Her work has been recognized by Business New Haven (Rising Stars), Connecticut Business Times (Twenty Noteworthy Women). In 2018 she was awarded PRSA’s Practitioner of the Year Award, and New Have Biz’s Inaugural Women Who Mean Business Award. 

For more than 30 years, Evie has enjoyed a modest career in entertainment as a producer, director, performer and most recently, a writer with production and performance credits that include Pacifica Radio in Los Angeles, Carnegie Hall, Foxwoods, MGM, the Palace Theater and the Oakdale Theater. Her favorite, however, is the 20 years singing in the choir loft at the St. Thomas More Chapel at Yale. In 2022, Evie was commissioned to write Meanwhile, at Longbourn, an adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, for annual performances at the historic Osborne Homestead Museum. Evie's passion for theater arts and community engagement are the driving force behind her commitment to Elm Shakespeare and its mission of bringing people together through Shakespeare to build community and celebrate our shared humanity.

Frank Mitchell (he/him/osai) | Planning Committee

Frank Mitchell is a cultural organizer in visual arts and public humanities based in New Haven. As a historical researcher, curator, and educator his interests begin at the intersection of race, identity, and American visual culture. His curatorial and interpretive projects include the exhibitions Keeping the Faith: Promises + Persistence in Dixwell; Afrocosmologies: American Reflections; Soulfood: African American Cooking and Creativity; A Birds-Eye View: Citizen Science & Social Media; the documentary Unsung Heroes: The Music of Jazz in New Haven; and the culinary study African American Food Culture. He has taught at the University of Connecticut, Trinity College, Franklin & Marshall College, and the University of the Arts.

Mitchell is curatorial adviser for the Toni N. and Wendell C. Harp Historical Museum at The Dixwell Community (Q) House and Director Emeritus of The Amistad Center for Art & Culture. In addition to Elm Shakespeare, the Fair Haven resident serves on the boards of The New England Foundation for the Arts, the Eli Whitney Museum, and CT Humanities. An occasional cabaret performer, Mitchell has studied with Anne Tofflemire, Erick Comstock, Barbara Fasano, and Liz Rubino.

David Newton (he/him/his) | Secretary & Co-chair of Governance Committee

David Newton is currently President of Elm Advisors, LLC, 110 Whitney Ave, New Haven CT, which he founded in September 2007. Elm Advisors provides consulting services to not-for-profit institutions focused on real estate development, property acquisition, and leasing as well as on facilities management and capital improvement strategies. From 2002 to 2007, he served as the Associate Vice President and Director of University Properties at Yale University. In this capacity, he was responsible for the management of the University’s commercial real estate portfolio in New Haven, CT. From 1998 until 2002, he served as Executive Vice President of Aramark Education Services, an international facilities management company serving not-for-profit institutions. At Aramark, he was responsible for business strategy and marketing, as well for integration of new business acquisitions. He joined Aramark after its acquisition of the Facilities Resource Management Co. (FRM) which Newton co-founded in 1977. As FRM’s President he was responsible for directing the firm’s operating, technical and capital project divisions providing facilities management and technical support to colleges, universities, schools, hospitals and municipal governments throughout the United States. David has served on a variety of not for profit boards in New Haven including the Hospital of St. Raphael, the Arts Council, International Festival of Arts and Ideas, the Connecticut Health Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven and the Hopkins School where he chaired the Board for 7 years and received the Hopkins Medal-the school’s highest honor for leadership and service. Currently, he is a Trustee of Lesley University, Cambridge MA., and the Elm Shakespeare Co, as well as serving as a Director of the New Alliance Foundation, Project Access, St. Martin de Pores School, and New Haven Bank. In 2014, he was elected to the Connecticut Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. In 2015 he was the recipient of the Alexis De Tocqueville Society Award given by the United Way of Greater New Haven to “recognize the American spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism”. He is a graduate of the Hopkins School in New Haven, CT.,Williams College and the Graduate School of Business, Columbia University.

Mary Pepe (she/her/hers) | Co-chair of Governance Committee

Mary Pepe is presently the Director of Human Resources for the Town of Greenwich, CT. She is the former Vice President of Operations at the Regional Water Authority in New Haven where she also served as Director of Human Resources. Previously,

Mary held that role at Valley Cable Vision/Tele-Media Company of Western Connecticut. Mary began her career as a teacher of English and also served in the administrative offices of the Derby Public Schools as Director of Staff Development, Curriculum and Public Relations.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Languages and Literature from the College of New Rochelle and a Master of Arts in Education and American Studies from Fairfield University and completed additional post graduate work at the University of Connecticut. Mary has a history of community involvement with numerous non-profits both in New Haven and in the Valley. She has served as Board Chair of: The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Long Wharf Theatre, the Valley United Way and the Birmingham Group/Valley Mental Health Center (now BHCare). She is a founding member of the Community Foundation’s Fund for Women and Girls and a founding trustee of the Valley Community Foundation. Presently, in addition to Elm Shakespeare, Mary is on the Board of Directors of Gaylord Hospital.

Mary has taught both Shakespeare and drama and has long been involved with theater. This experience, along with her passion for all three, has made her participation with Elm Shakespeare exceptionally rewarding and enjoyable.

Robin Sauerteig (she/her/hers) | Chair of Development Committee

A Connecticut native and longtime resident of greater New Haven, Robin Sauerteig’s professional experience encompasses public relations, marketing and development in a variety of senior positions in the US and abroad, in fields ranging from technology and management consulting to theater administration. A politics and literature major with degrees from UConn and Yale University, Robin has deep experience in the nonprofit sector and has served in executive board positions at many area arts and cultural organizations and educational institutions, including the Shubert Performing Arts Center, Long Wharf Theater, Yale University Art Gallery, Friends Center for Children and the Southern Connecticut State University Foundation. Notable recent board experience also includes the New Haven Land Trust, where she played an active role in the merger of the Trust with New Haven Farms to form Gather New Haven, an organization dedicated to environmental justice, food security and programs to connect underserved communities to the natural world.

At Elm Shakespeare, Robin currently serves as Development Chair. What she finds most inspiring about Elm is its creativity in forging partnerships and delivering inclusive programs that connect a wide public, in both physical and virtual spaces, with Shakespeare’s work to be re-imagined in fresh and innovative interpretations that resonate with the world as we know it today.

Debra Schaffer

Debra Schaffer is a retired executive with 42 years of financial services experience with Bank of America. She held a variety of positions in commercial banking for the Northeast Region. She managed a team of Credit Officers providing credit solutions to companies with revenue from $5million to $2 billion. Prior to that, she managed the Middle Market Metro New York Credit team. She also held positions in Relationship Management, Retail Banking and Risk Management. Debra holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut and a BA from Regis College.

Deb and her husband Ted reside in New Haven. She has been active in numerous community organizations over the years, including the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, Junior Achievement, Big Brother Big Sisters, the Board of the New Haven Lawn Club and Long Wharf Theatre. She currently has Treasurer responsibilities for Fellowship Place and is on the board of Elm Shakespeare Company.

Mike Shea (he/him/his) | Vice President

Mike Shea grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Loyola College there. After completing his doctorate at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, he joined the faculty at Southern Connecticut State University in 1985. He regularly teaches English courses in Shakespeare and Shakespeare’s contemporaries, as well as twentieth- and twenty-first-century drama and film. Having picnicked in Edgewood Park at productions by Elm Shakespeare since its inception, he was delighted to be invited to join the board of this splendid theatre company. Now a longtime board member, he is especially invested in the company’s educational arm and its community outreach. He is particularly proud of the Teen Troupe’s achievements, most notably their professional perseverance and personal triumphs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Phil Smith (he/him/his) | Finance Committee

Phil Smith spent 40 years as a Professor of Mathematics, Dean, Vice President, and Acting President at Southern Connecticut State University. Currently Treasurer of New Haven’s Community Soup Kitchen and serving as immediate past president of the Orange Rotary Club, Phil remains active in community affairs. Although retired, he also still teaches every semester at SCSU as well as at Columbia University’s Teachers College.

Having fallen in love with Hamlet and Macbeth during his high school days, Phil retains fond memories of attending performances at the former Stratford, Connecticut, Shakespeare Festival during long-ago summers. His support of theatre at Southern even led to his election as Theatre Department Chairperson for a year!

Phil is especially appreciative of the strong relationship between Elm Shakespeare and Southern Connecticut State University. “The educational outreach programs are a strong part of Elm’s contribution to our local community,” according to Phil, who can regale you with enthusiastic tales of his interactions with young people who have shared their Elm Shakespeare experiences with him.