Meet Our Staff and Board of Directors
Charlotte Tiencken, VRTs Founder and Producing Artistic Director, is an Arts Administrator, Director, Producer and Educator who has been working in the performing arts world for over 30 years. In her other role as president of Scarlet Productions, she consults with other organizations in non-profit management. Previously she served as Interim Managing Director for Freehold Theatre in Seattle. She was Visiting Assistant Professor in Arts Management at the College of Charleston in SC from 2014-2016. From 2007-2014 she was Managing Director at Book-It Repertory Theatre in Seattle.
Linda Nygaard has a deep commitment to theater, having been in and out of it all her life. Sometimes on stage, sometimes behind the curtain, sometimes running lines with other actors, she has happily supported actors, directors, and playwrights. She brings marketing and strategic planning expertise, along with her passion for theater, to Vashon Repertory Theatre. Asked why she is involved, her answer is, “It’s the heart. Charlotte Tienken’s artistic direction and her heart full of theater bring something fresh and viable to our community.”
As a freelance writer whose interest is the intersection of arts, food, travel, and business, she is the author of Portland: City Smart published by John Muir publishers. Her articles have been published in numerous magazines and newspapers internationally and nationwide. A communications professional, Linda has consulted with various non-profit organizations in Denver, Portland, and Vashon. Her work with clients in the business world includes In Good Taste Cooking School, Hewlett-Packard, Red Cross, Travel Portland, and Portland Center Stage where she helped produce, direct, and execute communications programs that included events, original plays written as part of product announcements, and public relations efforts.
Linda is the host of The Klatch, a popular radio talk show on Voice of Vashon. The show, co-hosted by Susan McCabe and Heidi Skryzpek, focuses on the people who define Vashon’s unique and thriving community.
In her spare time, you will find Linda cooking or baking something interesting, working on essays, loving Vashon dogs, and walking the wooded trails around the island.
Elizabeth Roth co-founded the Seattle Mime Theatre, a physical theatre company based on Capitol Hill in 1977 and toured locally, nationally and internationally with the company for 12 years. Moving on to artist management, Liz represented modern dance companies including Pat Graney Company and Lines Contemporary Ballet (SF) as well as world music and theatre until she focussed her business on the best in traditional Irish music. The Irish musicians she represented for many years (Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill; Máirtín O’Connor; David Power and many more) found international success for their mastery of their instruments and their sublime musical intelligence. Liz is thrilled to be supporting the dynamic work of VRT - theater is her first love and artistic home - especially since it is based on Vashon Island where artists reign supreme.
Liz is currently spending most of her free time trying to save democracy through political activism.
Sharon Briskman led non-profit organizations for years in Arizona. She served as Director of the Scottsdale AZ Jewish Community Center, then Director of Women’s Services for the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. Ultimately, she served as Development Director for the Federation, raising over five million dollars before leaving that post. Her skill as a fund-raiser earned her speaking invitations from non-profit groups nationwide.
She was awarded Woman of the year by Israel Bonds and received special honors from the Jewish Historial Society.
Sharon recently brought all that skill to Vashon, and now she’s a valued Board member with Vashon Repertory Theatre.
Sharon lives on Vashon with her husband Barry, and spends much of her free time with daughters Cara and Julie.
“I was 8 when my parents took me to see Tom Sawyer at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. And so it began. I was among the first Season ticket holders for Arizona Theater’s first season. Julie, Cara and I went to New York and saw Broadway matinees and evening performances on the same day. It is no surprise that Julie is now a professional actor. I bring to the VRT Board my love of theater, decades of serving on non-profit boards, 20 years as a Professional Fund Developer and loving living on Vashon.”
Susan McCabe has been part of Vashon Repertory Theatre since Charlotte Tiencken (VRTs Producing Artistic Director) gave it life. She started her career as a broadcast journalist in Central Illinois. Then she traveled the world from Chicago as an international marketing/advertising/communications specialist, and landed on Vashon for the love of its green, and to pursue a bucolic life as a free-lance writer. But it hasn’t been quiet. She directed programming at the Vashon Park District for a while, and happily returned to radio as Voice of Vashon’s first Station Manager. There she learned much about technology and more about the Island’s music and arts scenes. Her service on VRTs working Board blends all her passions — writing, journalism, promotion, graphic design, theatrical production, and whatever else comes up. When she’s not doing VRTs work, she’s writing and publishing essays on Substack under the title Hot Flashes, Cold Showers or working with local non-profits to change the criminal legal system, save democracy or save the Planet.