Board of Directors
Town Hall Theatre Company is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors that is highly engaged, energetic, and focused on building the future of the theatre arts in the Lamorinda community.
Betsy Streeter [Board President] is an award-winning cartoonist, designer, science fiction/speculative fiction author and recovering high-tech creative executive who has worked in film/video production, information architecture, design, creative direction, and video games. She has been Cartoonist-In-Residence at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco and at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, and a Volunteer Illustrator at 826 Valencia in San Francisco. She has two kids who are now used to hanging out at Town Hall at all hours even when they are not in a show. She is honored to serve as board president at Town Hall and is grateful every day for the incredible efforts of all of the people inside and outside the company that make it such a special institution in the community.
Tom Stack [Board Vice President] spent 20 years in the Rock and Roll merchandise industry. This eventually led to his position as a licensee of one of the world's most influential bands, the Grateful Dead, where he managed and negotiated worldwide licensing operations, the band's retail website and all of their merchandising endeavors. Tom also worked “across the table” with rock legend Carlos Santana, creating and distributing merchandise to clients worldwide. Tom works as a Broker Associate in the Orinda office of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate. Helping clients achieve their dreams or realize their goals is a process he takes seriously and enjoys very much. In the Fall of 2009, Tom joined the Board of Directors of the Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette, where he specializes in fund-raising via music promotion in the venerable treasure of a theatre that he is so proud to represent. He currently lives in Lafayette's Burton Valley with his wife Kiki, son Sam, and cockapoo Jammer.
Carrie Meehan [Board Secretary] Carrie and her family are new to Lafayette, having moved to the area in 2009 after spending 13 years in Ireland. After receiving her B.A. (French) from Wayne State University in Detroit, Carrie lived in San Francisco from 1989-1997 where she became a lawyer, practiced law, got married (Paddy), had a daughter (Leah), and then moved to Ireland. In Ireland the focus was on raising children (Louis arrived in 1999), property development, overseeing their furniture stores, and organizing events for internationally renowned Irish Psychic Medium Sandra O’Hara. Carrie continues to organize these events in the U.S. Carrie and Paddy wanted Leah and Louis to experience life in the U.S. as well, hence the return move to the bay area in 2009. Both of Carrie’s children are thespians, and Louis has been involved in several productions at Town Hall Theatre. Carrie works with at-risk high school students on probation at a court school in San Francisco. Carrie is thrilled to serve on Town Hall Theatre’s board and help to increase awareness of the truly phenomenal quality of theatre and education that takes place here.
Denise Altaffer [Board Treasurer] is passionate about theatre and loves being a part of the show-any show- from inception through maturity on closing night. Formerly a Spanish Bilingual Elementary School teacher in Oakland, Denise pays the bills by working as Operations and Finance Manager for her family’s Real Estate Investment and Property Management business. However, what she really enjoys is being part of a theatre! While it was in business, Denise was very involved in the Crossroads Theatre Company and their education program, California Theatre Arts, where she was frequently seen stage managing and running sound and lights for the education program shows and house managing for the main stage performances. Denise has served as Company, Stage and Costume Manager for the Young Performers Company, a local vocal performance group. Both of her children are avid performers and all three are ecstatic to have found a new home with THTC. Denise lives in Lafayette with her husband, Michael, their two children, Will and Adrian, their two crazy dogs, Maxx and Bloo and the noisy cockatiel, JJ.
Kristen Correll [Volunteers Chair] grew up in New York attending Marymount College for her bachelors’ (Education/ Business Administration) and Fordham University for her masters’ (Education/Reading Specialist). As part of her New York experience she took dance classes including dancing for The Joffrey Ballet (while it was still in New York), minoring in dance in college and taking acting classes at Weiss Baron. She even did a short stint on a ballroom dance competition team. She and her family (husband, Charles and four children – Charles III, Breanna, Justin, and Nathan) spent 14 years in Houston, Texas. During her time in Texas she completed her Doctorate in Education – Curriculum and Instruction and served as the Head of School for a private school in the Greater Houston area. Two of her children’s interest in acting led her to Town Hall Theatre and its wonderful programs.
Mike Gilson [Board Member] has balanced a career in international business with a passion for all things non-profit since receiving an MBA in 1978 from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he served as President of the Wharton Graduate Association. In addition to having worked for such well known firms as McKinsey &Co., Airbus and General Electric, Mike has served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, the Board of Rebuilding Together-SF and currently serves as President of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation. Mike is especially pleased to have recently joined the Board of Town Hall Theatre after attending performances for several years.
Steve Hall [Board Member] got involved with Town Hall Theatre when his oldest son, Alex, joined Town Hall Kids. Watching Alex blossom at Town Hall was a game changer for Steve and his family, and when offered a spot on the board, he jumped at the chance. Steve attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, before founding his company, CompConsultant.com in the 1990s. Steve lives with his wife Grace and their three children in Lafayette. A resident since 1995, Steve is a technology consultant who tends to his clients' home and business needs all over Lamorinda and beyond.
Murray Sandford [Board Member] grew up in Piedmont, Ca. focusing on the Arts, and now resides in Burton Valley with his wife Laura and two children. After graduating from San Francisco state Univ. with a degree in Indusrial design with emphasis in Product Design, Murray launched a business in his garage in the Rockridge area of Oakland in 1989, building art furniture for the booming high-tech industry. It has since grown to a thriving company of 52 employees, manufacturing architectural metal products for many commercial buildings as well as hotels, casinos, and airports. His passion for the arts has drawn him to his involvement with Town Hall Theatre Company, a family-oriented Theatre filled with creativity, drama, and music! Murray hopes to help expand public awareness of the truly wonderfull things that go on at Town Hall.
Stephen K. Cassidy [Board Member] is a partner in the San Francisco office of Hanson Bridgett LLP, with focus on real estate and land use law including development, finance, transactions and leasing, entity formation, and environmental law. He has served as an expert witness in real estate and land use litigation. Mr. Cassidy is closely involved with both the legal and real estate business communities, having served in a variety of leadership roles with the California State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the International Council of Shopping Centers. In 2006, he was awarded the "Spirit of CEB" award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the continuing legal education of the bar. Mr. Cassidy is also a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers; Urban Land Institute; Georgetown University Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute Committee; California Business Properties Association (Board of Directors, Legislative Committee); Lambda Alpha International; American College of Mortgage Attorneys, Inc.; and International Association of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate. He is a past member of the Real Property Advisory Committee to the California Law Revision Commission. He also serves on the boards of Chanticleer, an internationally renowned and Grammy award-winning professional all-male choral ensemble, and Kronos Quartet, an internationally renowned Grammy award-winning string quartet. He is an emeritus and former board member of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, an acclaimed and Tony-award winning regional theatre company. Mr. Cassidy received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall) in 1975.
Mia Schmitt [Board Member] developed a fondness for Town Hall while watching her daughter, Ava, participate in their educational programs and main stage productions. A California native, Mia grew up in Danville. She attended UCLA for her undergraduate degree (Psychobiology) and Pace University for her doctorate (School-Clinical-Child Psychology). Prior to settling in Orinda, Mia and her husband, Altie, lived in Paris, New York and San Francisco. They have 3 lively children, who provide plenty of drama at home. When not on the home front, Mia works part-time as an elementary School Psychologist. As a board member, she looks forward to raising awareness of all the fantastic opportunities and events that Town Hall brings to the community.