Darren Lay, a professional actor, long-time teacher and director of young students. He joined YSW as co-director in 1998 after eleven years on the faculty of Seattle Children’s Theatre and has led the program as artistic director since 2000.
Jorge Chacon graduated in 2011 with a full scholarship from the Juilliard School in NYC. Jorge helped pilot the TragiComedia mirror program in its first incarnation at Chief Sealth and Ballard H.S. in 2005 and was co-director for the first summer class in 2006. He acted as voice instructor in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and assisted with voice and text in 2014. Jorge is sharing leadership of voice classes with Beth Pollack. Jorge most recently led voice and assisted with some dance in 2025. He is a first year 2000 Young Shakespeare Workshop alumnus.
Beth Pollack is a graduate of New York University. Beth led the voice work for summer 2012, 2013, and assisted in 2014. Beth also assisted with direction of Othello in 2012. At NYU she directed Twelfth Night (2012), acted in Measure for Measure (2011), The Tempest (2012) and Hamlet (2013) and participated in the inaugural Global Shakespeare Conference in Abu Dhabi (2013). She leads the voice work together with Jorge Chacon in 2015. Beth was voice lead in 2024. Beth has acted for Seattle Shakespeare Company, Dacha, and recently played the lead in Laughs in Spanish at the Seattle Rep. Beth is a 2007 first year Young Shakespeare Workshop alumna.
Brandt Kreitzberg is a 1997 first year YSW alumnus and a graduate of Cal Arts. In summer 2008 and fall 2009 Brandt worked with The Tempest and the Revolving Company’s Romeo and Juliet in 2008/09, and returned in summer 2010 to assist with Richard II. Brandt is also an attorney.
Kate McKnight is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts. Kate led the voice work for summer 2011 and is a 2006 first year Young Shakespeare Workshop alumna.
Brittany Vi-King has worked for San Francisco Shakespeare and assisted with many different projects for YSW, most recently YSW’s Christopher Marlowe festival of Dido, Queen of Carthage and Tamburlaine the Great in summer 2024. Currently they are completing the prestigious directing program at Columbia University in NYC. Brittany is a 2013 YSW alum (as well as a graduate of Cleveland HS).