Leadership
Learn a little more about the leadership behind Spokane Shakespeare Society.
Amanda Cantrell, DPA
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Dr. Amanda Cantrell was first bitten by the theatre bug as child when she performed in an industrial film for Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in the early 80s. Since then, she’s been drawn to the stage like a fly to the ghost light. She has multiple degrees, include an AA in acting from KD Conservatory, a BS in theatre and a BS in communications from Texas A&M Commerce, a MS in Human Relations and Business from Amberton University, and a DPA in nonprofit leadership from Valdosta State University, where her dissertation focused on the executive leadership for nonprofit theatres. Her time in theatre has shifted from acting on the stage to directing and administration, but she has always been connected to the art form. The board secretary for the Alaska Dance Theatre in Anchorage, Amanda moved to Spokane in the fall of 2019. Originally from Dallas, her experiences have taken her across the country and beyond. During the day she is a marketing director until she can find her perfect fit in the nonprofit arts world.
Email Dr. Cantrell at executivedirector@spokaneshakespearesociety.org.
Jeffrey Ridlington
Artistic Director
Jeffrey Ridlington has been involved in making theatre in the Spokane area since writing a musical adaptation of Rumplestiltskin in the fourth grade. Since then, he has developed theatre and education experience far and wide, earning a BA in English and Theatre from Whitman College and a Masters in Teaching from Whitworth University. Along the way, they have worked with theatres in Washington DC, including The Shakespeare Theatre in DC and Synetic Theatre. Jeff has taught theatre in schools in South Korea, Switzerland, Venezuela and the United States. He currently teaches at Lakeside High School in Nine Mile Falls where they have developed a thriving student led theatre program. Jeffrey is delighted to support the development of the artistic vision of the Spokane Shakespeare Society.
Email Jeffrey at artisticdirector@spokaneshakespearesociety.org
Board of Directors
Board President
Jeffrey St George joined Spokane Shakespeare Society as an actor in the inaugural season of 2021, directed in 2022, Performed Hamlet as the Artist in Residence in his third season, and is so immensely proud to begin the fourth season and beyond as the President of the Board.
Jeff has been acting in and producing outdoor Shakespeare since 2014 when he started touring the northwest with Oregon Adventure Theater; and is uniquely positioned to guide the company with his expertise in the challenges outdoor theater brings. Jeff’s wildest dream is to see Spokane Shakespeare Society become renowned for their exceptional work across the nation.
Email Jeffrey at jeffreystgeorge@spokaneshakespearesociety.org
Board Director, Tech Chair
Email Alex at tech@spokaneshakespearesociety.org
Alex has spent most of his life dedicated to the theatre and is very excited to be able to be a part of S3! He got his start acting in local musicals at Spokane Children’s Theatre, but has transitioned to a backstage role with Spokane Children’s Youth Theatre, Spokane Children’s Theatre, and Lakeside High School Drama in the last few years. His expertise is in the technical aspects of theatre, and has been running tech for S3 since 2022. He is currently attending Eastern Washington University to pursue a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering with a minors in theatre.
Board Director, Communications Chair
Carolyn Bostick works at the Coeur d’Alene Press as the hybrid reporter for Shoshone County and Coeur d’Alene. Previously she worked in communications for nonprofits in Spokane and upstate New York.
Since she moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2021, she has been fortunate enough to perform with the Spokane Shakespeare Society for three summers.
Email Carrie at communications@spokaneshakespearesociety.org
Board Director, Education Chair
Email Abby at education@spokaneshakespearesociety.org
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
R. Scott Cantrell is a professional actor with more than 30 years in the theatre. He earned his BA in Theatre from Anderson University and his MFA in Acting from Michigan State. He attended film school in LA, where we worked in the Feature Casting department at Twentieth Century Fox. He has been an actor across the nation—from touring with Madcap Puppets out of Ohio, to working on film in LA, to some of the largest regional theatres in cities like Dallas and Atlanta, to small community theatres in Anchorage and Spokane, and even lending his voice to multiple anime series. Some of his favorite companies to work with include Shakespeare Dallas, Dallas Children’s Theatre, Cyrano’s Theatre, Spokane Civic Theatre, Gypsy Theatre Company, among others. A Shakespeare scholar, R. Scott would be happy if he could do nothing but Shakespeare for the rest of his life. R. Scott is now wowing audiences in Nashville, TN, but his work in co-founding S3 is still felt.