William Skaggs joined The Sarasota Players as CEO in September 2020 bringing extensive experience in philanthropy, operations, and financial services in higher education and performing arts contexts. Originally from Hazard, KY, William is a two-time graduate of Western Kentucky University (BA in Music and MBA). William embraces a broad view of the value of the arts to a community via entertainment, education, and economic impacts.
William previously served as Chief Development Officer at Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) in Bowling Green, KY. SKyPAC serves 300,000 people in Southcentral Kentucky via a 1,700-seat mainstage theatre and 200 seat studio theatre with Broadway tours, concerts, and educational programming. SKyPAC experienced record totals of top-level donors and new sponsor commitments during each year of William’s tenure.
Before his time at SKyPAC, William was a Financial Advisor with Mass Mutual serving individuals and families in planning, protection, and investing. Beginning with no book of business, William achieved Rising Leaders in his first six months and the Mass Mutual Leaders Conference at the conclusion of his first ten months.
Willliam spent twelve years in philanthropy and alumni relations roles at WKU during portions of two comprehensive campaigns totaling more than $300 million. Among those roles was responsibility in campaign, planning, and construction for the Martens Alumni Center, the anchor in a mixed-use development that included hotel, parking, residential, and restaurant projects. William completed his time at WKU with concurrent appointments as Director of Annual Giving and Director of Alumni Resources, overseeing Alumni Association budgets and operations while planning and implementing the university’s centralized and comprehensive annual giving program.
William enjoys his family, traveling, Broadway musicals, and college football. He resides in Sarasota with his beautiful wife Jenny, three amazing children, and two spoiled dogs.
Amy joined The Sarasota Players as the Director of Development after nineteen years in philanthropy in the education arena. Originally from New York, Amy graduated with a BA in English from the State University of NY at Stony Brook and a JD from the State University of NY at Buffalo School of Law.
Before her career in educational advancement, Amy was a financial underwriter for CNA Insurance Companies in NY, serving large financial institutions. Amy served as Assistant Director of the Annual Fund and Director of the Parents’ Fund at The Taft School in Watertown CT.
Upon relocating to the Sarasota area, Amy joined the SCF Foundation as the Corporate Relations Associate responsible for the solicitation of major gifts, donor stewardship, and special event planning. Subsequently, Amy was the Director of Development at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School.
Amy serves on the board of Sisterhood for Good, a local nonprofit philanthropic organization. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her dog, Maeve, a sweet Airedale Terrier.
Originally from Kansas City, Amanda attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned a Bachelor of Journalism. As the Marketing and PR Director for the Sarasota Players, she is responsible for social media, website maintenance, press releases, print and digital advertising, playbills, graphic design, and brand management. Her hobbies include directing, acting, singing, dancing, and teaching the performing arts.
Brian has worked in the theatre and educational arts for 15 years as a production manager, director, choreographer, instructor, stage manager, costume & scenic designer, and performer. He’s won numerous awards for his direction, choreography, costume design, and performing including Herald Tribune Handy Awards and Broadway World’s Best Costume Design and Choreography. Brian has trained under performing arts icons such as the choreographer for Broadway’s Moulin Rouge, Sonya Tayeh and So You Think You Can Dance’s Anthony Morigerato. He’s the Co-Artistic Director for Dingbat Theatre Project and has worked artistically on many original works such as Big Red Nose Burlesque and Plump Sisters Productions. His role is to manage and facilitate all productions to result in clean and creative theatrical experiences. A native to Florida, Brian’s educational background includes Booker High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Program and Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts.
Jill has been designing, sewing and performing on stage since a very young age, originally from the Adirondacks in upstate New York she has a BFA from Syracuse University in Fiber Arts. Her artwork and performances have been displayed in many university publications and galleries.
While living in the Midwest her designs were published in the KC Star as well as through various fashion shows sponsored by vintage shops, quilt shops and nightclubs. She started performing belly dance and costuming in the mid 2000’s while forming an uplifting women’s dance group which raised funds for the local cancer center in upstate New York. While in New Hampshire she taught at Raq-On Dance Studio and performed throughout Vermont and Massachusetts. Here in Florida she has worked with Hip Expressions Belly Dance Studio in St Petersburg since 2013 and found her chosen family in performance artists.
Within the theatre world she has sewn for Norwegian Cruise Lines in Riverview FL, Kansas City Costume Company MO, Capital Rep/Proctors in Albany NY and as the Costume Shop Manager and Designer for American Stage Theatre Company in St Pete from 2016 to 2021. Notable awards are for Best Costume Design for Skeleton Crew by Theater Tampa Bay, and voted Costume Design of the Decade for American Stage’s Mamma Mia! by BroadwayWorld.com.
When not sitting in front of a sewing machine Jill spends her time as a belly dancer and instructor and as a variety entertainer through her company Miss Bean Entertainment.
Thayer Greenberg is a lifelong educator with a commitment to educational excellence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in educational arts administration from UMASS Amherst and is currently persuing a master’s in organizational leadership at the University of Colorado Boulder. With a background of over 15 years in the field of education, she has honed her expertise through immersive experiences in vibrant cultural hubs like Chicago and New York City. In her role as the Director of Education at The Players Studio, Thayer oversees the daily operations of the Education Department, creating and implementing new programs and curriculum with her team and ensuring the studio is a safe inviting place for students to come and explore the art of performance. Beyond her professional endeavors, Thayer finds joy in singing, and cooking! With a passion for both nurturing young minds and fostering creativity, Thayer is excited to continue cultivating the Players Studio!
Karla Quiñones Castillo is an alumna of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication with an Emphasis in Speech Education and a Minor in Theatre. In her current role as Assistant Director of Education, she plays a pivotal role in fostering artistic growth, spearheading community and school outreach initiatives, and enhancing theatre education programming. Her responsibilities include directing student productions, overseeing summer camp programs, and contributing to the overall artistic vision of the studio. Karla brings a wealth of experience to her position, having served as a dedicated secondary theatre teacher in the Thompson School District in Loveland, Colorado, for 17 years. Her outstanding contributions to education were recognized when she was honored as the Thompson Education Foundation’s Secondary Educator of the Year in 2022. Additionally, Karla played a key role as one of the founding teachers for the LISA (Loveland Integrated School of the Arts) Program, where she helped pioneer arts integration instruction at both the high school and middle school levels. She believes in the transformative nature of theatre and has witnessed the benefits of theatre education in students of all ages and abilities and is looking forward to continuing to share her love of theatre with the students of the Players Studio.
Scott’s love for community theater began in New Mexico, where he explored acting, singing, and dancing with both the Albuquerque Civic Light Opera Association and the Albuquerque Little Theatre.
Throughout his career, Scott has been fortunate to work professionally in vibrant theater, film, and television communities across the country including a national tour with The Boston Chamber Theater, portraying Ichabod Crane in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
In addition to his performance work, Scott has received numerous accolades for his technical contributions. He was awarded Best Technical Direction for The Full Monty and has been recognized for his set designs in productions such as To Kill a Mockingbird (Iowa) and Gruesome Playground Injuries (Colorado).
Scott is thrilled to continue his theatrical journey with The Sarasota Players. He credits his success to the unwavering love and support of his family—his parents, siblings, mother-in-law—and especially his partner, Shad, whose encouragement has been invaluable.
