Our Board
The Freeport Shakespeare Festival Board of Directors is comprised of individuals with a long history of service to their communities.
Joe Hahn (President)
Retired US Marine Lt. Colonel, and of Counsel with Bernstein, Shur. Volunteer cardiac rehab trainer at the Casco Bay YMCA, and former board member for the Portland Concert Association (PCA/Great Performances) and the Portland Ballet, and is former chair of the Freeport Conservation Commission and Freeport Coastal Waters Commission. Joe also is the chair of the Ombudsman group for ESGR, Employers for Support of the Guard and Reserve. Prior to law school at George Washington University, he was an undergraduate theater design major.
Janice O’Rourke (Vice President/Secretary)
Professional actress, singer songwriter, and executive coach. She has spent the last ten years working for The Actors Institute/TAI in New York City leading groups and individuals worldwide in the areas of communications, leadership and creativity. She is an Affiliate Artist at Portland Stage Company and served two years on the board of the Maine Songwriters Association.
Bud Carlson (Treasurer)
20 years of experience providing strategic planning and financial consulting for clients of many industries including, manufacturing, hospitality, fishing, recreation, service and contracting. He is a first year member of the Greater Freeport Community Chorus, a member of the Freeport Library Board and a proud supporter of the Freeport Community Center, Freeport Players, YMCA, Wolfe's Neck Farms and Seeds for Independence.
Susan Garrett (Director of Education and Outreach)
Susan has worked as a professional actress in film, television and theater for nearly 20 years in New York, Los Angeles, New Jersey and Maine. She has directed and taught students of all ages in professional, academic and community settings. Most recently she was the director of the Annual Freshman Shakespeare Project at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. Also in New Jersey she taught at the McCarter Theater, Princeton Rep Company and CWW Onstage. Susan grew up in Bath, graduated from Bowdoin College and now lives in Yarmouth with her family and their beagle, Gaia.
Michael O'Brien
Michael has more than thirty years experience in Foundation board service, fundraising and the cultivation of effective community relationships. He has been an English instructor emphasizing
Shakespeare in public and private secondary schools, colleges and Elderhostel programs in Washington, Oregon, California and New York. He has worked extensively with the Carbury Foundation specializing in theatre production and international exchange programs. He has worked as a consultant and loaned executive to non-profits and arts organizations throughout the country. He and his wife and three golden retrievers live in Cumberland, Maine.
Daniel Piltch
Daniel began his career at Accenture (then Andersen Consulting) before specializing in satellite communications and marine technology. He directed the emerging technologies group within the Financial Ideas Exchange practice in New York, before moving to Maine. There he founded and managed for nearly 10 years Marine Computer Systems, a company focused on systems integration for marine technology. He now owns FreeportMetrics (based in Maine and Warsaw) - a company that provides data analytics and web application development services. Daniel is a 25-year veteran of community theater in New York, Philadelphia, London, and Maine (Portland Players).
Steve Putnam
For the past five years, Steve has been manager of the Freeport Performing Arts Center. Previously, he served on the boards of the Portland Players and Portland Stage Company, where he is now an advisory trustee. He founded and directed the Yarmouth Playmakers at Yarmouth High School, directed the Royal River Players (community theater), and has judged many times for the Maine One-Act Play Festival.
Jennifer Segal
After more than 13 years in New York City, Jennifer and her family relocated to Cumberland where they've lived for the past 3 years. While in New York, Jennifer spent 5 years as the Manager of Global Events for the Citigroup Private Bank. Prior to corporate life, Jennifer held various jobs in and around the NY theatre. She is a member of Actor's Equity, the professional actors union.
Jonas Werner
Jonas is the owner of Azure Café in Freeport. He is a supporter of Freeport Players and many other community organizations, and is active in the business community through the Freeport Merchants Association.
Julie George-Carlson – Producing Artistic Director
Julie is a veteran theater professional, having worked at regional theaters across the country. She has produced, directed and/or stage managed shows for 20 years. Her professional credits include work with The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Ozark Actors Theatre, Goodspeed Opera House, Hartford Stage Company and Berkshire Theatre Festival. She has also performed extensive work in development and grant writing as a consultant for multiple community and professional theater organizations.
