STAFF MEMBER BIOS
ELLEN CALLAS (she/her)
General Manager, Collective Member
Ellen Callas is a native Chicagoan who cut her teeth on Second City, Ellen co-founded, in 1976, Hit and Run Theater, a political sketch comedy troupe that toured rural northern California for many years. Since joining the Mime Troupe in 1986, she has worked as a writer on (Ripped Van Winkle, Secrets in the Sand, Rats, Back to Normal, Escape from Cyberia, Revenger Rat, Soul Suckers, Eating It, 1600 Transylvania Ave, Doing Good, Posibilidad, 2012-The Musical! and Tales of the Resistance. She has also worked as an actor (Rats), director (Making a Killing) in addition to production, company & stage manager for various productions including the international collaboration and Asian tour of Big Wind. She also served as company manager for ACT's long running production of Angels In America: Parts I & II. She is committed to mentoring future activist artists and from its beginning has been an enthusiastic teacher and occasional project director of company's 26-year-old Youth Theater Project. Ellen credits her ability as an improviser for helping to navigate the rocky road of non-profit political theater.
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KAREN RUNK (she/her)
Production Stage Manager
Karen Runk moved to SF with the intention of only staying for a few months... Well over two decades later she's still here! This is largely due to the talented folks at the SF Mime Troupe and thanks to Golden Thread Productions where she has been a Resident Artist since 2018 (aka the before times) AND Word For Word where she is core member since 2025 - but mostly it's due to rent control! Runk first experienced the Troupe by stage managing two '97 youth projects, Revenger Rat Meets the Merchant of Death and Inside Out. After which she ran screaming into the arms of the Magic Theatre and there she stayed, contently for two years. The Troupe then wooed her back for their '99 Summer Production City For Sale. Still under the Troupe's wooing spell she's stage managed a plethora of their summer shows. Runk has also stage managed with Word For Word, Magic Theater, SFShakes, Intersection for the Arts, and African American Shakespeare Company.
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LAWRENCE HELMAN (he/him)
Publicist
Lawrence Helman has been doing PR for Theatre, Dance, Performers and Special Events for over 25 years. Some of his clients and long time associates and friends include: Thrillpeddlers, Theatre Rhinoceros, Richmond/Ermet AID Foundation, SF Mime Troupe, artist Jason Mecier, Heklina, D'Arcy Drollinger, The Golden Girls Xmas Episodes, Drag Queens of Comedy, Tom & Jerry Christmas Tree, Keith Hennessy, SOULSKIN Dance, Brava, Leslie Jordan, Paula West, Harvey Milk Sculpture - City Hall, etc.. In special events, Lawrence has worked with Macy's Passport, Jewish Film Festival, Berlin & Beyond Film Festival, Kung Pao Kosher Comedy, Frameline, and with his event company One Fine Day. With Marc Huestis, he co-produced celebrity events at the Castro Theatre: THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE with Carol Lynley live (1995), HEATwith Sylvia Miles live (1996), VIVA ANN-MARGRET! with Ann Margret live (2002). Filmography - Lawrence produced 2 award-winning documentaries: THAT MAN: PETER BERLIN (2005) Co-producer - a documentary about gay porn star & photographer Peter Berlin - directed by Jim Tushinski. In 2005/2006 the documentary played on the Int'l. film festival circuit, world premiere Berlin Int'l. Film Festival - 2/05.The DVD was released in 6/06 by Water Bearer Films. "Superb" - NY Times. SEX IS... (1993) Co-produced & co-directed with Marc Huestis (DVD - Water Bearer Films). BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS (1986) Universal- Apprentice picture editor.
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MORRIS OLDER (he/him)
Bookkeeper
Morris Older has been involved with collectives, cooperative and non-profits for many years. A founder of Uprising Bakery in Berkeley, he helped produce organic Food For People, Not for Profit, serving in many capacities including as bookkeeper, and coordinate three national conferences of cooperative whole grain bakeries. As bookkeeper for Inkworks Press, he helped to supply posters, magazines, newsletter, mailings and much more for a wide variety of progressive groups in the Bay Area. He currently serves on the Boards of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, Bay Area Barnes and Trails and is a project coordinator for Volunteers for Outdoor California, which maintains and builds trails in Bay Area parks and open spaces.
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LAKESHA YORK (she/her)
Grant Writer
An Illinois native who grew up in Denver and settled in Wisconsin, Lakesha has worked for over 19 years in the nonprofit sector to help build community assets and address systems of economic oppression and racial inequality. She has provided consulting, coaching, and organizational leadership to organizations around the country. She is a board member at RE-Imagine Education and is passionate about creating opportunities for the next generation to thrive. She is a lover and strong supporter of the arts and is inspired by its power to provide safe spaces of expression. She looks forward to capturing the voices and experiences of the Youth Theater Project and sharing the mission of the San Francisco Mime Troupe through her grant writing efforts.
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ADAN GONZALEZ (he/him)
IT Support, Web Design
Adan Gonzalez has worked as a freelance IT Consultant and Systems Administrator for 20+ years and has helped small and large businesses with creating and maintaining networks while helping provide personalized technical support. A Oakland native, Adan has lived in the Bay Area his whole life and has been enjoying the San Francisco Mime Troupe shows from a very young age. Adan got involved with the Troupe when his younger brother, Taylor Gonzalez, joined the Youth Theater Project in high school. Taylor has continued to be deeply involved with the Troupe both as a YTP Teacher and Sound Designer and now a Collective Member. Adan provides support to help make the computers, networks, and website work as seamless as possible to allow the Mime Troupe to create art, political commentary, and teach the next generation with ease.
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TERRI DEMARTINI (she/her)
Tour Manager
Terri Demartini is a SF Native and graduate of SF School of the Arts. She attended NYU where she trained for a career in broadcasting. Some standout moments from her time in NYC include interning for Howard Stern and working at HOT-97 during the golden age of hip hop. Terri then moved to LA and worked on productions for NBC/Universal and MTV. Terri has also held roles including Assistant Program Director and Producer for various radio stations. After years of working behind the scenes, Terri began pursuing work in front of the camera, signing with SF’s Look Talent. She has appeared in commercial projects for clients including Samsung, Honda, Zillow, SF Giants, Microsoft and more. In terms of theatre, Terri worked as Stage Manager for the “Tea Party” in 2023. Terri splits her time between SF and Kona, Hawaii. She loves travel, buddhi yoga, movies, concerts and doing her podcast which tackles life and pop culture through the lens of a gen-xer. Her idol since age 12 is Prince, who she saw in concert 51 times. Being a Prince fan taught her to be herself and seek freedom everyday of her life, a mindset she holds sacred.
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BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS
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Andre Amarotico
(Corporate President)
Genie Cartier
(Treasurer)
Marie Cartier
Mara Matsumura
Susan Segal
(Secretary)
Michael Gene Sullivan
EMERITUS BOARD
THE MIME TROUPE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE
FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE SFMT BOARD
Rotimi Agbabiaka
Alexis Adorador
Velina Brown
Michael Carreiro
Earl Crabb
Jack Davis
R.G. Davis
Matisse Enzer
Merle Goldstone
Kate Harrison
Jessica Heidt
Joan Holden
Ed Holmes
Lisa Hori-Garcia
Trina Johnson
Tessa Koning-Martinez
Woof Kurtzman
Odette Lockwood-Stewart
Lawton Lovely
Jay Moss
Becky O'Malley
Mike O'Malley
Eduardo Robledo
Joel Schecter
Keiko Shimosato Carrerio
Peter Snider
Haminy silva
Curtistine Waldon-Hoes
