Elisa J Olson, a native of Santa Cruz, California, has made her mark in the world of theater with her talents and diverse range of skills. From the vibrant streets of New York City to the grand halls of Washington DC, Elisa has worked in nearly every aspect of theater production, leaving an indelible impression wherever she goes.

With a Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of North Dakota, Elisa’s extensive background in theater and arts management is truly impressive. Throughout her career, she has held various roles including executive director, managing director, company management, production manager, director, union stage manager, theatrical consultant, lighting designer, music teacher, and performer. Her work has taken her to esteemed companies such as The John F. Kennedy Center, Theatreworks, Cabrillo Stage, Ashland Productions, Peninsula Youth Theatre, and Monday Morning Productions in NYC, among others. She has even had the privilege of stage-managing a performance at the White House and has traveled extensively with four national tours, visiting 49 out of 50 states.

Beyond her managerial expertise, Elisa is also an accomplished singer, performer, and educator. She runs her own voice studio, High Frequency Vocal Studio, where she hones the talents of aspiring singers. As a guest artist, she has had the honor of performing with the Grand Forks Symphony and the Empire Arts Center, captivating audiences with her mesmerizing portrayal of “Woman 1” in “Songs for a New World” and her featured soloist performance in “The Beck Song Project.” Her impressive resume also includes standout roles such as Maria in “West Side Story,” Frenchy in “Grease,” Brenda in “The Pajama Game,” and Carrie Pipperidge in “Carousel,” to name just a few.

Elisa is excited to bring her extensive experience, energy, and passion to the Leeward Theatre, where she hopes to contribute her unique talents and enrich the Leeward Campus.

A Leeward Community College Alumna, Chelsea Yamashiro has been involved with theatre in Hawai‘i for nearly 17 years. Her résumé in technical theatre at The Leeward Theatre includes shows like The Odyssey, Argonautika, Oedipus Rex, Alice in Wonderland, and School for Scandal. These experiences led to her involvement as director in several one-act play festivals. She has now directed and produced several annual musical variety shows as fundraisers for The Leeward Theatre’s fall productions. She has also had the pleasure of working with several dance and theatre companies on the island, including In Yo Face Improv, Monkey Waterfall, The Arts at Marks Garage, and Kumu Kahua Theatre.

Chelsea was nominated for a Po‘okela Award in lighting design for Play Builders of Hawai‘i’s Production of Yes I Am: Leeward Edition in 2013. She was on the directing team for several Po‘okela award winning productions, including In The Heights, The Secret in the Wings, and The Folks You Meet at Longs. She also received three Poʻokela awards for Distinguished Service to The Leeward Theatre.

Inspired by her students, Chelsea branched out of her technical theatre role and tried her hand at acting, performing in A Dark and Stormy Knight as Great Aunt Cornswallow, Merry Men as Nursie, Richard III as Ensemble, and Tartuffe as Ensemble with The Leeward Theatre. In 2017 she was recognized as a regional finalist for the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Fellowship at The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Mesa, Arizona. Most recently, she has shared her expertise at Mililani High School and Pad De Deux Hawaii.

Chelsea is so grateful to be serving the campus and community that helped shape her as a person.

Don grew up in the Territory of Hawaii after circling the globe with his family and began working at Leeward Community College Theatre in 1977. He has a BA degree in English from Chaminade University (then Chaminade College), and an MFA in Theatre from UH Mānoa. Don has worked with and designed shows for just about every theatre and dance company on O‘ahu, and his former students have been fixtures on the local theatre scene for decades.

Sarah has been at Leeward Theatre since 1986 when she began as a student worker while pursuing an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. She also holds a BA in Psychology from UH West O‘ahu, a Certificate in substance abuse counseling, and is a licensed contractor in theatre. She has won three Po‘okela Awards for lighting design at Leeward Theatre. Sarah has three adult children and two young grandchildren.