WHO WE ARE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

From its inception, Windy City Productions benefitted from the input and encouragement of actor, musician, producer James Creer. With James, Susan and Dave Buchanan worked on strategies to build more audiences for the Company’s original works. They sought out collaborations with established theater companies with a subscriber base. They brought in additional dynamic and talented people to form an official board of directors for Windy City Productions. The Company board boasts of members experienced with for-profit business and non-profit organizations, event planning, budgets, fundraising, and multiple creative endeavors.

David Buchanan (Executive Producer) Dave Buchanan, former President of the Candy Store and a current Candy Store board member, is a retired business owner and CEO. He provides vital business management skills as producer for Windy City Productions® in its mounting of three productions and is gearing up to produce a musical. Dave enjoys restoring and racing vintage cars and being married to Susan. Dave had an unanticipated foray into performing when he had to step in at the last minute for an ailing cast member of “Foodies – the Musical” by Morrie Bobrow at the Shelton Theater in San Francisco. Writer/Director Bobrow told Dave that his delivery in one sketch drew more laughs than the original cast member enjoyed

James Creer (Casting/Associate Producer) James studied at Sam Houston State University. He recently debuted as the Cowardly Lion in The Wiz at Sunnyvale Players, at Hillbarn Theatre in The Full Monty as Horse, and at Tabard Theatre appeared in I Do I Do, Crowns; Looking Over the President’s Shoulder; Tuesday’s with Morrie; The Duke, The Count and Me; Driving Miss Daisy, Stompin’ at the Savoy and Bandstand Beat. James was featured in South Bay Musical Theatre’s Finian’s Rainbow, Mack and Mabel, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Guys and Dolls, Broadway by the Bay’s Ragtime, and Children’s Musical Theatre’s Ragtime. James is President of Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus, a member of Campbell United Methodist Church, and sings in the Chancel choir.

Hal Schuette (Development/Business Management) Hal is a retired banker and business consultant. He served on the board of Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City for a number of years. A classic car collector and sports car enthusiast, Hal is a member and director of a number of vintage car clubs, and is a board member of the prominent Candy Store car club. Hal served as executive Director of the Palo Alto Concours. He and his wife Becky are enthusiastic patrons of live theater.

Kathy Pedone (Marketing/Audience Development) Kathy was born and raised in the Bay Area and is the Founder and owner of Always at Your Beck and Call, a Company that helps people organize or downsize their living environment. They also handle estate liquidations. Kathy has been volunteering most of her life. She has a passion for cars, charity-based car shows, and concours. Kathy and her husband Steve were long time supporters and volunteers with the Palo Alto and the Hillsborough Concours. Kathy went on to co-chair the Alameda Point Concours and is the Founder and Co-Chair of the Coyote Creek Concours. She loves rescuing animals, attending theatre, and supporting good causes.

Susan Rabin (Artistic Director, Resident Playwright) Susan received B.S. and M.A. degrees in Theater and Broadcasting from Northwestern University. She has taught drama, directed theater, and worked as a radio and television producer. She has practiced entertainment and copyright law in San Francisco and Los Angeles. She is a core member of the Will Dunne Advanced Writing Workshops in San Francisco. Susan performed as an actress and singer, including Mama Rose in GYPSY with the Alameda Civic Light Opera, and singing and touring with “Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks.” Her first musical play, RAINBOW, was staged by the Mill Valley Center for the Performing Arts (later, Marin Theatre Company). Her one-man play, PHILLIE AIN’T NO FOOL was featured at the Oxnard Festival of Short Plays. Susan’s full-length comedies, NOSEJOB and AUNT LAKIE’S NOT COMING TO DINNER performed at San Francisco’s Phoenix Theatre. Her short play, THE RING OF TRUTH was selected for the Short-Lived 2018 Festival in San Francisco. The full-length comedy, JIVE, which Susan directed, performed at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. She has written the book, music, and lyrics for her most recent musical play, MAKS & THE FLYING SMIRNOVS, about a Russian-American family. Susan is the recipient of a Marin Arts Council playwriting grant.

Ann Singer IN MEMORIAM
(Director, Programs & Events/Social Media/Development) Ann had over 20 years’ experience working in the nonprofit sector. Her early professional career included work in the private sector with some of the world’s largest commercial banks, working on complicated credit transactions. She more recently worked as Director of Programs and Events with The Gratitude Network. She was an valuable resource for Windy City Productions Board with solid experience in fund development, event planning and non-profit development, as well as previous Executive Director experience with organizations in significant transition periods. We miss her terribly. Ann is survived by her daughter Alexandra Thanh Ha, adopted from Vietnam as an infant. Alexandra stays connected to Windy City Productions and volunteers at our events.

Lana Tsarikaeva (Audience Development/Research) Lana has a background in international law and business, having earned law degrees in both Russia and the United States She moved from Russia to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2005 and has become a U.S. citizen. She received her Master's degree in Law at Santa Clara University. Lana works as a Realtor – formerly with Sotheby’s and now with Compass. She has successfully garnered a wide and diverse clientele. Her experiences and background coming from Russia provided essential source material and cultural materials for Susan in her writing MAKS & the Flying Smirnovs. Lana will serve as dialect coach when the musical is mounted.