Victoria Amara is the President of the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival. In addition to extensive volunteering behind the scenes at HSF (and other theatres around town), she has appeared in The Tempest (Stephano, 2019), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania, 2016), Dromio and Juliet (Luciana Capulet, 2015), Temper, Temper, Tempest (Prospero il Magnifico / Sebastiano, 2015), King Lear (Cordelia, 2014), Taming of the Shrew (Grumio, 2014), Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry, 2014) and Timon of Athens, (Flavius, 2013).
Jordan Clara ‘Ihilani Cho (she/her) is a Kanaka Maoli director, actor, and storyteller originally from Ko‘olaupoko, O‘ahu, currently residing in Honouliuli, Ewa, O‘ahu. She has served as the Associate Artistic Director for the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival since 2022. ‘Ihilani earned her BFA in Theatre Performance from Florida International University in 2013 and has been involved in O‘ahu’s theatre scene and HSF for over a decade. Her directorial accomplishments include productions such as Romeo & Juliet (2022, Hawaii Shakespeare Festival), The Tempest (2019, Hawaii Shakespeare Festival), and Lifeboat (2018, Hawaii Opera Theatre). A few of her favorite Shakespearean roles are Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing and Cornwall in King Lear. As an artist, ‘Ihilani aims to elevate stories of Indigenous and queer perspectives, empowering her community through storytelling.
Matthew Chang has recently been appointed as Treasurer on the Board of the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival. Holding a BA in Theatre and an Executive MBA from the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa, Matthew brings a wealth of experience to the role. He also has experience as professional stage manager and local actor and is PMP certified. He is active in the vibrant Hawaii theatre community with a strong background in both the artistic and administrative sides of theatre. Matthew is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the Festival’s mission and vision in the coming years.
Desiree serves as the Secretary of the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival’s Board of Directors and provides administrative support with the Volunteer Committee.
She was born and raised in Ewa Beach and has worked in the nonprofit community for nine years. After receiving a BA in Business Administration from the University of Hawai‘i —West Oahu, she served as a Quality Coordinator in HMSA’s Complex Case Management Program.
Desiree has developed a strong sense of devotion for the nonprofit sector after she supported community health facilities during the COVID19 pandemic by ensuring patients receive medically necessary quality care that followed national standards and regulations.
Tony Pisculli is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival. He holds an MFA in Theatre (Directing) from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
He is know for his “experimental” productions, including the all-woman Two Gentlemen of Verona (considered daring at the time, now a regular occurrence); the single-evening Henry VI trilogy; the Original Staging Practices Rep, Lear/Shrew/Much Ado; the Commedia Rep, Dromio and Juliet and Temper, Temper, Tempest and his “invented language” Midsummer.
Tony is also a Master Instructor with Dueling Arts International and has won multiple HSTC Awards for Excellence for Directing and Fight Choreography.