STAFF
Ben Donenberg Founder and Artistic Director
Ben Donenberg is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA). As a director of populist interpretations of Shakespeare, Ben has built a reputation of creating excellent, accessible productions that are underscored by the canons of modern songwriters and recording artists. His production of Much Ado About Nothing at Center Theatre Group starred Helen Hunt and Tom Irwin and featured Lyle Lovett in the role of the musician Balthasar. The production was supported by progressive bluegrass singers and songwriters Sean and Sara Watkins. Other Shakespearian productions include two productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. One featured Natalie Cole and Obba Babatunde singing Nat King Cole jazz standards with text performed by Tom Hanks, William Shatner, Tracey Ullman, Geoffrey Rush, Christina Applegate, Rita Wilson, Zack Braff, and Kate Hudson (2006, SCLA). Ben directed the other for a Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 1999 Fall Gala at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Conducted by Esa Peka Salonen, it featured Mendelssohn’s Incidental Music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and was supported by voices from the Los Angeles Opera and Los Angeles Master Chorale with text performed by Alfre Woodard, David Ogden Stiers, and Peter MacNichols. Other actors and recording stars who have performed in Ben’s annual staging of Shakespeare include Sir Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Kenneth Branagh, Will Smith, Steve Martin, Cedric the Entertainer, Dule Hill, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Martin Short, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Ewan MacGregor, Jack Browne, Tracy Ullman, and Eric Idle.
Ben’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor at UCLA’s Royce Hall featured the songs of Hank Williams performed by Reba McEntire with text performed by Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hanks, Tracey Ullman, Rita Wilson, Martin Short, and William Shatner, who played Falstaff. His presentation of As You Like It also featured Lyle Lovett, this time singing the music of Pete Seeger with text performed by Sir Anthony Hopkins, Benjamin Bratt, and Carla Gugino. Ben’s Twelfth Night featured Peter Gallagher singing Gershwin and his The Two Gentlemen of Veronafeatured music by The Beatles. Ben has also directed more traditional outdoor and site-specific Shakespeare plays for SCLA that have toured to venues throughout Los Angeles County, including Union Station, Pershing Square, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, and the South Coast Botanic Garden.
Ben has received local awards and national recognition from Actors’ Equity Association, NAACP, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, California Educational Theatre Association, and the Mayor of Los Angeles. His 2006 six-year Presidential appointment to the National Council on the Arts was unanimously approved by the United States Senate. In 2012, Ben was selected by the U.S. Secretary of Defense to participate in the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Civilian Orientation Conference. He has lectured on theatre aesthetics at University of Southern California, and at the Huntington Library and SCLA’s award-winning Will Power teacher training seminars. Ben received his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from University of Southern California and is a graduate of The Juilliard School’s Drama Division.
Amanda Susskind photo by Brian Hashimoto
AMANDA SUSSKIND
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Amanda Susskind joined Shakespeare Center Los Angeles as managing director in February 2024, bringing a life-long commitment to the arts and particularly to youth education and empowerment through community engagement and arts.
Before joining SCLA, Amanda served for three years as president of Teach Democracy (formerly “Constitutional Rights Foundation”), the state’s leading non-profit for inspiring lifelong civic engagement through interactive K-12 programs for teachers and youth. Under her leadership, the organization adopted a strategic plan to expand external and media relations, update systems and equipment, and increase the efficacy and reach of programs. Among the immediate impacts of the plan, Teach Democracy nearly doubled the percentage of women and people of color on its board, created a dynamic year-round marketing and fundraising campaign, and created new and reorganized staff positions.
Before joining Teach Democracy, Amanda served for 18 years as the L.A. Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League where she oversaw a civil rights agenda encompassing anti-bias education and bullying prevention programs, Holocaust education, hate crime victim assistance, and advocacy for constitutional rights. She also conceived and convened LA For Good, a coalition of community leaders standing together to fight hate and create a more unified Los Angeles.
Prior to ADL, Amanda specialized in public and environmental law as a partner at Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava & MacCuish and, before that, a shareholder at Richards, Watson & Gershon. She earned a JD from Hastings College of the Law and a BS in Mathematics from Stanford University. Ms. Susskind plays the violin with the Culver City Symphony Orchestra.
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Bio coming soon!
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Joel Settles joined The Shakespeare Center Los Angeles as Director of Development in April of 2024. He brings over 15 years of experience as a nonprofit arts administrator to the SCLA along with a passion for theatre arts and a commitment to public service. He began his career as a teaching artist working with youth and adults in community based arts programs in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas. From 2006 - 2018 he led a variety of arts education and performing arts initiatives with the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, SAY Si youth arts organization, and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. As his career progressed, he began to transition to the development side of the field, applying his experiences in program management and community outreach to nonprofit fundraising. In 2019, he relocated to Los Angeles and began working with regional organizations as a grant manager and development consultant in the areas of youth development, domestic violence services, and museums. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and in his free time he enjoys writing and performing his original music around the city.
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Marina Oliva is a graphic designer, stage manager, and producer. Marina was introduced to the company in 1999 through the Will Power to Youth Program as a participant; she made her debut in the production of Hamlet. In 2001, Marina was asked to join the Shakespeare Center family as the Program Associate where she assisted the Youth & Education Department. Now with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Marina is the Shakespeare & Social Justice Program Director for The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles.