Artistic Director, Instructor

Christine Mani has been directing, choreographing, producing, and performing in the Bay Area for over three decades, working with a myriad of theatre groups. Christine got her Masters in Theatre Arts from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, alongside the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, but originally started her career in theatre at Solano Community College. Christine has been awarded over 30 theatre awards, including awards for direction, design and performance. For 16 years she ran the theatre department at Benicia High School, and also started their Dance department. Since 2016 she has been working full time running the theatre department at Solano College to make it a powerhouse of theatre adventures both on and off the stage.

christine.mani@solano.edu

Instructor, Director

JanLee joined the Solano College Theatre family in 2018 as an adjunct instructor. She regularly teaches Intro to Theatre, Diversity in Theatre, Theatre History, and sometimes Stage Makeup (for which her education from the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Clown College comes in handy!).

With over 35 director credits to her name, she regularly directs both at SCT and at B8 Theatre Company, where she is the Artistic Director, in Martinez, CA. She earned her bachelor's degree in theatre from Ohio Wesleyan University, and her MFA in Dramatic Arts from UC Davis. JanLee loves to collaborate with theatre artists who believe that theatre can change the world.

"Let us support one another and make theatre that draws us to listen with heightened attention and respond in mind, body and spirit as theatre makers and audience." - JanLee Marshall

Production Technician

Craig has been involved in theatre in the Fairfield area for over 20 years as a technician and lighting designer and now works for SCC as the Theatre Production Technician. His past shows with SCT include Little Shop of Horrors and Peter and the Starcatcher. Other past shows include lighting design for Spelling Bee, Man of La Mancha, Chess in Concert, Les Misérables, Peter Pan (MST), and Lend Me a Tenor (FCT).

Director of Marketing and Audience Services

Dagmar has been working in and around the theatre since 2012, when she costumed her first show, The Imaginary Invalid. Since then, she has gone on to win multiple Arty Awards and support marketing for dozens of performances. Nowadays, you’ll find her behind a camera, writing a press release, designing a show logo, or singing the greatest hits from the ‘90s and ‘00s (from the comfort of her office.)

dagmar.kuta@solano.edu

Senior Stagehand

After transferring from SCC, Trish graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in theatrical design with a focus in set design. In addition to stagehand work, Trish also works as a set designer, carpenter, welder, and scenic painter for many local theatres, including work for IATSE Local 16. Their past design work includes The Foreigner and Alice by Heart (BAS), Pinned Butterfly (SCT), Seagull (Design Assistant - UCSB), and Macbeth (SCT). 

Vocal Instructor

Michael Reilly is currently on the music faculty at SCC and teaches music theory, voice and choir. His love of theater began at an early age and has appeared in Chicago regional theater in shows like Hello Dolly!, Titanic, and Crazy for You, where The Chicago Tribune called him a “standout performer." As a music director and conductor, he has worked on Anything Goes (SCT), Annie, Jr., The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Wild Party, and Wind in the Willows, for which he also wrote the music and is published by YouthPlays. As a conductor, he has worked with the Grammy-award-winning San Francisco Boys Chorus and the Queer Chorus of San Francisco (winner of 2020 Bestie Award for Best Choral Group).

Music Instructor

bio

Professor Dance, Kinesiology and Health Education

Director of Dance Production

Ginger Cain has been teaching in the classroom for over 35 years. She has been a full-time professor at Solano Community College since 2001. She has directed many dance production concerts at Solano College and College of San Mateo. She and her students from years past were invited to participate in dance concerts at Diablo Valley College, Contra Costa College and most recently at Santa Rosa Junior College for their 2nd Annual Dance Festival in December of 2023. Ginger’s former Hip Hop performance dance group “Synergy” performed outside the school for five years. This group was invited to perform “Mission in The Mix,” with Micaya and others. In February of 2024 Ginger arranged for several Solano students to participate in the California Dance Education Association State Dance Conference that was held at Cal State East Bay. 

Ginger wrote the AA Dance Degree at Solano in 2018 she has been involved in bringing dance companies, other Community College dance programs, guest artists, Solano dance alumni and musicians both professional, non-professional to the college for campus events and master classes for years now. She partnered with ODC in 2018 and brought the company to the campus for master low tech performances for Solano students and the community. She has brought many styles and genres of dance to the campus such as Baile Folklorico, West African, Tahitian, Hip Hop, Hula, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet and much more. In July of 2024, Ginger was approved and selected for a CTA Institute of Teaching grant and will be the project coordinator for a small dance festival to be held at Solano College, “Dance, Create and Collaborate,” that will occur in May of 2025. 

Ginger’s education includes a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts and a M.A in Physical Education, Recreation, and Health from Saint Mary's College. She has been a guest choreographer at Santa Rosa Junior College, Diablo Valley College and Contra Costa College. She is a member of California Dance Education Association (CDEA), the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and California Community College Physical Education, Kinesiology, Dance (CCCPEKD). 

She has a lifetime teaching credential in Dance from the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Ginger’s teaching, choreography and directing experience includes many years at the University of San Francisco, Stanford University, College of Norte Dame, College of San Mateo, Canada College, recreation centers, fitness studios and dance studios. She has performed professionally in many genres of dance and has had many performance opportunities to dance the works of many famous dance choreographers such as Donald McKayle, Bill Evans, Loretta Livingston, Blanche Brown, Angie Bunch, Krissy Keefer, Tandy Beal, and others. One of her favorite experiences was being a dancer in the Boulder Jazz Company, San Jose Civic Light Opera and Peninsula Civic light Opera. She continues to update her dance training and attends National 

conferences and online classes with National Dance Educator Organization (NDEO) as well as State Dance conferences and online classes with California Dance Education Association (CDEA).