Our Board

Kim Macri, co-Chair

Operations & Property Manager for Bleu Nest and an active member of CST’s Governance and Recruitment Committee. She is a SAG/AEA member, a USTA Tennis Captain in Westchester, NY, and has been Special Event Fundraising Chair at Green Meadow Waldorf School.  She has been on the board for five years.

kate bieger, secretary

Psychologist with a private practice in women’s mental health. Kate is a member of the Governance/Recruitment Committee for CST, and volunteers in a lead management role at a local church in Sparkill, NY. She has been on the board for five years.

nora zimbler

Psychotherapist working with teens and adults in Brooklyn and Rockland County. Nora is an active member of the South Orangetown Diversity, Equity and Inclusion group. She has been on the board for one year, serving on the Development Committee.

Laura Appelbaum

Music and performing arts educator for 25 years in the South Bronx, East Harlem and currently East Ramapo Schools in Spring Valley, NY. As a graduate student at Teachers College she taught in their Creative Arts Lab and for DreamYards arts and social justice organization and the Multicultural Music Group, Inc. She is a NYS state certified music teacher and has been on the board for one year.

Ryan king

Ryan King is a screenwriter, playwright, and actor. His film Black Flies premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, starring Sean Penn and Tye Sheridan, after being selected for the 2018 Black List of Hollywood’s favorite unproduced screenplays. That film, released earlier this year as Asphalt City, is now streaming, as is his thriller The Tutor. As an actor, he most recently appeared at The Public Theater in Abe Koogler’s Deep Blue Sound. He is thrilled to have recently joined CST's board. 

Rachel Bobrow, Co-Chair

Director of Admissions at Blue Rock School. She previously served as Project Manager at Prutting & Co. and has also served on the board of the Ramapo Community Nursery School. She has been on the CST board for two years, serving on the Finance Committee.

Michelle Paolillo, treasurer

SVP, Head of Digital Content at Siemens Healthineers. She previously served as a founding member of Rockland United and co-president of the Oratamin Community Pool. She is active in the Nyack NAACP and the Nyack school community. She has been on the board for six months and serves on the Governance/Recruitment Committee.

jessica wahlstrom

Public Health Program Planner and Director. She is also a writer, a certified career advisor, and has served in leadership positions at Public Health Association of NYC, Nyack Center, and the Marydell Center. She has been on the CST board for almost a year, serving on the Governance/Recruitment Committee.

Lauren benjamin

Lauren Thogersen Benjamin brings over 20 years of experience in education to the Children’s Shakespeare Theater Board. She teaches English in Bedford Central School District and serves on the board of the Bedford Staff Development Center. A resident of Nyack, she is a longtime advocate for literacy, storytelling, and the arts and is a member of the vocal ensemble Collective Accord. She is excited to support CST’s mission of bringing Shakespeare to young performers.

Richard skipper

Richard Skipper is an award-winning entertainer, producer, and celebrated host who has captivated audiences across theatre, cabaret, and beyond. Richard is a sought-after speaker, emcee, and arts advocate, fostering meaningful conversations about the power of theater and community. Whether on stage or behind the mic, he continues to entertain, inspire, and celebrate the magic of live performance. For more information, visit RichardSkipper.com.