142 Throckmorton Taps Hess as Youth Director

On the heels of a string of successful Bay Area theatrical performances, including a critically acclaimed turn as God in Jerry Springer: The Opera in San Francisco, Mill Valley resident Steven Hess has been tapped to take over the youth programs at .

Hess had been running the summer camp for , the Throckmorton’s vaunted youth production division, and served as the director of , Sound of Music and A Storybook Christmas. He also was heavily involved in MYP’s production of last month.

“We are very excited to have Steven join our team and feel his background in theater will be a great asset to our youth programs,” 142 Throckmorton Executive Director Lucy Mercer said.  

Hess studied acting in New York City at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and taught acting and directed major productions at Wagner College in Staten Island. With his wife Bidalia, Hess founded 23 Elephants Theatre Company, for which he directed Othello and Marisol, among others.

In addition to his role in as Dwight and God in Jerry Springer, for which he was nominated for a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle award, Hess’ recent Bay Area performances include Mr. Bumble in Berkeley Playhouse’s production of Oliver! and the Proprietor in Ray of Light Theatre Company’s Assassins.

Hess replaces Adam Saville, who launched Marin Youth Performers in September 2008 with the successful production of Willy Wonka Jr. Saville recently joined the 142 Throckmorton board of directors.