About the Founders

Elizabeth Nearing is a graduate of the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program in Arlington, Virginia, where she worked extensively in the theatre department. During her time at H-B Woodlawn Nearing directed Shakespeare's Macbeth, Diana Son's Stop Kiss and A.R. Gurney's The Dining Room. As the Creative Director of the Woodlawn theatre program for her senior year she oversaw many production aspects of the season. With Empty Chair, Nearing directed Richard III and Measure for Measure and co-directed The Shakespeare Showcase. She trained with the American Shakespeare Center, and took part in the High School Fellowship Program at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Nearing now attends Carnegie Mellon University and is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing. In the coming season, Nearing is directing "Miscalled Simplicity" in the benefit series and a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Julia Sears graduated from the Emerson Preparatory Institute in Washington, DC. She now attends the University of Washington pursuing her double major in English and Theatre. She has worked in the Washington, DC theatre community for several years, training with Classika Theatre, Synetic Theatre, The Studio Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, The American Shakespeare Center and The Folger Shakespeare Library. In 2008 she worked as an artistic intern at the Shakespeare Theatre Company, took part in a fellowship at the Folger Shakespeare Library and completed an internship in education with the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival. She has worked in many different aspect of production and intends to pursue a career in acting.