Santa Barbara native, Cabrillo High grad is familiar with theater as a staff member and patron
The new executive director of Solvang Theaterfest is Chantel Green, its former assistant director. She has been working for Solvang Theaterfest for the past three years and is well acquainted with the inner workings of the organization.
Born in Santa Barbara and raised in Lompoc, Green attended Cabrillo High School and became deeply involved in sports, playing soccer, was on varsity track and enjoyed choir and drama. She attended Santa Barbara City College for two years then moved on to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she graduated with a degree in restaurant resort management with a minor in business.
“I had a great childhood,” said Green. “I grew up camping at local beaches every summer, and played a lot of sports. My parents were both teachers; my dad taught history at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School for 35 years, and my mom was a kindergarten teacher in Lompoc who mainly taught English as a second language (ESL) classes for low-income students. Sadly, she passed away last year. She was originally from Chile and immigrated to the United States to escape from the socialist/communist political party in power at the time. I am fortunate to still have many relatives in Chile and have been able to visit them throughout the course of my life.”
After college Green moved back home to Lompoc.
“After graduating, I worked for Terravant Restaurant, first as wine club manager and house manager for four years andthen went to the corporate offices in Buellton and worked as an executive assistant, transitioning into sales, marketing, and production management where I worked for 11 years,” said Green. “When Terravant was sold, the new owners from back east didn’t see eye to eye with those of us who had been running the business for years, so we parted ways. That’s when I started working at Theaterfest.”
Green cites work ethic as one of her strongest traits.
“I’ve always been a self-starter,” she said. “If something needs to get done, I’m the one who always says, ’I’ll do it.’ That’s the way I’ve always been. To quote the old adage, ‘If you want something done, ask a busy person,’ and I seem to have always been the busiest person.
“When I was in school in Colorado I worked at the Fort Collins Marriott Hotel and was in charge of organizing and preparing for the banquets that were daily events. It was a very hectic environment, which required being on my toes and in charge of most of the details. If a cake needed cutting, I would cut the cake — whatever I saw that needed to be done, I was on top of it. It’s just part of my nature, I guess, and I love entertaining.”
Green recalls as a youth attending many of the plays that PCPA staged at Theaterfest.
“My parents were always big supporters of the arts,” she said. “I remember dressing up and coming into Solvang to Theaterfest to watch so many plays. I can truly say that never once when entering Theaterfest did I ever think that one day I would be running it.”
However, Green emphasizes that running Theaterfest is a family affair. Her family is very involved in helping her to accomplish all that needs to be done. Her father is a Theaterfest sponsor and does everything from pouring drinks to grilling hot dogs. Her husband, Casey Birthisel, her partner of 18 years, and daughter Cali, 10, also volunteer their time and help her with whatever needs to be done. “They are always there for me,” she said.
After her recent promotion, Green is putting together a performers’ lineup for next year.
“I am excited to put together my own 2025 season productions for Theaterfest, which will include the Queen cover band sometime next year and I have a lot of other exciting ideas that I hope will come to life,” she said. “One is ‘Movie Night’ at Solvang Theaterfest where we will be showing some cult movie classics like ‘The Princess Bride,’ among others. This year we are also going to do a Theaterfestival where the street in front of the theater will be closed to accommodate street vendors, games, jugglers — a really big event we hope to do on an annual basis.”
Ashley Esdaile will be taking over Green’s former position as the new assistant director of Solvang Theaterfest. She has been with Theaterfest for a year working as a bookkeeper. Green said that Esdaile is very versatile and eager to help with all the events. She does a lot of the ticketing set-up and processing, and marketing.
“We work well together and as a team we hope to make this theater an ongoing success and to incorporate new energy into the mix,” she said.
“We are always looking for people to join our volunteer program with the added benefit of seeing some great shows,” said Green. “If you’re interested, just give us a call.”
For more information, visit solvangtheaterfest.org or call (805) 686-1789 or info@solvangtheaterfest.org.
