AITC Leadership
Cindy Giese French
Artistic Director
Cindy has acted, written, directed and produced theatre and film in the Seattle area for decades. Though she started acting in elementary, her love of theatre blossomed in Hjalmer Anderson’s drama class at Inglemoor High School. She continued her studies at Washington State University, where she earned the distinction of being an Irene Ryan Finalist. Cindy has performed throughout theatres in Seattle and the Northend such as Edmonds Driftwood Players, The Phoenix Theater, Woodinville Repertory, Annex Theater and most recently Lamplight Productions, where she played Ruella in Communicating Doors. Some of her favorite roles include Sonia from Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Clown 2 in The 39 Steps, and Berthe in Boeing Boeing – winner of 2015 BroadwayWorld Seattle – Best Featured Actress in a Play (Local). Cindy has also written, directed and/or produced many plays, songs and musicals. Just Go!, the first musical she wrote and produced, was listed in the “Best of ’97” section by The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Married to William, her wonderful husband, they have a combined family of 5 children, 2 cats, and a beautiful black lab/border collie. She spends her free time swimming, hiking at St Edwards, golfing, crafting, traveling and seeing lots of theatre. She also ropes her family into creating short films, both stop-motion animation and live action.
For the last 18 years she has worked her “day job” as a Real Estate Broker for Coldwell Banker Bain. She believes that finding the perfect house is like a wonderful treasure hunt and having people happy in their home is the prize. Yes, it’s corny, but it’s true.
Presented with the opportunity to bring her passion to her hometown, with two of the fiercest people she knows, she jumped at the chance. “As If opens up worlds of possibility. What will we do? Who will we meet? What ideas can we explore? Who can we positively affect? Who can we inspire? And who will inspire us? I’m ready to find out!”
Amy Gentry
Managing Director
After receiving a BFA in Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University, Amy moved to New York City where she promoted Broadway shows to the travel industry, and worked at the Broadway advertising agency, Serino Coyne. Continuing her career in theatrical marketing, Amy stepped into lead marketing for the Family Tours division of Broadway Across America. For ten years, she created all materials, promotions, and marketing guidelines for several tours with Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers, Mattel, and Dreamworks. Additional work in the touring entertainment industry included Harlem Globetrotters, America’s Got Talent Live, and the Jillian Michaels tour.
Amy was Managing Director at Edmonds Driftwood Players for a year before moving to ACT Theatre where she celebrates contemporary theatre and the conversations it starts. It’s work she finds fulfilling and challenging. She also lends a marketing hand to the Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds.
After a 20-year hiatus from acting, Amy is thrilled to be back on stage. Most recently she was seen in God of Carnage as Annette at Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds, and as Cassandra in Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike with Lamplight Productions. Amy also performed in the 2017 Seattle Fringe Festival, and Seattle 48-Hour Film Festival. Favorite early roles include Babe in Crimes of the Heart, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Amy in Company, Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Sister Marguerite in Red Noses, and Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense (with Pat Carroll).
In her time away from theatre, Amy focuses on her family of five with a healthy helping of “mom duties,” loads of fun, and never-dull moments. She loves “down time” with her concert-promoter husband, which might involve stand-up comedy, a concert, or family movie night piled on the couch with their three kids.
Using her experience in the business side of theatre to help create this company with two women who continually amaze and inspire is a dream come true. Amy is excited to bring meaningful productions to the Kenmore neighborhood, and to watch the arts community take hold there.
Molly Hall
Engagement Director
Molly has been a theatre artist for over 25 years as an actor, choreographer, theatre educator, and writer. She has performed with Seattle Repertory Theatre, Freehold Theatre Lab, Belltown Theatre Center, Montana Shakespeare in the Schools, Driftwood Players Theatre, Kitsap Forest Theater, Red Rover Theatre Co., Lamplight Productions, and many others. Her favorite recent roles include Masha in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike for Lamplight Productions, and Lotty in Enchanted April for Edmonds Driftwood Players. She is featured in the film Daredevil as well as in several other commercial/film productions. She has choreographed many shows for local theatres including Tuck Everlasting, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, and Shrek. She is thrilled to be creating dances for her dream show, Mamma Mia this summer with the Kitsap Forest Theater. By day Molly is a children’s drama and dance teacher at an independent K-5 school. She adores sharing her love of theatre and movement with the next generation of creative artists. Molly has an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of Washington’s Professional Actor Training Program. She also trained as a drama educator with Seattle Children’s Theatre and taught there for many years. Molly’s most important and favorite job is being mom to Sadie and Charlie, her brilliant, theatrical, musical children, and wife to Jason, her sprightly, hilarious, terribly talented actor husband.
She is ignited and inspired about bringing professional theatre to this part of our region with this brilliant team of women. She looks forward to connecting with both artists and audience members and talking about the magic of theatre and the possibilities for weaving this company into the heart of the community.