Jeff Zavattero is humbled, honored, and elated to be the Library & Recreation Coordinator for Pleasanton Youth Theatre Company and the vibrant arts programming here in Pleasanton. Jeff moved to Pleasanton at the age of nine, and was introduced to Pleasanton programming when he was nine years old, playing baseball with Pleasanton Little League, basketball with PYB, and flag football with PJFL before finding his passion in theatre in 2012. He has called this program home since 2013 when he first began teaching here – and it has been his great joy to be a part of this program’s incredible growth over the last decade. Jeff has his AA in Theatre from Las Positas College, where he had the great joy of enhancing his performance skills in several shows and found his passion for directing. Outside of theatre, Jeff has a strong affinity for digital design and is an avid video game-lover. He looks forward to continuing to share his deep love for the arts with the youth in his hometown.

Denise McGrory was born and raised in the Bay Area.  She studied with the American Conservatory Theatre’s Young Conservatory from 1981 thru 1985 and performed on the Geary Stage in A Christmas Treat.  Denise worked with Children’s Theatre Workshop from 1984 to 1989 as an actor, instructor, writer, stage manager, props manager and set assistant.  She really enjoyed performing in CTW’s touring shows “The Arkansas Bear” and “The Nightingale”.  She has performed in many theater productions and in the MTV music video “Girl Like You” by the Units.  Denise was employed with Farmer’s Insurance and Providian before she began working at the Firehouse Arts Center as the Box Office Assistant in the fall of 2013.  She is proud to be an employee of the FAC and enjoys working with her fellow staff members to bring quality entertainment to our Tri Valley Community.

Sydney Tang is an art history and visual culture scholar based in the United States and Japan. Graduating from Sophia University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts with a BA in History and Political Science, her research is focused upon the shaping of contemporary East Asian art by the region’s political climate. ​ Upon the completion of her undergraduate degree, Tang worked in the Japanese art industry before returning to the United States to pursue her graduate studies. Completing her MA in Art and Public Policy from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, her ongoing work expands upon her experience with postwar East Asian politics and art. She has been at the Firehouse Arts Center’s Harrington Gallery since November 2021.