Hillsdale High School Drama

Margaret Marshall (Artistic Director) serves as the Artistic Director of Hillsdale Drama. Her directing credits at Hillsdale include Into the Woods, Cabaret, Clue: On Stage, Shrek the Musical, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 9 to 5: The Musical, and Eurydice. She teaches Advanced, Intermediate, and Intro Drama at Hillsdale High School and also directs productions for both the high school and middle school programs at San Carlos Children’s Theater. Recent directing credits include Something Rotten!, The Prom, Curtains, Mary Poppins, and Newsies.

With more than 20 years of experience as a performer and educator, Ms. Marshall is passionate about creating collaborative, inclusive theater spaces where young artists are empowered to take creative risks, build confidence, and discover the transformative power of storytelling. Under her leadership, Hillsdale Drama emphasizes artistic excellence, student leadership, and meaningful storytelling while providing opportunities for performers and technicians alike.

Jill Jacobs (Choreographer) Jill holds a BFA in musical theatre from CSUF and has worked as a professional actor, choreographer, and director in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Her most recent choreography credits include “Legally Blonde” and “Spring Awakening” (Ray of Light Theatre, San Francisco). She is a full-time English teacher at Hillsdale and is so happy to be involved in Hillsdale’s thriving theatre program as well.

Lisa Bock (Vocal Director) has been a Bay Area Teaching Artist since 2016, directing and vocal directing mainstage plays and school outreach productions like The Lion King and Legally Blond through San Carlos Children’s Theater. She teaches classes, camps and show choirs through SCCT, and volunteers for the school’s elementary drama programs.

Jason Kneebone (Music Director) has been teaching music in Silicon Valley since 2005. As a Bay Area native, he has developed a passion for fusing technology with the arts. Jason earned his Bachelor’s degree in Bass Trombone Performance from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After moving back home to Los Altos, he finished his Music Ed coursework and earned a Teaching Credential from San José State University. Jason served as the Director of Instrumental Music at Mountain View High School from 2007 to 2020 and is now on the Music Team at Tierra Linda Middle School in San Carlos. He moonlights as a media and design consultant, amateur woodworker, plays Bass Trombone with A Touch of Brass Big Band out of San José, and is entering his fourth season as Assistant Conductor for the Peninsula Youth Orchestra.

Mike Galea (Music Director) has been a SMUHSD music teacher for 6 years. After graduating from the UOP with a BA in Jazz Studies, Mike has been an on-call trumpet player for the last 11 years and has had the privilege of working with Stanford University, Ana Gasteyer (SNL), Wayne Bergeron, Peter Erskine, and many others. He has also played trumpet in over 25 musical pit orchestras throughout the Bay.

Tom Stucke (Set and Light Designer) works with Hillsdale’s drama and dance productions. His work has been on display for various styles and sizes of shows at Hillsdale. His work at Hillsdale High School includes the spring dance show Knight Moves (2011- 2023). He has been involved in many Hillsdale drama performances, with the most recent being Shrek the Musical, Clue, 9-5 The Musical, and Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Thaine Sugden (Costumes) with 15+ years in creative direction—directing, stage, and costume design—brings his fashion expertise to Cabaret. Thrilled to collaborate with a supportive team, he’s excited to merge his vision with the show’s iconic aesthetic and bold style.