Elizabeth Santana (Managing Director)
Elizabeth is in her tenth season at Palo Alto Players, and eighth as managing director. She brings decades of experience in both the nonprofit and corporate sector. Prior leadership experience includes positions at Google, Opera San Jose, Children’s Musical Theater San Jose and RWS Entertainment in New York City.
Elizabeth spent five years as a working actress in New York City, performing with regional and summer stock theatres across the country and onboard Crystal Cruiselines as part of the Repertory Theatre at Sea. Locally she has performed with Cabrillo Stage, 42nd Street Moon, City Lights Theatre, CMT Marquee Productions, and received a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle nomination for “leading actress in a musical” for her performance as Sandra Bloom in the West Coast premiere of Big Fish at Palo Alto Players.
Elizabeth is a graduate of San Jose State University with a B.A. in Theatre and Creative Arts and an M.S. in Communications. She lives in San Jose with her husband, Doug and daughter, Madelyn Rose.
Watch Elizabeth’s presentation to the Palo Alto City Council on March 15, 2021 here.
Hear Elizabeth’s interview on the Silicon Valley Community Foundation Philanthropy Now podcast here.