Vanessa Schneider (Pre-Show Musical Director) trained in theatre and music at the University of Surrey and The Poor School drama school where she won a distinction in her Acting Diploma. She has worked at various theatres all over the UK including The Belgrade, Coventry, Forest Forge in The New Forest and The Royal National Theatre, London. She trained in voice and education work also and has very much enjoyed working with training actors at various drama and stage schools as well as at Shakespeare's Reconstructed Globe Theatre on London's South Bank. Since moving to San Diego 18 months ago, Vanessa became immediately active in the San Diego Shakespeare Society and is proud to be their Artistic Director. Her first role in the US was in the SDSS/Coronado Playhouse joint staged reading of Richard III and so she is happy to be working with her Coronado friends once more. Favorite roles include Rosalind in As You Like It, Helena in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Iago in Othello, Muriel in Habeus Corpus and Mary Brenham in Our Country's Good. She is also an experienced cabaret performer having sung at a number of lovely venues in London such as The Canal Cafe and The Theatre Museum.