Mike Ryan first came to Santa Cruz in 1997 as an actor at Shakespeare Santa Cruz. That season launched a long career with SSC; he appeared in over 35 productions with the company before it was closed at the end of 2013. Along with Marco Barricelli and the Shakespeare Play On Board of Directors, he founded Santa Cruz Shakespeare in early 2014 and served as Co-Artistic Director for the new non-profit theatre company in its inaugural year before taking over as sole Artistic Director at the end of that season. Since that time, he has, with the astonishing support of the Santa Cruz Community, led the company to its new home in DeLaveaga Park, and produced eight critically acclaimed seasons.  In response to the pandemic in 2020, Mike and Professor Sean Keilen, Director of UCSC’s Shakespeare Workshop, created Undiscovered Shakespeare, now in its third season.  He continues to act with the festival and has most recently been seen in RII, The Thirty Nine Steps, Romeo & Juliet, and The Comedy of Errors, among other productions.  He has worked at theatres throughout the country including the American Conservatory Theatre, The Denver Theatre Center, The La Jolla Playhouse, GeVa Theatre Center, The Aurora Theatre Company, and many more. Mr. Ryan holds a BFA from Southern Methodist University, where he was a National Merit Scholar, and an MFA from UCSD.