Who we are

We are a group of artists and academics with years of experience producing outdoor Shakespeare and writing to entertain and delight audiences.

Bard in Brevard is a 501c3, nonprofit organization.

Mission

Bard in Brevard engages artists and audiences of all ages through the works of William Shakespeare. By integrating dialogue and themes from multiple plays, we create innovative textual combinations to question and reevaluate Shakespearean language and traditions. Our productions and educational programs inspire new ways to experience and understand Shakespeare and empower people to play a part who might not have the opportunity elsewhere. The stories we convey reflect diverse perspectives, invite conversation, and encourage empathy.

Dr. Veronica Leone Matthews holds a Master of Liberal Arts in English, emphasis in Shakespeare and a Doctor of Education with dissertation research on community partnerships in the arts. She is a graduate of the University of Cambridge Shakespeare Summer School and spent 10 years as a professional actress appearing in regional theater Shakespeare in the Park productions. In 2014, Veronica co-founded St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival in St. Petersburg, FL, a 501c3 non-profit which presents two outdoor Shakespeare productions yearly, as well as staged readings. Serving as Artistic Director, Veronica produced seven seasons of free Shakespeare in the Park productions, promoting access to the arts in downtown St. Petersburg. In 2018, for her work to promote community partnerships around the arts, she received the University of South Florida St. Petersburg Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement. Also in 2018, she was honored with the Individual Artist Award from St. Petersburg Arts Alliance for a collaboration with The Studio@620 on the inaugural Shakespeare in the City production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In 2019, she received the Emerging Artist Award from The Studio@620 for her partnerships with local museums and arts organizations including a lecture on Shakespeare in the American West at the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, a performance and talk on The Two Gentlemen of Verona at Florida CraftArt, the premiere of Hamlett, Snell, and Ella J, a short adaptation of three Shakespeare plays at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, and the ongoing Shakespeare in the City collaboration for which she co-directed with Bob Devin Jones an all-male Taming of the Shrew. Veronica moved to Brevard, NC in 2021 to be near family and works as a writer and editor. She founded Bard in Brevard in 2024.

Abigail S. Arnold is the Creative Producer for Bard in Brevard, where she plays a key role in shaping the artistic vision and production process of the company’s innovative outdoor performances. Her responsibilities include cooperating with directors and designers, supporting new works and script development, and ensuring each production aligns with the company’s mission of accessibility, creativity, and community engagement.

Abigail has lived in Western North Carolina her entire life and is a devoted contributor to live theatre in the area. For over 20 years, she has participated in local productions as a performer, sound designer, technical crew, and teaching assistant, supporting the staging of improv, musicals, and variety shows.

Abigail currently serves as Gallery Manager at the Transylvania Arts Council, where she helps provide a community environment where artists can share knowledge, develop skills, and display their creative work. In addition, she works in Youth Services at the Transylvania County Library, connecting community members with resources and information and providing a nourishing space for local youth to discover and grow.

She is proud to contribute to the distinct cultural landscape of her hometown and especially excited to join Bard in Brevard in creating inclusive spaces where art, education, and community meet.

Production Manager
Eric Young
He/Him

Eric Young has been passionate about live theater since childhood. After retiring to the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains five years ago, he made Brevard his home. While nature remains his first love, theater has always held a close second place in his heart. Prior to his move, Eric spent 23 years as Program Director at Sweetbriar Nature Center, a small but vibrant environmental education facility on Long Island, New York.

His first experience on stage came in 1979, during his senior year of high school, in a production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. After a two-decade hiatus, he returned to the stage at the age of 40, reigniting his passion for performance.

Soon after, Eric and a group of fellow actors—who had met during a production of Oliver!—formed their own theater company. Eric served as the group’s leader for over a decade, guiding productions ranging from simulated radio plays to full-scale comedies and dramas. He was deeply involved in nearly every aspect of the creative process, from direction to performance.

Now, Eric is thrilled to be part of the effort to bring live theater to Brevard. He was proud to perform in Bard in Brevard’s inaugural production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and is honored to collaborate with director Veronica Matthews and a dedicated team of artists to help grow this exciting new chapter in the local arts community.

Dramaturg
Jillian Stewart 
She/Her

Jillian Stewart hails from the culturally rich twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Her passion for theater began at the age of seven, when her mother enrolled her in drama classes and introduced her to a wide variety of local productions. In secondary school, she studied under an inspiring drama teacher whose mentorship deepened her love for the art form and encouraged her curiosity about storytelling.

Her fascination with Shakespeare was first sparked in English Literature class while studying Macbeth. Choosing the witches as her audition piece, Jillian soon joined Masquers, her school’s theater group, where she explored both performance and backstage work. From set design and historical costume research to performing roles such as a priest in Joan of Arc and a ghoul in Scrooge, she developed a keen appreciation for the craft, collaboration, and intimacy of live theater.

After moving to Brevard, Jillian performed in the community’s first Shakespeare in the Park production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Now, as Bard in Brevard’s dramaturg, she brings her lifelong passion and research-driven approach to supporting the creative team. She is dedicated to illuminating the poetry, history, and meaning of Shakespeare’s works, ensuring they resonate deeply with both cast and audience in the unique setting of Brevard’s outdoor spaces.

Above all, Jillian hopes to inspire audiences to share her belief that live theater—where every performance is one-of-a-kind—is “truly pure art.”

Media and Technical Designer
Bailey Rothe
He/Him

Bailey Rothe is an avid media producer and musician with a lifelong passion for the arts. Drawn to creative expression and performance since the age of four, he has spent the past 19 years immersed in music and the last four years building a strong career in media production.

As the founder of The Artsy Lens, he brings artistry and technical skill together to tell meaningful stories through film, photography, and sound. His work has supported projects across the Transylvania County School System and now extends to Bard in Brevard, where he contributes his creative vision to capturing and sharing the magic of live theater with the community.