Meet the Directors
The artists bringing our inaugural season to life.
Todd Olson - Guest Artist
Playwright/Director, Dickie’s Got His Hands Full
Nationally recognized playwright and director. Leader in new work and regional theatre.
Todd Olson is a nationally recognized playwright, director, and arts leader whose work has been produced and developed at major regional theatres across the United States. He is the co-creator of My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra and the creator of I Left My Heart: A Musical Tribute to the Songbook of Tony Bennett—two of the most widely produced and enduring musical revues of the past quarter century.
He has served as Producing Artistic Director of American Stage Theatre Company and Associate Artistic Director of Tennessee Repertory Theatre, where he led large-scale programming, new work development, and institutional growth. His leadership has helped shape nationally recognized theatre programs and expand audiences for both classic and contemporary work.
As a director, his credits include world premieres such as Casa Blue: The Last Moments in the Life of Frida Kahlo and War of the Worlds, as well as acclaimed productions of Doubt, Anna in the Tropics, I Am My Own Wife, and Hamlet.
A dynamic storyteller with a gift for blending theatricality with emotional depth, Todd brings his distinctive voice to Sonoran Repertory Theatre’s inaugural season with Dickie’s Got His Hands Full.
Wes Martin - Founder
Director, Medea: Redacted
Champion of reimagined classical theatre for over 30 years.
Wes Martin is the Founder and Executive Director of Sonoran Repertory Theatre and a veteran director, producer, and playwright with more than three decades of experience in the Phoenix theatre community. He previously co-founded The Shakespeare Theatre in Phoenix and Off-Center Productions, helping to establish a sustained presence for classical and contemporary work in the Valley.
As a director, his work includes Award-winning productions of The Life and Death of King Richard III, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Henry V, and Titus Andronicus, as well as Copenhagen and Marat/Sade, reflecting a career dedicated to bold, text-driven storytelling. A champion of reimagined classics, Wes focuses on blending traditional theatre with modern staging and multimedia elements.
His original adaptation, Medea: Redacted, continues that vision—bringing a timeless tragedy into a contemporary political and psychological landscape.
Tim Shawver
Director, Much Ado About Nothing
Award-winning director. Master of bold, character-driven storytelling.
Tim Shawver is an award-winning Phoenix-based director and actor whose work spans more than 125 productions across many of the Valley’s leading theatre companies, including The Phoenix Theatre Company, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Southwest Shakespeare Company, and Childsplay. He has also served as Artistic Associate with Nearly Naked Theatre.
A multiple AriZoni Award recipient, Tim has directed a wide range of acclaimed productions, including The Rocky Horror Show, Torch Song Trilogy, and Times Square Angel, and is known for his ability to balance theatricality with deeply grounded, character-driven performances.
With Much Ado About Nothing, Tim brings his signature blend of wit, clarity, and emotional truth to one of Shakespeare’s most enduring comedies.