Photo: Lauren Yarbrough, Oracle’s incoming managing director.

Oracle Productions announced that Company Member Lauren Yarbrough has been named their new Managing Director, and Artistic Producer Tony Santiago has been promoted to the role of Associate Artistic Director.

Yarbrough began working with Oracle in 2014, and has served as production manager for several productions. She became a company member earlier this year. Oracle promotes “public access” theater, essentially free theater supported by the patrons and the community. Yarbrough says “one of my biggest goals is to continue to stretch our understanding of what we mean by Public Access, and what responsibilities that leaves us. What public are we truly serving? To whom are we really, actively accessible?” Recently appointed Artistic Director Vanessa Stalling notes “Lauren has been a champion of several of Oracle’s recent endeavors, and it’s exciting to have her taking on a larger leadership role at the company.”

Tony Santiago is Oracle’s new associate artistic director.

Tony Santiago has been a member of Oracle’s staff and company since 2013, and states, “Oracle doesn’t charge for tickets allowing me to produce art programming the community wants and needs—turning Oracle into a lighthouse for the community.”  Stalling says “Tony has been an essential voice for Oracle both artistically and administratively. He has been a guiding force behind many of the company’s successes and I’m honored to partner with him during this next phase of development.”

Saturday, August 13 marks the opening of GOOD FRIDAY by Kristiana Rae Colón, the inaugural production in Oracle’s new space at 1802 W. Berenice.