BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lisa Whitson Burns (Founder & Board Advisor) is a composer and educator with 15 years of experience teaching music and musical theatre to young people. Since spearheading FCCMT’s first project in 2005 while working as an intern at the Cloud Forest School in Monteverde, Costa Rica, Lisa formed and served on the initial Board of Directors and has worked in the capacity of Executive Director, Program Director, and Musical Director of numerous Far Corners productions. Lisa graduated from Harvard College with a B.A. in music; they received their MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and hold a Teaching License from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Vocal/Instrumental/General Music (All Levels). Lisa currently teaches secondary school music at the Nagoya International School in Japan, and has lived and taught in Costa Rica, China, Mozambique, India, and the United States. As a composer, Lisa’s original music has been performed at New York City venues including Merkin Concert Hall, Joe's Pub at the Public, Galapagos Art Space, and the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center.
Jennie Mollica (President of the Board) has over twenty years of professional experience in the fields of workforce development, adult education, and community development. She has expertise in the design and sustainability of career education programs that are equitably accessible to individuals with barriers to employment, including limited English and basic skills, and in program and partnership development, fund development, strategic planning, qualitative research, writing, and evaluation for public and non-profit agencies. Her prior roles include Director of Planning and Program Development at Jewish Vocational Service in San Francisco, a $7 million workforce development non-profit; staff to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Making Connections Oakland initiative; and Associate Director of Lao Family Community Development, a multi-site immigrant and refugee services agency. She currently works for High Road Alliance, a consultancy she co-founded in 2020 to support equitable career pathways into high quality jobs. Jennie's family moved to Monteverde in 2016. Her daughter, Alia, is in 6th grade at the Monteverde Friends School (MFS) and participated in several Far Corners classes during the past year as well as the 2022 production. Jennie played the violin in the pit orchestra for JCS and her husband Ed Dorrington did the set construction. Jennie is involved in a variety of community projects in Monteverde, working with the Monteverde Institute and the Monteverde Community Fund as well as volunteering to teach English to parents/caregivers of CEC students. Prior to moving to Costa Rica, Jennie spent most of her life and career in Northern California, but also volunteered for four years in Laos and Vietnam.
Darío Villalobos (Board Treasurer) grew up in Monteverde, graduated from the Cloud Forest School and is a past alumn of Far Corners. Dario has been a long-term collaborator of Far Corners having served as the Music Director, Community Liaison, Orchestra Pit Musician and Translator/Adaptor for several of our summer musical productions. Because of his involvement in Far Corners, Dario decided to pursue a career in the performing arts and subsequently in theatre education. Dario received his B.A in Theatre with concentrations in Management and Media Studies from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. After graduating from St. Olaf, Dario relocated to Shanghai, China where he lived for four years. He first worked as a Drama Teacher & Public Speaking Instructor for an extracurricular education firm and then went on to work at a Chinese bilingual school where he served as the Head of Performing Arts Department and IBDP/IGCSE Drama Teacher. Dario also holds a K-12 Drama/Theatre Arts Teaching License from the State of Hawaii and a M.Ed degree with a Specialization in Educational & Instructional Technology from Moreland University in Washington, D.C. He is also a member of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) and the Singapore Drama Educators Association (SDEA). Currently, Dario lives in Singapore where he teaches theatre at an IB International School.
Isaac Matamoros (Board Member) has been deeply connected to artistic expression since childhood. Originally from Monteverde and born in 2001, he comes from a family that settled in the area in the late 1990s. From the age of 11 to 18, he actively participated in musical theater with FCCMT, performing in the cast every year and completing an internship on the staff in his final year. This formative experience led him to pursue university training as a filmmaker in 2020, specializing in the direction department. Throughout his studies, he contributed to a wide range of academic projects, gaining hands-on experience across most departments in film production. He is currently focused on editing and producing audiovisual projects while completing his thesis as a director.
Cosette Ruesga (Board Member) is a passionate stage director whose work thrives at the intersection of collaboration, community, and creativity. A graduate of Chapman University in California, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre with minors in music, psychology, and philosophy. Her diverse interests have led her to explore the human condition through both artistic and academic lenses, combining experiential learning with a deep curiosity for science and philosophy.Following her studies, Cosette spent two years in Seogwipo, South Korea, serving as a High School Dorm Supervisor and Theatre Coach, among other roles. Upon returning to California, she has remained active in the arts and education as a substitute teacher, Assistant Director for L.A.’s Theatre by the Blind—the nation’s only all-blind acting ensemble—and a founding member of Simi Valley’s grassroots Figure 8 Troupe, where she contributes as an actor, collaborator, and social media curator. Cosette brings boundless enthusiasm to every project and is especially passionate about using theatre as a joyful vehicle for dialogue, empowerment, self-awareness, and lifelong learning.
José Pablo Arias (Secretary) is a Costa Rican musician, composer, and educator with over a decade of experience spanning live performance, film scoring, and arts education. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music with an emphasis on Guitar from the University of Costa Rica, where he also completed foundational studies in classical guitar. His artistic work is deeply rooted in both technical excellence and a passion for using music as a tool for storytelling, education, and community engagement.José Pablo has performed and collaborated internationally as a session musician and composer, contributing original music and sound design to a range of film and multimedia projects, including Città D’Oro (Franky Films), Una luz en el bosque (University of Costa Rica), and Mano de Tigre (Computer Science and Multimedia Technology, UCR). His recorded works include the albums Mbarakapú and Galaxias Fértiles, where he served as composer, arranger, producer, and performer. In the realm of musical theatre, José Pablo has served as lead guitarist for Far Corners Community Theatre’s productions of Jesus Christ Superstar (2022) and Mamma Mia! (2024), contributing to the live musical foundation of these large-scale ensemble performances. His theatrical contributions reflect a deep understanding of music’s narrative role and his ability to adapt across genres and styles.As an educator, he has taught music and English across various institutions, while maintaining a private studio for guitar instruction since 2014. José Pablo approaches every project with discipline, creativity, and a collaborative mindset, making him a dynamic presence in both artistic and educational settings.
Juliet Lamb (Board Advisor) is a founding Board member of Far Corners. Juliet holds a PhD in wildlife biology. Her field work has taken her to Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Scotland, Maine, California, Oregon, Massachusetts, and the Florida Everglades. Juliet received a B.A. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University, an M.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Ph.D. from Clemson University where she studied the movement ecology and reproductive biology of Brown Pelicans in the Gulf of Mexico. She completed a post-doctoral appointment at the University of Rhode Island studying the distribution and movement patterns of sea ducks and a Marie Curie Fellowship at the Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE-CNRS), France, studying spatial and disease ecology of Yellow-Legged Gulls. In addition to Far Corners, Juliet’s Advisory, Board and Committee experience includes the World Seabird Union, the Waterbird Society, the Pacific Seabird Group, the Gulf of Mexico Avian Monitoring Network, and the Matagorda Bay Waterbird Restoration Project. Juliet is a prolific writer not only in peer-reviewed literature, but also in media and outreach venues, including a biweekly column in the JSTOR Daily Online Magazine. Juliet has been passionate about musical theatre throughout her life. She participated in musicals as a performer during her teen years, and as a French horn player has continued to play in pit orchestras for musical theatre productions, as well as university and community orchestras and bands, whenever she has the opportunity.
Jennie Mollica (President of the Board) has over twenty years of professional experience in the fields of workforce development, adult education, and community development. She has expertise in the design and sustainability of career education programs that are equitably accessible to individuals with barriers to employment, including limited English and basic skills, and in program and partnership development, fund development, strategic planning, qualitative research, writing, and evaluation for public and non-profit agencies. Her prior roles include Director of Planning and Program Development at Jewish Vocational Service in San Francisco, a $7 million workforce development non-profit; staff to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Making Connections Oakland initiative; and Associate Director of Lao Family Community Development, a multi-site immigrant and refugee services agency. She currently works for High Road Alliance, a consultancy she co-founded in 2020 to support equitable career pathways into high quality jobs. Jennie's family moved to Monteverde in 2016. Her daughter, Alia, is in 6th grade at the Monteverde Friends School (MFS) and participated in several Far Corners classes during the past year as well as the 2022 production. Jennie played the violin in the pit orchestra for JCS and her husband Ed Dorrington did the set construction. Jennie is involved in a variety of community projects in Monteverde, working with the Monteverde Institute and the Monteverde Community Fund as well as volunteering to teach English to parents/caregivers of CEC students. Prior to moving to Costa Rica, Jennie spent most of her life and career in Northern California, but also volunteered for four years in Laos and Vietnam.
Darío Villalobos (Board Treasurer) grew up in Monteverde, graduated from the Cloud Forest School and is a past alumn of Far Corners. Dario has been a long-term collaborator of Far Corners having served as the Music Director, Community Liaison, Orchestra Pit Musician and Translator/Adaptor for several of our summer musical productions. Because of his involvement in Far Corners, Dario decided to pursue a career in the performing arts and subsequently in theatre education. Dario received his B.A in Theatre with concentrations in Management and Media Studies from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. After graduating from St. Olaf, Dario relocated to Shanghai, China where he lived for four years. He first worked as a Drama Teacher & Public Speaking Instructor for an extracurricular education firm and then went on to work at a Chinese bilingual school where he served as the Head of Performing Arts Department and IBDP/IGCSE Drama Teacher. Dario also holds a K-12 Drama/Theatre Arts Teaching License from the State of Hawaii and a M.Ed degree with a Specialization in Educational & Instructional Technology from Moreland University in Washington, D.C. He is also a member of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) and the Singapore Drama Educators Association (SDEA). Currently, Dario lives in Singapore where he teaches theatre at an IB International School.
Isaac Matamoros (Board Member) has been deeply connected to artistic expression since childhood. Originally from Monteverde and born in 2001, he comes from a family that settled in the area in the late 1990s. From the age of 11 to 18, he actively participated in musical theater with FCCMT, performing in the cast every year and completing an internship on the staff in his final year. This formative experience led him to pursue university training as a filmmaker in 2020, specializing in the direction department. Throughout his studies, he contributed to a wide range of academic projects, gaining hands-on experience across most departments in film production. He is currently focused on editing and producing audiovisual projects while completing his thesis as a director.
Cosette Ruesga (Board Member) is a passionate stage director whose work thrives at the intersection of collaboration, community, and creativity. A graduate of Chapman University in California, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre with minors in music, psychology, and philosophy. Her diverse interests have led her to explore the human condition through both artistic and academic lenses, combining experiential learning with a deep curiosity for science and philosophy.Following her studies, Cosette spent two years in Seogwipo, South Korea, serving as a High School Dorm Supervisor and Theatre Coach, among other roles. Upon returning to California, she has remained active in the arts and education as a substitute teacher, Assistant Director for L.A.’s Theatre by the Blind—the nation’s only all-blind acting ensemble—and a founding member of Simi Valley’s grassroots Figure 8 Troupe, where she contributes as an actor, collaborator, and social media curator. Cosette brings boundless enthusiasm to every project and is especially passionate about using theatre as a joyful vehicle for dialogue, empowerment, self-awareness, and lifelong learning.
José Pablo Arias (Secretary) is a Costa Rican musician, composer, and educator with over a decade of experience spanning live performance, film scoring, and arts education. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music with an emphasis on Guitar from the University of Costa Rica, where he also completed foundational studies in classical guitar. His artistic work is deeply rooted in both technical excellence and a passion for using music as a tool for storytelling, education, and community engagement.José Pablo has performed and collaborated internationally as a session musician and composer, contributing original music and sound design to a range of film and multimedia projects, including Città D’Oro (Franky Films), Una luz en el bosque (University of Costa Rica), and Mano de Tigre (Computer Science and Multimedia Technology, UCR). His recorded works include the albums Mbarakapú and Galaxias Fértiles, where he served as composer, arranger, producer, and performer. In the realm of musical theatre, José Pablo has served as lead guitarist for Far Corners Community Theatre’s productions of Jesus Christ Superstar (2022) and Mamma Mia! (2024), contributing to the live musical foundation of these large-scale ensemble performances. His theatrical contributions reflect a deep understanding of music’s narrative role and his ability to adapt across genres and styles.As an educator, he has taught music and English across various institutions, while maintaining a private studio for guitar instruction since 2014. José Pablo approaches every project with discipline, creativity, and a collaborative mindset, making him a dynamic presence in both artistic and educational settings.
Juliet Lamb (Board Advisor) is a founding Board member of Far Corners. Juliet holds a PhD in wildlife biology. Her field work has taken her to Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Scotland, Maine, California, Oregon, Massachusetts, and the Florida Everglades. Juliet received a B.A. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University, an M.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Ph.D. from Clemson University where she studied the movement ecology and reproductive biology of Brown Pelicans in the Gulf of Mexico. She completed a post-doctoral appointment at the University of Rhode Island studying the distribution and movement patterns of sea ducks and a Marie Curie Fellowship at the Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE-CNRS), France, studying spatial and disease ecology of Yellow-Legged Gulls. In addition to Far Corners, Juliet’s Advisory, Board and Committee experience includes the World Seabird Union, the Waterbird Society, the Pacific Seabird Group, the Gulf of Mexico Avian Monitoring Network, and the Matagorda Bay Waterbird Restoration Project. Juliet is a prolific writer not only in peer-reviewed literature, but also in media and outreach venues, including a biweekly column in the JSTOR Daily Online Magazine. Juliet has been passionate about musical theatre throughout her life. She participated in musicals as a performer during her teen years, and as a French horn player has continued to play in pit orchestras for musical theatre productions, as well as university and community orchestras and bands, whenever she has the opportunity.
