Mr. Elliott, as Artistic Director since 1986, has overseen this company’s growth from a small community theater to a nationally recognized professional LORT theater company, recipient of 2 NEA Grants for the commission of new outdoor drama, and overseen the development and production of more than 15 new plays and musicals.  He holds a B.A. in Theatre from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona. Mr. Elliott has directed over 100 productions, garnered two Shellie Awards and won the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle director’s award for the West Coast premiere of Brimstone.  During his tenure at the Willows, he has chaired the Theatre Services Committee of Theatre Bay Area as well as sitting on their Board of Directors. He has produced and directed the acclaimed new musical John Muir's Mountain Days, based on the life of John Muir, and is currently overseeing the development of a newly commissioned piece, Sacagawea.  Mr. Elliott is also a past recipient of the Arts Recognition Award from the Arts & Cultural Commission of Contra Costa County.