Meet the Team

Eric Santagata
Artistic Director

Eric Santagata has a broad background in the arts. He is an accomplished creator, performer and educator who has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in London, on national tours and at regional theaters across the country. He has served as Associate Director to Pulitzer Prize-winning Writer/Director James Lapine and is a longtime Associate Director/Choreographer to five-time Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman. Additionally, Santagata is the former Chair of Musical Theatre at the world-renowned University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, the country’s premier Musical Theatre program. Little known trivia fact, Eric’s grandfather used to operate a barbershop in what is now the Legacy Artist Cottage next to the theatre. “Growing up, Stony Creek was the backbone of my childhood, and The Puppet House (now, Legacy Theatre) taught me some of my earliest theatrical lessons. Lessons I would take with me for the rest of my life. I’m excited to be back on the shoreline, and to re-immerse myself in the community that supported so many of my early dreams. I hope to provide creative programming, first-rate theatrical education, and an inviting artistic environment for all.”

Eric@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Jeff Zeitlin
Managing Director

A long-time resident of Guilford, CT, Jeff’s love of theatre was taken to the next level in 2016 when his daughter joined the Guilford High School Theatre Arts program. Jeff served as a Board Member of the school’s Theatre Arts Parents Support. He then became the GHSTA Box Office Manager and Front of House Advisor for GHSTA students. He continues in that volunteer role today. Prior to joining Legacy Jeff was an usher at The Ivoryton Playhouse, as well as a House Manager at The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (“The Kate”) in Old Saybrook. Upon learning of the development of The Legacy Theatre, he was taken by the plans for the historic building and the prospect of bringing quality Broadway productions and performers to the shoreline in our intimate setting. He joined Legacy in 2021, prior to the start of our inaugural season. Jeff’s community involvement also extends to Guilford A Better Chance where he is a former member of their Board of Directors, and happily welcomes the GABC scholars to Legacy each year to enjoy our holiday production. He also volunteers as the ticketing partner for Guilford High School music department’s annual Holiday Concerts by the Green. In his Legacy role, Jeff loves to interact with patrons. Always accessible (his email is below) Jeff, after retiring from a successful retail career in 2024, loves to share that in “retirement” he has found a role that he wakes up with passion for everyday!

Jeff@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Anne Runolfsson
Director of Development

Anne Runolfsson has worked professionally in the theater for the past 40 years, a career path driven by passion and a fierce belief in the importance and value of the arts. Having spent much of her career onstage with starring roles on Broadway, off-Broadway, National Tours, Regional theaters, and as a soloist with symphony orchestras all over the world, she has also produced, written and directed for the theater. Fueled by a fervent desire to help secure funding opportunities for live theater, theater education and theater artists, Anne joined the Legacy Theatre part-time in the role of Development Manager in 2022. While serving in that position, which included the launching of the Annual Giving Society, overseeing the annual appeal (surpassing the annual fundraising goal), securing institutional giving, grant writing, major gift cultivation, donor stewardship, CRM management, and the planning and execution of all fundraising events, she realized that her passion had shifted from being onstage to one of raising money for the arts. Anne is greatly honored to serve in the role of Director of Development for Legacy Theatre and would love to meet you and hear YOUR story of why the arts matter.

Anne@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Mary Lee Weber
Marketing

Mary Lee Weber is a Marketing and Communications consultant who has lived in Branford since 1988. She held the position of Director of Marketing and Community Development for the ABC affiliate WTNH-8 for 17 years where she was responsible for non-traditional revenue and community partnerships. With a local creative team she Executive Produced a short documentary for the Stony Creek Museum called Born at The Water’s Edge. It features interviews and information about the Thimble Islands and the history of Stony Creek including brief segments about Legacy Theatre, the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps and the Quarry. Mary Lee also helped with the Legacy Theatre productions while they were in residence at the Stony Creek Museum in 2018-19. She joined Legacy to help with Marketing and Community Outreach and is thrilled to play even a small part in helping Legacy bring theatre back to Stony Creek.

MaryLee@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Colin Sheehan
Producer, Concert Series and Special Events

Colin is the Arts, Culture & Special Events Coordinator for the Town of Branford, Director of The Branford High School Performing Arts’ Spring Musical, and Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Shoreline Theatre Company. He graduated from Branford High School and continues his studies at Wagner College, receiving with a B.A. in Theatre and Speech Performance. In 2003, he made his Broadway debut in the closing night production of Les Misérables. Colin has appeared on television and has produced, directed, hosted and performed all over the country and at sea with The Broadway Cruise, Nickelodeon Cruise & R Family Vacations. He is a philanthropist and has raised funds and awareness for organizations in Branford and beyond. Colin is a former Branford Community Foundation Board Member, Beacon Award Winner, Broadway World CT Award Winning Director and Guncle to ClaireBear and Emma Kay! For more information, visit: ColinSheehanEvents.com.

Colin@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Elaine Cappiello
Development Communications & Donor Engagement

Elaine joins the Legacy Theatre team after being an active member of the Madison, CT community, where she volunteered in the schools for several years. Prior to moving to CT, Elaine worked at New York Public Library, both in their Theatre and Performing Arts Archive (TOFT) and Development and Government Affairs offices; as well as the Alumni Relations offices at Parsons School of Design and Columbia College at Columbia University. She earned a B.A. in English from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA, and attended the Arts Administration Program at the University of Akron in Akron, OH before moving to New York City. Elaine’s interests outside of Legacy Theatre include genetic genealogy and supporting her children in the various music programs at Daniel Hand High School and along the Shoreline.

Elaine@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Sandy Potter
Social Media Coordinator

Sandy joins the Legacy Theatre team after years of experience in social media, writing, and video production. She began her career right out of college as a marketing and promotions producer at WTNH-TV in New Haven where she stayed for 14 years. Later she ventured into the non-profit world, working in the Corporate Communications Department at Masonicare in Wallingford as the Social Media & Video Production Manager. Most recently, Sandy has worked for a small business marketing agency helping with project management, email marketing, and social media creation. She earned a B.S. in Communications from Eastern Connecticut State University. Outside of Legacy Theatre, Sandy enjoys spending time volunteering at her childrens' school, supporting them at their athletic events, and cheering on her family's favorite team- the UConn Huskies.

Sandy@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Keely Baisden Knudsen
Co-Founder & Founding Artistic Director

An award-winning director, Keely has performed, directed, and choreographed internationally in plays, musicals, operas, and dance companies in hundreds of theatrical productions and has performed in 48 of the United States and in the UK. Realizing her vision of a new theater company on the Connecticut Shoreline, Keely’s ideals of inspiring, inclusive work that uplifts the human spirit and connects communities formalized in the creation of the Legacy Theatre with Co-Founder Stephanie Stiefel Williams, a performing colleague and dear friend. Keely has directed, choreographed, and taught performing arts courses at Quinnipiac University, Yale University, Fairfield University, Hartt School of Drama, Southern Connecticut State University, Westminster College, and was the Director of Education of New Haven’s acclaimed Elm Shakespeare Company for several years. Additionally a composer/lyricist and playwright, she is a member of ASCAP and a writer/curator for Rewls Productions. Her creation of the Wheel Life Theatre Troupe has been an especially rewarding program as she acts and directs with those who ambulate with crutches and wheelchairs. She has a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and her Masters Degree in Drama from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Keely was the Artistic Director of Legacy since its inception, from 2011-2025.

Stephanie Stiefel Williams
Co-Founder & President of the Board of Trustees

Stephanie Stiefel Williams is an active and versatile performer in musicals, concerts, and plays and has appeared in numerous locations throughout the Northeast. A member of Actor’s Equity Association, she has appeared professionally in venues such as Broadway’s Marriott Marquis, Legacy Theatre, Hartford Stage Company, Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre, Atlantic City’s Tropicana, Turning Stone Casino, and the Garde Arts Center. Among these roles, her favorites include Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Anita in West Side Story, Lola in Damn Yankees, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Guenevere in Camelot. Although her professional focus has been in musical theatre, she also has been engaged frequently as a concert soloist, as well as an a cappella ensemble singer. Locally, Stephanie is a proud founder, repertory member, and trustee president at Legacy Theatre. In addition to her work with Legacy, Stephanie sits on the Performing Arts Advisory Council at the University of Notre Dame and has been a member of the Board of Trustees at the Goodspeed Opera House. She has become involved on a producing level with critically-acclaimed productions of Gypsy and Showboat in London’s West End, the revival of Sweeney Todd in New York, and Broadway’s Escape to Margaritaville. As a former Miss Connecticut, she represented our state at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Fairfield University and a Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Stephanie is the proud mother of two adult children, Valerie and Rick, and lives in Guilford with her wonderful husband, Luke.

Board of Trustees
Stephanie Williams, President
Jana Shea, Vice President
Katina Gionteris, Secretary
Luke Williams, Treasurer
Toni Burt
Damian Doria
Charles Grady
Sonja LaBarbera
Mary Pepe
Tom Shea
Eric Santagata, Ex-Officio
Jeff Zeitlin, Ex-Officio