The Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara has added philanthropist and musician Karen Wood Williams to its Board of Directors.
“We are excited to have Karen join The Granada Theatre Board of Directors,” said Palmer Jackson, Jr., the theater’s executive chair. “Her lifelong love for The Granada Theatre and her dedication to the arts will be a tremendous asset as we look to continue enhancing the theater’s impact on the community and carry its legacy into the future.”
A longtime Santa Barbara resident, Williams said her connection with the arts began with a childhood memory of seeing a classic film at The Granada.
The early experience ignited a passion for performance and cultural engagement that would guide much of her career. Over the years, Williams has contributed to the Santa Barbara arts scene as a performer, producer, educator and philanthropist.
She performed in “Carmen” with the Music Academy of the West; sang with the Santa Barbara Symphony; and co-produced American Masters for the 25th anniversary of State Street Ballet and the 70th anniversary of the Santa Barbara Choral Society.
Williams has been an active leader in the community as well, most recently serving as president of the Santa Barbara Choral Society Board of Directors, where she was instrumental in navigating the organization through difficult times and helping to increase its endowment and secure funding.
Williams has directed Villa Week, an immersive student arts camp, and worked as a music educator in local schools.
She holds a degree in English with a minor in music from Westmont College.
For more on the theater and its upcoming shows, visit www.granadasb.org.
