Director Bios

Bobby Bodford is a veteran of stage and screen. As a professional director, playwright and actor, he has over 45 years of experience. This is the third holiday play he has written for RYTC and the third production of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas for RYTC. His directing credits include critically acclaimed productions of the Smoke on the Mountain Trilogy and Jekyll and Hyde at Twin City Stage, The Producers and Young Frankenstein for the Community Theatre Greensboro and last year’s production of Once Upon a Christmas Eve for RYTC at the Sunset Theatre. He co-wrote and directed productions of Wildwood Flowers, The June Carter Musical at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre and the Roy Acuff Theatre in Nashville, Tenn. Currently, Bobby and his wife Nicole founded Adventures in Theatre which conducts theatrical summer camps throughout North Carolina. They have conducted three camps in conjunction with RYTC

Devan Walsh is a 26-year veteran teacher, is the high school theatre arts director at Penn-Griffin School for the Arts (PGSA.) She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts, and a Master of Education in Theatre Arts Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Devan has built an award-winning theatre program at three N.C. high schools. She directs over 10 shows a year at PGSA including North Carolina Theatre Conference competition plays, full-length shows and musicals, and Children’s Theatre. RYTC has also employed her as a director for 11 years. After winning the C.C. Lipscomb Directing Award in 2000, she was asked to sit on a committee to design the theatre arts curriculum for North Carolina. She has also been a judge for the N.C. Governor’s School for 20 years.

Jim Shover is a long time veteran of the Theater World. He began as a child visiting and appearing on the stage, at age six. He fell in love with that magical mistress, “The Stage”, so in love in fact, his passion grew and grew and now he can but breathe only the passionate air of the theater. Jim enjoys the idea of creating an educational, emotional and moving moment for the public to enjoy. But he does have a life outside of the theater walls. He is an ELA teacher at Triad Math and Science Academy in Greensboro, N.C. by day. Jim proudly announces and enjoys his amazing three sons and eight grandchildren as the jewels of his life. What else? Well, Jim likes to travel. And traveling with a best bud is the best and lately he and Jay have discovered Carnival Cruises. O yeah! Boat, ocean, food and more food, an abundance of fun things to do and wonderful places to explore, see you in Mexico!