Bill English is a co-founder of San Francisco Playhouse. With Susi Damilano, he has guided its growth from a barebones storefront to the second largest theatre in San Francisco for thirteen years. Along the way, he has served as director, actor, set, light, and sound designer—winning Bay Area Critic’s nominations, or awards in all those categories. Milestone accomplishments include bringing Pulitzer-winner Stephen Adly Guirgis to the Bay Area by directing three of his plays; commissioning twelve playwrights; and moving world premieres from work shop to Sandbox Series to Mainstage to New York—including the recent New York transfer of San Francisco Playhouse production of Bauer; the upcoming New York transfer of Ideation; and presenting the very first production of Grounded by George Brant, which recently opened at The Public Theater. He coined the phrase “the empathy gym,” and it drives everything at San Francisco Playhouse.