Our Founding Members
Jaimee Banks
President
Jaimee is a theatre artist who was bitten by the theatre bug at a young age when he starred as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at his elementary school. During his theatre career, Jaimee has been an actor, director, producer, and designer for several groups in and out of the Greater Boston area. He recently finished his second term as secretary for the Wellesley Players.
Jaimee has a true passion for theatre and prides himself on coaching actors to dig deep to reach the core of the character they are becoming. He is very excited to be one of the founding members of A Common Thread. Jaimee holds a BA in Elementary Education and Theatre Arts from Boston College.
Peter Allia
Vice-President
Peter has not been seen on stage but his work has been. Peter works behind the scenes designing and building sets and props, as well as doing lighting and sound. Working alongside Rachel Baril, he has assisted in the set design and construction of over 14 productions and workshops. Peter has also contributed (off-stage) to a number of community theatre productions throughout Massachusetts. He is excited to be a keystone with A Common Thread along with Jaimee, Rachel, Jill, and Matt.
Matthew Jacobs
Member at Large
Matthew has been an active musician in the Greater Boston/Worcester area for a majority of this past decade. He has played multiple instruments in many genres and is always looking to expand his repertoire. Community theater has always been a positive channel for him because of the new people he meets and music that he gets to be involved with. He is excited to be a keystone in the working with A Common Thread on and off the stage.
Photo credit: Mary Ann Baril (Headshots and Board photos)
Jill Mack
Treasurer
Jill holds a BS in Accounting and Management from Northeastern University and an MSF from Bentley University. She has been dancing since the age of three and it has been through theater that she has been able to combine her two passions. Jill grew up with the Maine State Ballet and danced many leading roles with the company. She continued her training with Boston Ballet and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. She danced with, choreographed for and was President, Treasurer and Production Manager of the Northeastern University Dance Theater and later danced with Moving West Repertory Company. She has taught dance and choreographed several musicals in the Boston and MetroWest areas. She has produced close to seventy productions in the past decade. In the accounting world, Jill specializes in non-profits and arts administration. With vast artistic integrity, she brings a very sage approach to A Common Thread. Jill and her husband David have two daughters who are both involved in the arts.
Rachel Baril
Secretary
Rachel is an artist, actor, and designer who has an array of experience in Theatre Arts, including: direction, choreography, costume and prop design, and, most notably, scenic painting. Working alongside Pete Allia, she has assisted in the set design and construction of over 14 productions and workshops. She also served as the Scenic Artist for the Stoughton High School's Drama Department for 4 years, and has contributed (both on- and off-stage) to a number of community theatre productions throughout Greater Boston.
Rachel enjoys fostering an appreciation of theatre within all age groups; most notably with teens and young adults. Recently, she directed and choreographed productions of Godspell and The Wedding Singer, each of which received high praise from both cast and audience members alike. With bachelor's degrees in both Art and Theatre Arts, Rachel brings quality and an artistic eye to everything she does.
