The Dogs of San Francisco Opera

by San Francisco Opera Staff

Today we're barking up a totally different tree! This blog is dedicated to our outstanding staff members and the four-legged furry friends that inspire them—#OperaDoggies!

Deborah Banks, Senior Leadership Giving Officer, and her pup, Sabrina.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Watching my boys play baseball, singing, attending theatre, going to the beach, travel.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Beach time!

Joshua Raoul Brody, Composing Artist with the ARIA Program/Marketing Data Entry Clerk, his wife, Juliana, and their pooch, Snowy.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
I really enjoy accompanying improvisational theater on the keyboard. It's one of the other things I do for a living.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Her nickname is Slowy, if that gives you a clue. Let's just say she does not need to be reminded to stop and sniff the roses. She also enjoys "singing" along with passing ambulance sirens.

Megan Coss, Marketing Coordinator for Subscriptions, and her furry friend, Henry King of Scots and Other Regional Provinces—Henry for short.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Adventuring with Henry!
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Adventuring! And snoozing and treats, treats and snoozing.

Kip Cranna, Dramaturg, and his canine companions, Obi (female) and Beni (male).

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Bicycling.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
The dogs seem to enjoy sleeping the most!

Francis Crossman, Senior Video Editor, and his pup, Mr. Bingley.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Listening to Rock and Roll, Movies, Photography, Robots
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Sitting in laps and getting pets.

Kristen Jones, Director of Audience Engagement, and her tail-wagging Loki.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Running and spending time with family and friends.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Sleeping (about 20 hours a day) and giving kisses to everyone he meets.

Joo Eun Lee, Senior Individual Giving Officer, and her canine companion, Bodhi.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Hiking with dogs, cooking to music and perfecting a manhattan.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Getting lost in the woods, licking up scraps off the kitchen floor and being the cherry in my Mama’s eyes.

Jimmy Marcheso, Assistant Stage Manager, and Joseph Marcheso, Assistant Conductor/Prompter and their four-legged friends, Wilberforce and Buddy—@polarbearbros on Instagram!

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Picnics, cocktails, enjoying the East Bay sunshine (All three at once is preferable)
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Tummy scratches and playing in Pt. Isobel Dog Park.

Megan McDonald, Marketing & Special Events Manager with San Francisco Opera Guild, and her doggie, Levon.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Going to see live music at all the amazing venues in the Bay Area.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Playing fetch at Fort Funston.

Andrew Morgan, Director of Individual and Leadership Giving and his petit chien, Ella Pitzgerald.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Going to the wine country – with Ella of course (although the photo is from a trip to Tahoe earlier this spring) – and singing.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Tug-of-war – she recently turned seven-months-old and I can still win these matches…just barely – and snuggling.

Thea Railey, Assistant Stage Manager, and her pugs, Frank & Bean.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Paddle boarding (with the pugs) & aerial (trapeze stuff, NOT with the pugs).
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Eating, followed by sleeping, followed by getting attention for being adorable! Bean is also obsessed with his frisbee... Frank not so much so as he is mostly blind and loses it a lot.

Sue Ramsay, Senior Leadership Gifts Officer, and the boys, Sid and Arthur.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Watching sports, decorating my house, spending time with friends and snuggling with my dogs.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Barking, snoozing, eating treats and laying in the sun.

Matthew Shilvock, Associate General Director, and his Boston Terriers, Brantley and Abigail.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Brewing beer.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Digging holes in our lawn.

Jess Shown-Morgan, Media Coordinator & Asstant Video Director, and her furry friend, Parker Parks Morgan.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Hanging with Parker, sewing, videos, TV, cooking, cooking shows, trying to run/work out, reading and water skiing…
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Biscuits, walking, walking with biscuits, going to the beach, laying on the couch on his back crashed out asleep, and more biscuits!

Samantha Stevick, Corporate and Legacy Giving Associate, and her adorable pooch, Maximo (Max).

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Max and I do a lot of weekend hiking around the Bay area. I visit local museums pretty frequently, but he usually can’t come with me to those. He wouldn’t properly appreciate the cultural experience anyway.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Napping on the couch—he’s an old man.

Chris Wybenga, Corporate Giving Officer, and his little buddy, Beatrix.

What is your favorite activity or hobby?
Sports, music, surfing, brewing beer, carpentry.
What is your dog’s favorite activity?
Barking at things that scare her, laying in the sun, napping, smelling things, licking, surprise attacks, stalking her toy squirrel and pretending to be brave.