We are small, but we are mighty!
The Executive Office Staff
Executive Director –Phillips Payson
Phillips can be seen sporting one of his many hats on stage as the front man for the Palace Theater. In recognition for his efforts directing the theater’s operations, Phillips received the 2023 Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40 award for “Hawai’i’s best and brightest young leaders.” With a BFA in Transmedia Film production from Syracuse University, he trained as a projectionist at Deluxe New York and has worked professionally with the International Film Festivals of Hawai’i, Chicago, Seattle, Palm Springs, and is the co-founder of the Made in Hawai’i Film Festival. As the co-founder of Hawai’i based production company Larkin Pictures, Phillips has been making films in Hawaii since 2012, including the Nā Hōkū Hanohano award nominated series “Live From the Empty Palace.”
Operations Manager – Meadow Lambert
You can find Meadow in our office during the day, as our Operations Manager. Meadow enjoys the new and exciting things that come day to day working in a venue for live events.
Development Officer – Erin Chung
Erin Chung, a Hawaiʻi Island native, is an actor and theater maker. After attending her first plays right here at the Palace, Erin received her BA in Theatre from UH Mānoa, trained at Atlantic Acting School in NYC and is now a proud member of SAG-AFTRA. When she’s not working to raise funds to restore and sustain the historic theater, you might catch her onstage or behind the scenes of a Palace production.
Office Manager – Sheron Bee
Sheron is born and raised in Hilo and started working at the Palace in 2011. The Palace Theater is one of three of her favorite historic buildings in Hilo (the other two being the Shipman Plant and the Downtown Hilo Post Office!)
Administrative Office Assistant – Jasmine McCray
Palace Bookkeeper – Laurie Saarinen
Laurie has been a bookkeeper & payroll services pro since 1999. She recently joined us here at The Palace. Her experiences with the Palace go back many, many years of enjoyment and volunteer ushering. She is very happy to have had seen the summer production of Beauty & the Beast and looks forward to enjoying many more productions while keeping the Palace books in order!
The Palace Event Staff
House Managers: Theon Weber, Conrado Astrande, Sonny Czyscon, William Vizena
Cafe & GoFor: Czyscon, Westley Smith, Emily Thornton, Graham Avina
Ushers: Czyscon, Westley Smith, Emily Thornton, Greg Lynch, Graham Avina
Projectionist: Theon Weber, Sonny Czyscon, Conrado Astrande
Tech Specialists: Theon Weber and Sonny Czyscon
