Creative Director

The Creative Director of Iambic Pentameter was the head of club of the San Luis Obispo High School Iambic Pentameter Club. The creative director directed the annual Shakespeare play, a joint effort with the Drama Club, and was traditionally a former actor of the club. The creative director often held concurrent office in the Drama Club presidency, but not as a rule.

On April 28, 2021, Iambic Pentameter was officially dissolved and incorporated into the umbrella organization SLOHS Performing Arts as the Department of Classics; the department is currently administered by the second commissioner of classics, Olivia Cusick. The office of creative director was formally dissolved after the transfer of power was completed.

Not much is known about the establishment of the office, but it was likely formed at the inception of Iambic Pentameter in 1997 or soon after. Historically, the position was only held by one individual at a time; Drama Club, conversely, more frequently had multiple co-presidents in power. Creative directors, as the club president, held the power to add or remove members of the club, and held joint control over club finances with the faculty adviser and the ASB Interclub Commissioner. The creative director had the authority to alter, ratify, or repeal club rules. Traditionally, they also selected themselves the Shakespeare production they directed as part of their time in office.

The incumbent creative director appointed their successor at the conclusion of their term or upon their own graduation. Interested candidates applied not for the official presidency role, but rather for the play direction itself; appointment was based off of a required essay application detailing hypothetical plans for two possible Shakespeare productions.

There were three key presumed qualifications for holding the presidency: attendance at San Luis Obispo High School; at least a ninth grader at the time of their appointment; and prior membership in the club for at least one year, via performance in an Iambic Pentameter show.

Creative directors served terms lasting one full school year, which was renewable only until their chosen production has come to fruition. As a result, directors usually only served one term, having produced their show during their first year; however, in cases of production delays (due to factors such as campus construction), the creative director may have continued to serve until the play has been produced.

Ian McKay was the last creative director of Iambic Pentameter. He was appointed to the position on February 16, 2019 by predecessor Kaylee Beardsley when his production of Much Ado About Nothing was selected for the 2019–2020 season. McKay took office as club president on August 20, 2019. Due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and resulting postponement of the annual Shakespeare play, McKay's time in office was extended to a second term, which began on August 24, 2020 and ended on June 8, 2021.