KAREN WOOD (Executive Director) Karen has more than 20 years of senior management and entrepreneurial experience in non-profit organizations, particularly regional theaters. Prior to coming on board at The Laguna Playhouse, she spent eight years as Managing Director of San Diego Repertory Theatre, was Managing Director of The Music Center Education Division in Los Angeles, and has served as General Manager of The Mark Taper Forum/Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles. She was one of seven Line Producers for the Olympic Arts Festival in Los Angeles, and for many years partnered with Ira Bernstein in Bernstein and Wood Theatrical Management, providing producing and management consulting and services. For her transformative efforts in re-aligning the business model here at The Laguna Playhouse, she was recently nominated as Business Woman of the Year by the Orange County Business Journal and nominated for a 2011 Art Star Award in “Innovation and Leadership in the Arts” by Laguna Beach Arts Alliance.
A California native, Wood received a Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre Management from the University of California, Los Angeles, having earned her undergraduate degree in Theatre from California State University, Fullerton.
If you’re active in the community, you likely know Karen. A local resident, she joined The Laguna Playhouse as Managing Director three years ago and has a passion for identifying avenues for expanding the impact and reach of The Playhouse while deepening personal relationships. In those service endeavors, she is an officer of the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance, is a member of Arts Orange County, the Laguna Beach Women’s Club, and is active in Sister Cities, as well as The League of Resident Theatres.
Under Karen’s direction, the 90th Anniversary of The Laguna Playhouse offers a season of engaging plays and the renowned youth education programs at its artistic core, plus added 90th celebrations and expanded programming, including special engagements, dance, music, comedy and community collaborations. Says Karen, “We’re shaping a year of art and entertainment at its finest.”
