KELLY HERMAN (Associate Director of Youth Theatre, Education & Outreach) is a professional actress. She has a BA in Theatre Performance from Long Beach State and a Master of Fine Arts from Rutgers University Professional Training Program. Kelly studied at South Coast Repertory’s Summer Conservatory and continues to study acting in various Master classes. She teaches acting, is a consultant on period styles for stage, and is a private coach.
KAT HICKLIN (Business Manager) is affectionately referred to as the “Queen” of The Laguna Playhouse. A former stage manager with the Los Angeles Actors Theatre, she came to The Laguna Playhouse 18 years ago and has provided exceptional leadership in streamlining and professionalizing the theatre’s business and financial operations. She has also continued to play a key motivational role in working with the Trustees of The Laguna Playhouse.
DONNA INGLIMA (Director of Youth Theatre, Education & Outreach) is a director, writer, producer, teacher, and actor. She’s directed published and original plays in New York City, Chicago, Palm Springs, Stockbridge, MA, Syracuse, NY, and Laguna Beach. She is currently at The Laguna Playhouse, where she is the Producer and Director of TheatreReach, an Equity Theatre for Young Audiences touring program, and Education Director. Donna directed Spinning Into Butter, by Rebecca Gilman for Laguna Playhouse in 2001, and a number of productions for the Youth Theatre Stage including, The Good Times Are Killing Me, by Linda Barry, The Homecoming by Earl Hamner, The Quiltmaker’s Gift, book by Alan J. Prewitt, Music by Craig Bohmler, Lyrics by Steven Mark Kohn, Tom Sawyer by Joe Lauderdale, Music and Lyrics by Mark Turnbull, Ramona Quimby by Len Jenkins and wrote and directed Give a Boy a Gun. She is currently working on remounting The Laguna Playhouse Professional Touring productions, By the Great Horn Spoon, Stuart Little, and for the Youth Theatre Stage, HONK!.
Donna wrote & directed three adaptations of core literature books that are in their 6th year of touring. She teaches, develops curriculum, and hires staff for the Playhouse Theatre Classes and the Conservatory & Repertory (young artists program) students ages 10 - 18 including a Summer Music Theatre Program.
Holding an MFA in theatre from Syracuse University, Inglima also studied in New York City. As an actress, Donna worked for years in New York City, regionally, and most currently at The Laguna Playhouse.
Donna is former faculty for Utica, University, and LeMoyne (Colleges), AMDA (The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York), and full-time faculty at Syracuse University. She also worked as a private acting coach. From ‘95 to ‘97 she directed, taught, and served as Director of the Apprentice Program at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. Directing favorites from higher education include A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine, Blue Window and Waiting for the Parade. Favorite original plays directed include: I’ll be Home Soon by poet Safiya Henderson Holmes, The Lodi Plays by David Simpatico, and one-acts written by 9-to-11 year-olds that formed the original musicals called Just Desserts at BTF. Donna founded and directed for Animal Crackers Unlimited Theatre Co. in upstate New York from ‘79 to ‘89 and produced over fifty original adult and youth productions. She is a member of SSDC and Actors' Equity Association.
AMY LARSON (Director of Development) served as The Playhouse’s Director of Individual Giving from 2002-2007, and returned to accept the role of Development Director in August, 2009. In her absence, Larson served as the Development Director for Saint Joseph Ballet (now The Wooden Floor) in Santa Ana. Amy graduated cum laude with a B.A. in theatre and a B.S. in education from Bowling Green State, Ohio, and has an AA from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Pasadena.
Ms. Larson was a founding member of the Alternative Repertory Theatre, Santa Ana, and as an actress, has appeared onstage in numerous productions in Southern California, San Francisco, Hawaii, Seattle and Ohio. Larson has served on the Board of Directors for Leadership Tomorrow and Women in Management, is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and supports numerous local organizations, such as Impact Giving, AAUW and Working Wardrobes. Amy lives in Las Flores with her husband, Jake Smith, and their two cats.
JIM RYAN (Production Manager)
was born, raised and as he recalls, misspent his youth in New York City. He joined the Marines in 1960, and for the next twenty years served his country from Washington, D.C. to Da Nang, Vietnam. Jim became interested in Theatre while stationed in Japan in 1962, and he’s practiced this avocation ever since. Everywhere he was stationed he sought out a theatre to work with. After coming to California in 1974, Jim became involved with The Laguna Playhouse when he was cast in Mr. Roberts. He worked with the Playhouse for six years as a volunteer, and when he retired from the Marines in 1980, he was hired as the theatre’s Technical Director. Since then he has been involved in more than 300 productions as a director, designer, actor, carpenter…you name it, he’s done it. Jim became Production Manager of The Laguna Playhouse in 2002.
Christopher Trela (Director of Communications) has a link to Laguna Playhouse’s illustrious history—his father starred in the 1965 Laguna Playhouse production of The Fantasticks. Christopher is an award winning writer, photographer and publicist who has contributed numerous arts, food & wine, health & fitness, and travel articles to OC Metro, OC Menus, Coast Magazine, Performing Arts Magazine, and many others. Prior to joining Laguna Playhouse, he was Director of Marketing & PR for Balboa Performing Arts Theater and Director of Public Relations for Pacific Symphony. He is the author of the book Newport Beach Centennial: Celebrating a Century, published in 2006. Christopher is also the founder and past president of New Voices Playwrights Workshop, and has written and directed numerous plays at local theaters. For his work in creating a forum for local playwrights and plays, the Daily Pilot newspaper named Christopher its Man of the Year in Theater for 1998. An avid wine collector, Christopher has become a legend in his own mind – and to the staff at Laguna Playhouse – for his award-winning (OC Fair) chocolate chip cookies!
GREG RENOE (Director of Marketing)
With over 12 years of executive experience as a successful marketing and business development professional, Greg has served a wide spectrum of industries including cultural arts, technology, consulting, training, beauty, wellness, publishing and finance. Prior to joining The Laguna Playhouse, Greg served as Marketing Driector for the award-winning Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, marketing over 25 productions which collectively garnered over 25 regional theatre awards. Greg was an integral member of the Geffen's $17.5 million capital campaign and historic renovation. Greg's development strategies and leadership resulted in the Geffen's largest increase and retention of annual sales, securing the organization's administrative future while technologically positioning the theater for long-term growth and success. Greg is an Orange County native and currently resides in Irvine.
