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.
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.
ANGELA STUDLEY (Assistant Business Manager) is currently the youngest full-time staff member at The Laguna Playhouse. She started as a Customer Service Specialist in the Box Office in 2002, and was promoted in July 2005. Angela just recently finished up her Bachelors of Communications with an emphasis in Advertising and minors in Theatre & Graphic Design at Cal State University, Fullerton. She stumbled upon theatre when an error in her class schedule in junior high forced her to take Drama 1. She has been involved in theatre work ever since, whether it is onstage, backstage, or just working in the same environment. She has previously worked for OCPAC. She loves the atmosphere that encompasses working at the Playhouse, and looks forward to the many new and exciting projects ahead.
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) has over 12 years of experience as a successful marketing and business development professional, serving a wide spectrum of industries including cultural arts, technology, consulting, training, beauty, wellness, publishing and finance. Greg most recently served as the Marketing Driector for the award-winning Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, marketing over 25 productions while optimizing internal operations and technologies supporting the completion of the theater's $17.5 million capital campaign and historic renovation. The contribution of Greg's business development strategies and leadership skill resulted in the Geffen's largest advancement, increase and retention of annual sales and earned income, securing the organization's administrative future and technologically positioning the theater for long-term growth and success. Greg is an Orange County native and currently resides in Irvine.
