The Team

Artistic Producing Director
Eric Keen-Louie

Eric Keen-Louie (he/him/his) joined the Playhouse in September, 2018, after seven years at The Old Globe, where he started as Associate Producer and later became Associate Artistic Director. At the Globe, he helped guide nearly fifty productions, including the pre-Broadway productions of Bright Star, Allegiance and the Tony Award-winning A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. He co-created the theater’s new play development initiative The Powers New Voices Festival and helped launch the arts engagement programs Community Voices and Globe for All. Keen-Louie spent three years at The Public Theater as the Assistant to the Associate Producer and then Director of Special Projects, working on world premieres by Richard Nelson, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Stephen Sondheim, as well as the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Hair and the creation of The Mobile Unit. Independently, he produced Kingdom and the GLAAD Media Award-winning when last we flew. He also assisted Broadway producer Margo Lion on Hairspray and Caroline, or Change. He is a recipient of The Edward & Sally Van Lier Arts Fellowship for Producing and an alumnus of American Express’ Leadership Academy. He serves as Secretary for the National Alliance of Musical Theatre’s Board of Directors and chairs the organization’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee and New Works Committee. He graduated with a B.A. in Dramatic Literature from New York University and an M.F.A. in Theatre Management and Producing from Columbia University, where he received a Dean’s fellowship. He shares his commute to La Jolla with his husband Anthony Keen-Louie, an administrator in student affairs at UC San Diego. He is a proud third-generation Chinese-American.

Director of Artistic Development
Gabriel Greene

Gabriel Greene joined La Jolla Playhouse’s artistic staff in 2007. In addition to curating and producing the annual DNA New Work Series, he has dramaturged over two dozen new plays and musicals for the Playhouse, including The Squirrels, Wild Goose Dreams, At the Old Place, Escape to Margaritaville, Miss You Like Hell, JUNK, The Last Tiger in Haiti, Blueprints to Freedom, Up Here, The Darrell Hammond Project, The Who & The What, Milk Like Sugar (also off-Broadway) and Memphis (also Broadway and London; four Tony Awards). With Alex Levy, he wrote Safe at Home, a site-specific show which was developed through the DNA Series and received its world premiere at Mixed Blood Theatre in 2017 (Ivey Award). Goosebumps Alive, his immersive adaptation of R.L. Stine’s best-selling novels (co-written and directed by Tom Salamon) received its world premiere at The Vaults (London) in 2016. He is a graduate of University of Michigan and Trinity College, Dublin.

Director of Experiences and Activations
Mia Fiorella

Mia Fiorella joined the marketing team at Jolla Playhouse in 2011 and has worked on many hit shows like Come From Away, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Blueprints to Freedom, Junk and Miss You Like Hell – and all Without Walls projects. Her passion is bringing audiences and artists together to share stories, culture and experiences. Mia previously worked as the Audience Development Manager at The Old Globe, and in Chicago as a Publicist with John Iltis & Cheryl Lewin Associates (a film and theatre PR firm) and as the Marketing & Publicity Director for The Noble Fool Theatre and Trinity Irish Dance Company. She is a proud graduate of the Theatre Management program at DePaul University in Chicago. Mia spent the last twenty years playing women’s ice hockey until recently, when she discovered rowing on Mission Bay. Before all of these many journeys, she danced for the Delia Stewart Dance company in Houston, TX (now the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center) and studied modern and jazz dance in New York City.
 

Director of Arts Engagement/In-House Casting
Jacole Kitchen

Jacole Kitchen is the Director of Arts Engagement and In-House Casting at La Jolla Playhouse, spearheading numerous community-based programs. In addition, she teaches acting, improv and professional development for actors through UCSD Extension. Directing credits include the Playhouse’s Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour production of Light Years Away, Cardboard Piano (Diversionary Theatre), An Iliad (New Village Arts), among others. She was recently named Executive Director of the San Diego Performing Arts League.
 

Director of Philanthropy
Keely Daximillion

Keely joined the Philanthropy team in 2021 and works closely with individuals to deepen their connection to the Playhouse. Prior to the Playhouse, Keely was with The Old Globe for almost ten years helping to raise over $10 million annually. Keely has worked with the National Endowment of the Arts and led advocacy groups for education in growing the culture of Philanthropy in the Arts. Keely started her philanthropy career at Casa de Amparo and helped to complete the Casa Kids Capital Campaign Campus in 2011. She is a member of AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) and served as President of the Board in 2016 and chaired the 2013 National Philanthropy Day and spearheaded the 2016 National Philanthropy Day “Symphony of Philanthropy”. She is the former Board Chair for Culture Shock Dane Troupe and currently resides on the Advisory Board for Culture Shock Dance Troupe. Keely has been a Big Sister through Big Brother Big Sisters in Los Angeles and San Diego for over 15 years. Prior to San Diego, Keely lived in Los Angeles and worked in public relations and television production. She is a proud graduate of Oklahoma City University and still serves as an Alumni Advisor.
 

Director of Public Relations
Becky Biegelsen

Becky joined the La Jolla Playhouse staff in 2009. During her tenure, she has garnered major national coverage in such publications as The New York Times, Time Magazine, American Theatre, LA Times, Huffington Post and NPR for the Playhouse’s numerous world-premiere, Broadway-bound productions, including Come From Away, Lempicka, Indecent, Diana, Hands on a Hardbody, as well as the Playhouse’s acclaimed Without Walls (WOW) Festivals. Prior to working at the Playhouse, she served Public Relations Director at The Old Globe and has held communications positions at UC San Diego, Boston’s Citi Performing Arts Center and New York City Opera. She is a graduate of Carleton College and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

Director of Sales & Marketing
Stephanie Zappala

A native Australian, Stephanie has enjoyed a career in the arts and non-profit sectors in Australia, the UK and USA. Stephanie joined La Jolla Playhouse in 2022, overseeing successful campaigns for Playhouse-born world premieres including The Outsiders, The Untitled, Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, Babbitt with Matthew Broderick, Redwood with Idina Menzel and more to come. She has held leadership positions at premiere organizations including Miami City Ballet, Sydney Theatre Company, Opera Australia, The Royal Academy of Dance and The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. At Miami City Ballet, she led some of the most successful campaigns in the company’s history. At Sydney Theatre Company, she led an innovative loyalty program for 20,000~ subscribers, and campaigns for over 80 reimagined classics and new works for the stage. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Program in Social Impact and the Australian College of Journalism. Stephanie is passionate about making extraordinary artistic experiences available to everyone.

Director of Learning
Bridget Cavaiola Stone

Bridget has been with La Jolla Playhouse since 2017, first as a Teaching Artist, and now as the Director of Learning. She is a San Diego based educator, improviser, and facilitator and has been performing and teaching improv theater and communication strategies to adults and children since 2005. She has been a Master Teaching Artist with Arts for Learning, San Diego, La Jolla Playhouse, and San Diego Junior Theatre and is a performer and teacher with Finest City Improv. She is the former Education Director for the Baltimore Improv Group as well as a former Teaching Artist for Young Audiences of Maryland. She was a Baltimore County Public Schools High School (MD) English and theater teacher for seven years. Bridget is a graduate of the Young Audience of Maryland Teaching Artist Institute and has extensive training in inclusion, professional development, and arts integration. She holds a masters degree in Communicating in Contemporary Cultures and teaches adjunct at the college level. She has performed improv in Baltimore, DC, New York, Chicago, Austin, Philadelphia, London, and San Diego.

General Manager
Ryan Meisheid

Ryan joined the Playhouse in October 2018. Most Recently Ryan was the Associate Managing Director at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company. Prior to the Denver Center, Ryan was in the General Management departments at New York’s Public Theatre and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and worked with Off-Broadway’s Second Stage Theatre and Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre Company. He graduated from the Theatre School, DePaul University in Chicago with a B.F.A. in Theatre Management, and was part of the 2015 artEquity Facilitator Training Cohort. He is a Trustee of the San Diego Theatrical Health and Pension Funds.

Director of Operations
Ned Collins

Chief Financial Officer
Laura Killmer

Senior Production Manager
Becca Duhaime

Becca Duhaime joined La Jolla Playhouse as an Assistant Production Manager in 2015, and became Co-Leader of the Production department in 2024. During her time at the Playhouse, she production managed WOW Festival ’15-‘22 and continues to lead production teams in the development of new and reimagined work, including Redwood, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, As You Like It, Lempicka and Bhangin’ It. Prior to La Jolla Playhouse Becca worked at The Alley Theatre, Blue Man Group, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Santa Fe Opera, and Ogunquit Playhouse. She is a proud graduate of Ithaca College Theatre Arts where she received her BFA, has her BA in Business, and is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Sheri L. Jamieson
Chair

Denise Bevers
First Vice-Chair

Michael Flaster
Second Vice-Chair

Scott M. Stanton
Treasurer

Annie Ellis
Secretary

1947 Founders
Mel Ferrer
Dorothy McGuire
Gregory Peck

Trustees
Weston Anson
Christopher Ashley
Susan Gembrowski Baker
Michael Bartell
Ralph Bryan*
Debby Buchholz
Randy Camp
Robert Caplan
Lisa Casey
Ann Cathcart Chaplin
Randall Clark*
Mary Coleman
Stephen Coleman
Doug Dawson
Edward A. Dennis, Ph.D.
Susan Dubé
Hal Dunning
Emily Einhorn
Ray Flores
Judy Garrett
Justin Gleiberman
Lynn E. Gorguze
Luke Gulley
Kay Gurtin
Clark Guy
Dean Haas
Osborn L. Hurston
Debby Jacobs
Joan Jacobs (1933-2024)
Pradeep K. Khosla, Ph.D.
Veronica Leff
Bena Leslie
Lynelle Lynch*
Margret McBride*
Lorne Polger
Byron Pollitt
Karen A. Quiñones
David I. Reynoso
Becky Robbins
Phillip Rudolph
Robin Rusinko
Shane Shelley
Karen Silberman
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg
Suzi Sterner
Andy Thomas
Marjorie Mae Treger
Erin Trenda
Mary Walshok, Ph.D.
Barbara ZoBell

Honorary Trustees
Peter Cowhey, Ph.D.
Ivan Gayler
John Goodman
Jeanne Jones
Julie Potiker
Steven M. Strauss*
Geri Ann Warnke*
Gary Wollberg*
Robert Wright, Esq.

Emeritus Trustees
David Copley (1952-2012)
Ted Cranston (1940-2012)
Milton Fredman (1920-2005)
Ewart W. Goodwin, Jr.* (1938-2019)
Joel Holliday* (1939-2022)
Hughes Potiker (1925-2005)
Roger Revelle (1909-1991)
Jeffrey Ressler* (1943-2022)
Willard P. VanderLaan, M.D.* (1917-2012)
Arthur Wagner, Ph.D. (1923-2015)
Mandell Weiss (1891-1993)

Emerita Trustees
Rita Bronowski (1917-2010)
Joan Jacobs (1933-2024)
Marian Jones Longstreth (1906-1997)
Sheila Potiker (1930-2011)
Ellen Revelle (1910-2009)

*Past Chair of the Board

As of April 2024

Artistic Producing Director
Eric Keen-Louie

Director of Artistic Development
Gabriel Greene

Director of Experiences and Activations
Mia Fiorella

Associate Producer
Amy Ashton

Executive Assistant to Christopher Ashley
Rick VanNoy

Director Emeritus
Des McAnuff

Directing Fellow
Kat Yen

Artists Currently Under Commission
Todd Almond, Jeff Augustin, Sam Chanse, Fernanda Coppel, Ava Geyer, Idris Goodwin, Mike Lew, Rehana Lew Mirza, Martyna Majok, Mona Mansour, Jess McLeod, MILCK, Lisa Peterson, Theresa Rebeck, Harrison David Rivers, Claudia Shear, Christopher Shinn, Octavio Solis, Jonathan Spector, Benjamin Velez, Keith Wallace, Cheryl L. West, Kristina Wong, Lauren Yee

Learning and Engagement

Director of Learning
Bridget Cavaiola Stone

Director of Arts Engagement and In-House Casting
Jacole Kitchen

Learning and Engagement Manager and Casting Associate
Hannah Reinert

Learning and Engagement Coordinator
Danniel Ureña

Teaching Artists
Julie Benitez, Lex Bezdeka, Desha Crownover, Leticia De Anda, Nicole Diaz-Pellot, Shairi Engle, Kevyn Fernandez, Kristen Fogle, Shawn Foote, Melissa Glasgow, Kirsten Giard, Abby Huffstetler, Jeffrey Ingman, Erica Kahn, Justin Lang, Wilfred Paloma, Lorena Santana, Gill Sotu, Emily Stamets, Marjorie Treger

Contact Learning and Engagement: [email protected]

General Manager
Ryan Meisheid

Associate General Manager
Erica Martin

COMPANY MANAGEMENT

Company Manager
Grace Lehman

Assistant Company Manager
Charlotte Perkis

Company Management Assistant
Austin Mahn

LEGAL COUNSEL

Corporate/Legal Counsel
Robert C. Wright, Wright & L’Estrange

Theatre/Legal Counsel
F. Richard Pappas, Esq.

Chief Financial Officer
Laura Killmer

Controller
Jared Jackson

Accounts Payable Manager
Sharon Ratelle

Human Resources Manager
Jennifer Boaz

Payroll
Matthew Zapata

Director of Philanthropy
Keely Daximillion

Deputy Director of Philanthropy
Rebecca Pierce Goodman

Assistant Director, Philanthropy Operations
Tony Dixon

Individual Giving Manager
Taylor Lehmkuhl

Special Events Manager
Haleigh Stewart

Corporate Relations Manager
Katie Wallace-Coppo

Grants Specialist
Dylan Gervais

Donor Relations Coordinator
Kayla Alperson

Special Events Coordinator
Gabriella Johnson

Philanthropy Coordinator
Anna Stanton

Events Assistant
Justin Valine

Director of Public Relations
Becky Biegelsen

Director of Sales & Marketing
Stephanie Zappala

Associate Director of Sales & Marketing
Sonia Diaz

Communications Manager
Grace Madamba

Senior Multimedia Designer
Nancy Showers

Multimedia Designer
Phyllis Sa

Marketing Manager
Kevin Taylor

Social Media and Content Manager
Samantha Laurent

Marketing Database Analyst
Dani Meister

Marketing Assistant
Kate Ng

Patron Services Sales Specialist
Paul Preston

Sales Concierge
William Guiney

PATRON SERVICES

Associate Director of Ticketing Services
Pearl Hang

Senior Patron Services Manager
Travis Guss

Patron Services Assistant Manager/Group Sales Specialist
Bill Washington

Lead Patron Services Representatives
Rachel Lasker, Claire Michael

Patron Services Representatives
Shoshi Fleury, Devon Gonzales, Atalaya Gonzalez

Director of Operations
Ned Collins

Operations Manager
John Craft

Network Systems Specialist
Daryl “Scooter” Davis

Office Administrator
Debbie Berg-Swaton

FRONT OF HOUSE

House Manager
Braulio Fernandez-Flores

Assistant House Managers
Simonne Darbonne, Emily Klemmetsen, Amy Marquez, Gem Sorianno, Maria Torpey, Armando Navarro

Audience Concierges
Sara Delgado, Chris Ferreria, Katana Fox, Sashank Kanchustambam, Olivia Newell, Sam Lebedev, Angela Park, Teya Searles, Avery Simonian, Nare Terzyan, Emmett Torpey

Senior Production Manager
Becca Duhaime

Assistant Production Manager
Julian Diaz

Production Office Manager
Topaz Cooks

Resident Stage Manager
Alexa Burn

SCENE SHOP

Associate Technical Director
Kyle Pollitt

Scenery Specialist
David Weiner

Shop Foreman
Christopher Chauvet

Lead Carpenter
Michael Harris

Carpenters
Sam Bedford, Christopher Bridges, Michael Brodsky, Jason Foster, Keegan Graham, Melony Picart, Heather Rawolle, Nicholas Savage, Diego Sierra, Elias Solis, Wally Wallace

Riggers
Marcus Laskey, Jesse Setterberg

Charge Artist
Jennifer Imbler

Lead Scenic Artist
Melissa Nalbach

Scenic Artists
Alyssa Armstrong, Caroline Kvaas, Marie Mateo

PROPERTIES SHOP

Prop Supervisor
Deb Hatch

Prop Design Associate
Zlatko Mitev

Prop Lead Artisan
Rai Feltmann

Prop Artisan
Arlene Banuelos

COSTUME SHOP

Costume Supervisor
Jennifer Ables

Resident Costume Design Associate
Desiree Hatfield-Buckley

Costume Design Assistant
Claire Peterson

Drapers
Sara Lindsey, CeCe Sickler of Blue Collar Costumes

First Hand
Cody Grasher

Lead Crafts Artisan
Tess Mattraw

Stitchers
Sonya Levin, Sadie Rothenberg, Susan Sachs, Faith Steenbergen

ELECTRICS

Production Electrician
Kristyn Kennedy

Electricians
Michelle Aguilar, Alex Cluff, Sandra Navarro, Nick Shelton, Aiko Whitmore

Moving Light Programmer
B. Yamashita

SOUND/VIDEO

Production Sound & Video
Dan Barsky

Head Audio
Daniel Silva

Assistant Head Audio
Mae Le

Sound/Video Technicians
Camille Houze, Alfredo Madrigal, Sarah Rad, David Silva, Jeremy Nelson