From the ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
DAVID ELLENSTEIN
Welcome to Laguna Playhouse!
What better way to kick off a new season than with a laugh out loud farce! Don’t Dress For Dinner has had audiences rolling in the aisles for three decades. Indeed, when Laguna Playhouse first produced it back in the mid 1990’s, it was so successful it had to return for a special summer engagement as well.
When I ask long time subscribers of the Playhouse about the favorite shows they have seen here over the years, Don’t Dress For Dinner is often mentioned. So, it seemed like it was the right moment to bring the good times back. Fasten your seat bets for a rollicking good time.
As we anticipate the rest of our new season, we have an exciting lineup of drama, comedy, and music waiting for you. To our returning subscribers, we are deeply grateful for your continued support and trust. If you are not yet a subscriber, we invite you to join us. Enjoy the best prices, secure your preferred seats for all productions, and take advantage of various subscriber benefits and discounts. By subscribing, you become part of Laguna Playhouse extended family and help support the Arts in here in Orange County.
Now, get ready for some fun, and please enjoy Don’t Dress for Dinner!
David Ellenstein Artistic Director
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CHAIR
Lisa Hale
VICE CHAIR
Justin Myers
SECRETARY
Jeff Winston
Heather Anne Chalmers
Torin J. Cunningham, MD
James Hale
TREASURER
Harley Bassman
GOVERNANCE & NOMINATIONS
Jared K. Mathis
Dr. Gary Jenkins
Barbara MacGillivray
Heidi Miller
Xiaohong Rose
Emeritus Trustees
Glenn E. Gray
Otis Healy
Ilona Martin
Melinda Masson
Jim Mellor
Artistic Director
David Ellenstein
Ryan Smith
Jordy Spiegel
Richard Thomas
Managing Director
Bill Kerlin
presents starring Brian Robert Burns, Kim Morgan Dean, Veronica Dunne, Brandon J. Pierce, Katy Tang, and Jared Van Heel
Don’t Dress for Dinner
written by
Marc Camoletti
adapted by
Robin Hawdon
directed by
Christopher Williams
scenic designer Marty Burnett
costume designer Elisa Benzoni
lighting designer Matthew Novotny
Michael Donovan Casting
Michael Donovan, CSA
Richie Ferris, CSA
properties designer Kevin Williams casting
sound designer Chris Luessmann
production stage manager Vernon Willet
Don’t Dress for Dinner is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
OPENING NIGHT
SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • MOULTON THEATRE, LAGUNA BEACH
A NOTE ON DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER FROM DIRECTOR
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS
Is there anything that’s more delightful than a comedy filled with mistaken identities, marital friction, crazy jealous lovers, alcohol induced follies, physical peril, and countless secrets being revealed? I don’t think so. To me, that’s the perfect recipe for a night at the theater!
Farce, derived from the Old French word for “stuffing,” has a fascinating history. During Medieval religious dramas (imagine how funny those were), actors would insert or “stuff” improvisational bits into the texts or interludes, often including satire, absurdity, and exaggerated situations and characters. This provided a welcome respite and helped alleviate the feeling of dread while being chastised for one’s immorality and unworthiness. Since then, farce has evolved from the physical styles of Commedia dell’arte to the quick-witted verbal fencing of the French, to the risqué shenanigans of the “bedroom farce.”
Robin Hawdon’s Don’t Dress for Dinner infuses aspects of each of these styles, much like the works of Noel Coward or Alan Ayckbourn. His fastpaced, sexy adaptation of Marc Camoletti’s successful French farce, Pyjama pour six, has had audiences rolling in the aisles since its original production on the West End thirty years ago.
I had the great fortune of performing in a production of Don’t Dress for Dinner over at North Coast Rep many years ago, directed by Rosina Reynolds. It remains one of the most entertaining experiences of my career, and I’ve been eager to rediscover the chaotic hilarity. And so I have, with a wickedly talented cast of comedic artists and brilliant designers. Prepare yourself for the raucous roasting of our dinner guests. I hope you had a chance to use the restroom before the show, or it could be an uncomfortable and “delicate situation” for you.
Christopher Williams Director
THE COMPANY
Bernard..........................................................................................................
Brian Robert Burns
Jacqueline ..................................................................................................... Kim Morgan Dean
Suzette................................................................................................................ Veronica Dunne
Robert...............................................................................................................Brandon J. Pierce
Suzanne ......................................................................................................................... Katy Tang
George ................................................................................................................. Jared Van Heel
BRIAN ROBERT BURNS
KIM MORGAN DEAN VERONICA DUNNE
The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association.
INTERMISSION
There will be a 15 minute intermission.
WHO’S WHO
BRIAN ROBERT BURNS (Bernard) First National Tour: War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Yale Rep: Richard II, Romeo and Juliet. San Francisco Playhouse: Becky Shaw. Rubicon Theater Company: The Baby Dance: Mixed. The Fountain Theatre: Arrival and Departure. Boomerang: Cymbeline. Clout in the Mug: Look Back in Anger. Lifetime: “Danger Lurking Under My Roof,” “Lucky Hearts.” Streaming: “Daredevil,” “Black-ish.” MFA Yale School of Drama. Brian is in a punk band called Nonheroelite, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing champion, and plays co-ed wood-bat baseball in a rec league for the two-time LABF champion Los Angeles Death. Brian is elated to be sharing this production of Don’t Dress for Dinner with you at the Laguna Playhouse and would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support. .
KIM MORGAN DEAN (Jacqueline) is delighted to return to Laguna Playhouse, where she was seen last season as Captain Hastings in the world premiere of Steven Dietz’s Murder on the Links. Kim has performed in over 20 productions at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA and over 30 productions at Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg, WV, including Next to Normal in the summer of 2023. Other credits include: Yankee Tavern (Florida Stage); Collected Stories (Mosaic Theatre); Beguiled Again, Ripcord, Moon Over Buffalo (Florida Rep). She is the recipient of the 2008 and 2009 Carbonell Best Supporting Actress Award for her performances as Wren in Body of Water and Mairead in The Lieutenant of Inishmore, respectively. Gratitude to the Laguna Playhouse crew for having me aboard, to TM for love & support, and to YOU for supporting live theatre! www.kimmorgandean.com.
VERONICA DUNNE (Suzette) is so happy to be returning to Laguna Playhouse after having taken the stage as Cinderella this last Christmas season. She is most recognized for her role as Marisa on Disney Channel’s “KC Undercover” and making her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago. Along with other TV and Film protects, some stage credits include Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), and Legally Blonde (Margot). Veronica is overjoyed to be working on this hilarious show. Instagram: @ veronica_dunne.
BRANDON J. PIERCE (Robert) is thrilled to be performing at Laguna Playhouse! Born in the city of Philadelphia, where he has most extensively plied his trade, Brandon has had the pleasure of performing all over the country. Broadway: Birthday Candles (Roundabout Theatre) Off-Broadway: Exit Strategy (Primary Stages) Regional: Fat Ham, Eternal Life Pt.1, Kill Move Paradise (Wilma Theatre); Incendiary (Woolly Mammoth); Ben Butler (North Coast Repertory); Native Son (Playmakers Rep.); Welcome to Fear City (Kansas City Rep); Skeleton Crew (Portland Stage); Sweat (People’s Light); Metamorphoses (Arden Theatre Company). Brandon is a member of the Wilma Theater’s Hothouse Acting Company. Brandon was the recipient of the 2023 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play. Love to Alexandra, Mom, and Dad.
KATY TANG (Suzanne) is excited to return to Laguna Playhouse, previously seen in Love Among the Ruins and Tartuffe. Regional credits: Sweeney Todd, She Loves Me (South Coast Repertory), A Christmas Carol (Denver Center, Syracuse Stage), Marry Me A Little (International City Theatre), Candide (San Bernardino Symphony), A Little Night Music (EastWest Players), Spring Awakening (Cygnet Theatre), The Mikado, Turn of the Screw (Pacific Opera Project), La Mirada Theatre, Independent Shakespeare Company, Laguna Playhouse, The LATC, Arrow Rock Lyceum, Sacred Fools, Fullerton Civic Light Opera, and LA Opera. International credits: Susanna in ”Le Nozze di Figaro” (Mediterranean Opera Festival, Italy), Sophie in “Werther,” Amour in “Orphée et Eurydice” (La Péniche Opera, France). Katy has also recently created her own site-specific work with vocal sound installations, as a selected 2023 Artist in Residence with Saturn’s Return in Washington state. Tang trained at UCLA & the Ecole Normale de Musique, Paris. She was runner-up Miss CA 2013 and is a two-time Junior Olympian ice-skater
JARED VAN HEEL (George) is thrilled to be returning to Laguna Playhouse after appearing as Valére/M. Loyal in Tartuffe earlier this year. Southern California audiences may have previously seen him in eight productions of Shakespeare at The Old Globe. He has toured extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. Off-Broadway credits include Hamlet and The Awesome 80s Prom. Select Regional credits include The Liar, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Texas Shakespeare Festival); The Trip to Bountiful, Frankenstein Unplugged, Betty’s Summer Vacation, Cyclone, and Breach (Montana Repertory Theatre); Antony & Cleopatra (Harlequin Productions), American Midget (Trembling Stage), Twelfth Night (MadCap Productions), and others.
MARC CAMOLETTI (Playwright) (1923-2003) authored more than 40 plays and became a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in France. Boeing Boeing, his first major international success, ran for seven years and 2000 performances in its debut London production. It became the Guinness Book of Records’ most performed French play worldwide. The Paramount film starred Jerry Lewis, Tony Curtis and Thelma Ritter. A later play, Don’t Dress for Dinner, also ran for seven years in London’s West End. A French citizen, born in Geneva, and an acclaimed artist and associate of the Société National des Beaux Arts, Marc Camoletti launched his theatre career with three plays running simultaneously in Paris. Ten of his plays have also been produced for television. His work continues to flourish in numerous languages and some 55 countries.
ROBIN HAWDON (Adaptation) is a British playwright especially known for the popularity of his comedies. Mr. Hawdon’s plays are amongst the most frequently produced around the world — his name is as well-known abroad as in his native Great Britain. Many of his plays are published by Samuel French/ Concord. Over recent years his plays have appeared in mainstream theatres in the UK, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Paris, Moscow, Warsaw, Krakow, Bonn, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Tel Aviv, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, South Africa, Australia, and in hundreds of smaller theatres across every continent. Their popularity, amongst professional and amateur companies alike, is due to the fast pace and comic complexity of their plot lines, combined with an essential humanity and reality in their characterization.
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS (Director) During his 30 years in the industry, Christopher has made his theatrical career as a director, union actor and stage manager, as well as fight choreographer, designer, and instructor. His directing credits include: Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Visiting Mr. Green, and the West Coast Premieres of Gabriel and Desperate Measures (North Coast Rep); Romeo and Juliet (Southwest Shakespeare); Beau Jest and Leading Ladies (Moonlight Stages); Halpern and Johnson (AZ Jewish Theatre); I Hate Hamlet (Intrepid Theatre); Julius Caesar (New Village Arts); The Outsider and Chapatti (Scripps Ranch Theatre). He served six years as Associate Artistic Director and Casting Director for North Coast Rep following his duties as founding Artistic Director of Oceanside Theatre Company. Christopher has also worked in the film industry where he was producer, casting associate, and on-set acting coach for the WWII feature “Walking with the Enemy,” starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Jonas Armstrong.
MARTY BURNETT (Scenic Designer) Resident Designer at North Coast Rep since 1992. Scenic designed over 250 productions at the theatre. Resident Designer at Coronado Playhouse 1981-84 and Fiesta Dinner Theater 1984-87. Co-owner Props and Drops 1987-91, Designing for Union Plaza, Hacienda and Sahara Hotels and Casinos, Las Vegas; Harrah’s, South Lake Tahoe and Claridge Hotel, Atlantic City; Drury Lane Theater, Chicago. At Laguna Playhouse designed Chapatti, Alexandros, and transfer designed Murder on the Links, Tartuffe and Camelot from North Coast Rep. Marty has a B.A. from Creighton University, Omaha, NE.
ELISA BENZONI (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be working again with the Laguna Playhouse. Her work was previously seen in Camelot, A Shayna Maidel, The Angel Next Door, Murder on the Links and Chapatti. Elisa has also worked on over a hundred productions across Southern California with theatres such as The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Diversionary Theatre and New Village Arts. Elisa is also the Resident Costume Designer at North Coast Repertory Theatre. Elisa holds a costume design M.F.A. from UCSD where she is currently an adjunct professor.
MATT NOVOTNY (Lighting Designer) is pleased to be bringing this show to Laguna Playhouse after previously designing it for North Coast Rep, where he has designed over 100 shows over the past 18 years. This is Matthew’s seventh show at Laguna, having previously designed Chapatti, Murder on the Links, 2 Pianos 4 Hands, The Angel Next Door, Tartuffe, and Camelot. Matthew is currently the Lighting Designer in Residence for North Coast and San Diego Junior Theatre, and frequently designs for Palomar College, CSUSM, Pacific Ridge School, Ovation Theatre Company, along with several others. Matthew currently works for Thermo Fisher Scientific, as well as teaching Theatre Design at Cal State San Marcos. Matthew holds a B.A. in Technical Theatre from San Diego State and a master’s degree in Lighting Design from Boston University. Matthew is married to his beautiful wife Amanda, with five AMAZING children: Ragan, Harper, Heston, Maddex, and Harrison.
CHRIS LUESSMANN (Sound Designer) Some of Chris’ favorite sound designs include: Off Broadway: The Third Story. La Jolla Playhouse: Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, Chasing The Song, Hollywood, and The Darrell Hammond Project. Moonlight Stage Productions: The Wizard of Oz (Craig Noel Award,) Les Misérables, and Little Shop of Horrors. North Coast Rep: Dracula and A Christmas Carol, (for which he won Patté Awards,) The Odd Couple, The Tempest, Henry IV Part I, Baby, Jaques Brel...,The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Voice of the Prairie. Chris holds a BA in Theatre from UCLA, and an MFA in Theatre from UC San Diego.
MICHAEL DONOVAN, CSA (Casting) Michael Donovan is the recipient of 9 Artios awards, presented by the Casting Society of America for Outstanding Achievement in casting. Richie Ferris has 3 Artios awards. The company’s credits include shows produced at the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, the Hollywood Bowl, the Wallis Annenberg, Pasadena Playhouse, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Geffen Playhouse, the Getty Villa, the Soraya, La Jolla Playhouse, the Garry Marshall Theatre, Ebony Repertory Theatre, San Francisco Symphony, Arizona Theatre Company, Arkansas Rep, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Rep, the Totem Pole Playhouse, and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Other credits include numerous films, TV shows and commercials. Michael is President of the Board for the Foundation for New American Musicals, and serves on the Board for Camp Bravo.
KEVIN WILLIAMS (Properties Designer) Recovering actor and L.A. native, Kevin has spent over two decades working as a designer, art director, fabricator and consultant for clients such as Walt Disney Imagineering, HUB Network, Red 5 Studios, Buena Vista Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox among many others. Notably, he was the Resident Production Designer for interactive theatre company, Delusion, for seven years: Lies Within (2014), His Crimson Queen (2016), Lies Within VR (2017), The Blue Blade (2018) and Reaper’s Remorse (2021). Kevin is the Prop Department Supervisor for UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television and lives in Orange County with his incredible family. Proud member of S.P.M.
VERNON WILLET (Production Stage Manager) has had the privilege of working with the Laguna Playhouse for many years, most recently with Holmes and Watson, directed by David Ellenstein. Vernon’s work encompasses many of the Southern California Theatres: North Coast Repertory Theatre, McCoy/ Rigby Entertainment, Musical Theatre West, 3D Theatricals, the Rubicon Theatre, San Diego Musical Theatre, Theatre Aspen, Maltz Jupiter Theatre and a myriad of others. He shares his life with director/ choreographer/champion ballroom dancer Cate Caplin. Actors’ Equity Association member since 1983.
DAVID ELLENSTEIN (Artistic Director) Born into a theatrical family, David has been working in professional theatre for the better part of five decades - from San Diego to Portland, Maine and from Miami to Anchorage, Alaska - and most places in between. Now, he serves as the Artistic Director for both Laguna Playhouse and North Coast Rep. At Laguna Playhouse, credits include directing Holmes and Watson, A Shayna Maidel, The Angel Next Door, Chapatti, Alexandros and playing “Einstein” in Picasso at The Lapin Agile. Other directorial credits include The Chosen at Paper Mill Playhouse; Halpern and Johnson and Sonia Flew at Coconut Grove Playhouse; The Glass Menagerie, Rocket City and Honky Tonk Angels at Alabama Shakespeare Festival; His Royal Hipness at 59E59 in NYC; and Long Day’s Journey into Night at Renaissance Theatre. As Artistic Director at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach since 2003, over 60 directorial credits including Way Down River, The Tempest, A Moon for the Misbegotten, The Outsider and The Homecoming. David’s career includes acting credits of playing the title roles in Hamlet at LA Theatre Center and LA Rep; Richard III at California Shakespeare Festival; Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at Moonlight Stage; Jonathan in Sight Unseen, Max in Laughter on the 23rd Floor and Matt in Talley’s Folly at North Coast Rep as well as over three dozen film and television episodes.
BILL KERLIN (Managing Director) Originally from Valparaiso, Indiana, Mr. Kerlin brings over 30 years of finance, marketing, and sales experience to the Laguna Playhouse, including 12 years as Managing Director for North Coast Repertory Theatre and 16 seasons as the Director of Administration at the legendary Coconut Grove Playhouse, in Miami. During the time that Bill served at Coconut Grove, it was the largest professional not-for-profit producing theatre in the State of Florida. Mr. Kerlin graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Miami in 1984. While he completed his Master of Science from Florida International University, he concurrently taught classes at Miami-Dade College. He was also the Chief Financial Officer for Professionals’ Retirement Strategy, a national insurance and retirement planning service firm in Irvine, CA. He has also served as a Board Member for Camposition, a performing arts company whose mission was to push the boundary between contemporary performance and activism through live performance, interactive outreach programs, and professional development trainings.
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE STAFF
David Ellenstein
Artistic Director
MANAGEMENT
General Manager Denys Baker
Assistant General Manager/Company Manager .... Rachel Garlington
PRODUCTION
Production Manager........................................................... Jordan Muller
Technical Director ...................................................................... Paul Rossi
Resident Sound Designer/Audio Engineer ............................... Ian Scot
Lighting Supervisor Jeremy Plant
Wardrobe Supervisor .......................................................... Stacey Nezda
Production Management Assistant Devon Rieckhof
EDUCATION
Director of Youth Theatre, Education ................................... Joe Alanes
Education and Outreach Coordinator Nakisa Aschtiani
Teaching Artists ............................................ Jack Clark, Sabrina Harper, Anthony Kairouz, Mary Sherg Kaye, Corrine Mohr, Luzma Ortiz, Kelsey Redmond, Toni Redman
FACILITIES OPERATIONS
Facilities Manager David Bryant
Facilities Maintenance Technician.............................. Brandon Sandoval
FRONT OF HOUSE
Artistic & Audience Services Manager ............................. Wally Ziegler
House Manager Clara Bush
Assistant House Manager .................................................... Jane Sabarre
Parking Supervisor Curtis Pebley
Bartender ............................................................................. Leanne Nolan
The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Please check house boards for any program changes.
The Director and Choreographer are members of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union.
Bill Kerlin Managing Director
FINANCE
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Technology Officer Veltria Roman Accounting, Payroll, & HR Manager ...................................... Larry Stotz
Website Consultant Andrew Lombardi IT Services ............................................................... Method Technologies
DEVELOPMENT
Director of Advancement ......................................... Michael G. Murphy
Development Manager Mary Grant Director of Advancement ............................................... Savannah Casey Grants Writer Annamarie Maricle
MARKETING & TICKETING
Communications, PR, & Marketing Director ......... Jen Marchese-Ernst
Marketing Manager Mackenzee Osborne
Assoc. Director of Ticketing & Customer Service.......Chelsea Morgan
Assistant Ticketing Services Manager Morgan Leal
Ticketing Services Lead ...................................................... Nikki Johnson
Ticketing Services Representatives Marlon Gomez-Smith, Peter Knick, Olivia Mancillas, Robert Phipps Graphic Designer Teresa Meza Press Consultant ............................................... David Elzer, Demand PR Season Ticket Sales Theatre Direct
CONSULTANTS
Legal Services....................................................................... Stephen Berry Medical Provider ......... Caduceus Medical Group, Dr. Gregg deNicola
The Costume Designer is represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA 829, IATSE
Laguna Playhouse is a member of the League of Resident Theatres.
PRODUCTION CREW
Production Assistant .............................. Devon Rieckhof
The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distributing recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author’s rights and actionable under United States Copyright Law. For more information please visit: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
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WARNING
Flashing and/or strobing lights and non-toxic synthetic fog, smoke and haze may be used during this production.
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Laguna Playhouse gratefully acknowledges our many donors, within the last year, June 15, 2023 – August 15, 2024 included here at Advocates and above.
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YOUTH THEATRE & EDUCATION
ACTING CLASSES
Fall conservatory classes begin September 9th! Registration is now open! Laguna Playhouse is proud to offer youth acting and theatre classes in conjunction with our fall and spring Youth Theatre productions. Acting classes at the Laguna Playhouse nurture students ages 4-19 in learning professional skills that will guide them to success in theatre and life.
In Conservatory, students ages 9 to 19 learn important acting techniques and methods that are later utilized in full-scale youth productions. With six levels, the conservatory program is for passionate individuals who have a desire to learn professional skills, have fun, and explore their creative voices with other committed students.
We are thrilled to also be offering Junior Conservatory Classes for students ages 4 to 9 on Saturday mornings. Each Junior Conservatory session is based on a fun and exciting theme!
FALL YOUTH THEATRE PRODUCTION
We are excited to announce This Murder Was Staged by Patrick Greene and Jason Pizzarello as our fall Youth Theatre production! This exciting murder mystery will be performing November 22nd and 23rd.
Auditions for this production are coming up on September 20th. To request an audition appontment, email Education@LagunaPlayhouse.com
VISIT LAGUNAPLAYHOUSE.COM/EDUCATION-COMMUNITY-ENGAGEMENT for more information on Conservatory Classes, Young Adult Workshops and more!
THE JESSICA HERRON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Laguna Playhouse gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Dana Klein and Jay Herron who have established the Jessica Herron Memorial Scholarship Fund in loving memory of their daughter, a former student of the Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre.
This designated gift to the theatre’s permanent Endowment will help provide scholarship assistance to talented young people seeking to expand their knowledge and skills though our youth conservatory. For more information call 949.497.2787 x202
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