Karen Wood joined The Laguna Playhouse as Managing Director in February 2008. Together with Artistic Director Andrew Barnicle, Wood is helping to advance the Playhouse’s mission and expand its reach into the community as The Laguna Playhouse approaches its landmark 90th anniversary in 2010.
Wood 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, Wood spent eight years as Managing Director of San Diego Repertory Theatre, a nationally-recognized, award-winning organization. Wood was also Managing Director of The Music Center Education Division in Los Angeles, an arts education organization that serves one million students and teachers annually.
Wood 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, general and company management up and down the coast of California.
Wood is delighted to be making both her professional and personal home in Laguna Beach and is an active member of the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance, the Regional Arts Initiative funded by the James Irvine Foundation, and the League of Resident Theatres.
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.
