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.

MICHAEL BARKER (Assoc. Managing Director) comes to the Playhouse from The Antaeus Company in North Hollywood, where he served as Managing Director. Before moving to California, he was Associate Managing Director at Yale Repertory Theatre, Managing Director of Yale Summer Cabaret, and produced the third annual Carlotta Festival of New Plays. He was the 2008 Managing Director Fellow at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Prior to graduate school, he was Associate Director of Marketing for Court Theatre, producing classics in residence at the University of Chicago. Also in Chicago, he worked with The Goodman Theatre, American Theater Company, Sansculottes Theater Company, and The Playground Theater. He holds an MFA in theater management from Yale School of Drama and an MBA from Yale School of Management. He lives in Long Beach with his wife Heidi, a costume designer working in television and film. Photo credit: Carolyn Potz