Trustees Lou and Laura Rohl

“If you believe in something, ” says Laguna Playhouse Board member Laura Rohl, “you should be willing to contribute.” Laura passionately believes that the arts enrich people’s lives and make for a better community. So does her husband Lou, Chief Operating Officer of the nationwide, high-end kitchen and bathroom fixtures company his father Ken Rohl established more than 20 years ago.

Theatre is a passion Lou and Laura have shared throughout their 15-year marriage but it began for each much earlier. Canadian-born Laura—she loves snow, especially if it’s on a ski slope—has watched the Playhouse evolve since she moved to the area as a teen. Lou’s love for theatre began during his Illinois childhood, watching from the wings while his actress mother rehearsed on stage. Long before she met Lou—it was a blind date that worked out wonderfully—Laura even auditioned for a part in Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo. The audition proved redundant when it was decided the play was too racy to produce!

That would be an unlikely outcome today because the Playhouse has built a reputation for artistic adventure with productions that not only entertain but lift people beyond their everyday experience. “The community has become more sophisticated,” says Lou. “It demands more intellectual stimulus.” It’s what Lou describes as the Playhouse’s “top level” programming that has turned the Laguna Beach residents into loyal subscribers since returning in 2003 from San Francisco where Lou headed the family-owned Rohl company’s Western Division for eight years.

As Laura Rohl explains, “You can watch cookie-cutter entertainment on the television all day long, but nothing equals the emotional impact of live theatre. It’s more than a feel-good experience. It helps you look at the world differently. It provokes thought and dialogue. It builds social bonds.”

Apart from the personal pleasure they derive from the Playhouse, the Rohl’s value what it contributes to Laguna’s constantly evolving cultural life and social fabric. That’s why they do more than attend performances. As Artist’s Circle trustees, Lou and Laura Rohl donate generously. As a Board member, Laura particularly understands that non-profit theatres need the support of committed donors because ticket revenue alone is never enough to underwrite the quality programming.

The Rohl’s commitment to local cultural institutions extends beyond the Playhouse. Lou serves on the Laguna Art Museum board. Laura works as a docent for the Festival of the Arts. They see great potential for the further development of Laguna’s artistic life as the community matures and believe the arts can play an increasingly significant role in bolstering the town’s attractiveness as a prime tourist destination.

As part of their vision for the growth of Laguna’s cultural sector, the Rohls are firmly committed to the Playhouse’s rebuilding and expansion project. “To continue to fulfill its mission,” says Lou, “the institution needs to grow. Through its commitment and quality the Playhouse has shown itself truly worthy of the community’s support; and as the community itself matures having quality theatre in our own backyard is all the more important.”

To learn how you can join the Playhouse Trustee program, please call Amy Larson, Director of Individual Giving, at 949-497-2787, ext. 217.