Kathy Bonner’s responsibilities in The Laguna Playhouse’s marketing department carry the title Group Sales, but she prefers to describe her work as “customer service” in that her personal mission is to ensure that Playhouse patrons have a positive experience. To accomplish this, Kathy makes it her business to be fully informed about all the Playhouse has to offer and to take time to get to know people. “Then I connect the dots,” she says.

Attending a Playhouse production as a member of a group is a great bargain. Parties of ten or more qualify for a $5 discount off the regular single ticket price and there’s no additional service fee. Purchase 15 tickets and you get an extra one free. But for Kathy Bonner the key is to make sure it’s a good match.

Whether it’s a family reunion, a tour group visiting Laguna from afar or perhaps a local business entertaining its customers, Kathy makes sure the play is the right fit. “I’m always very honest with them. I make sure I know the plays and advise people accordingly.” And, once she’s established a personal connection, Kathy relishes the opportunity to suggest other Playhouse offerings, from mini-subscriptions and affinity packages to the Youth Theatre season.

Although born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Kathy Bonner has spent most of her life in Southern California, the past four decades in Orange County. She’s lived in the same Lake Forest home for 30 years – imagine the changes she’s seen – rearing a son and daughter and pursuing a fascinating variety of careers, from running her own decorative arts business to working in the juvenile justice system with first-time offenders and their families.

Kathy’s office, in the Playhouse’s Lake Forest production facility, is only a short drive from home. “All the exciting stuff happens here,” she explains. “We get to see the plays grow from the ground up. It’s almost as thrilling as seeing the finished production.” And there’s a bonus. Kathy can bring her beloved four-legged companion, Dana Marina, to work.

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