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Sheila Grether-Marion (Chairman)
Sheila Grether-Marion is the Chairman of The Pasadena Playhouse Executive Board. She has served on its Board of Director’s since 1999. A former actor and professional fund-raiser for the Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Los Angeles Library Association and the National Repertory Theatre, Sheila has assisted in raising millions of dollars for non-profit organizations. She has received many awards for her work including The President’s Award for Public Sector Initiatives in 1982, citations from Mayor Tom Bradley and the Board of Los Angeles Library Commissions and from the Los Angeles County Library for her work to raise funds to combat illiteracy. Sheila began her second career as a Financial Advisor in 1987 and has been First Vice-President, Investments with Merrill Lynch in its Pasadena office since 2002. She is currently a Portfolio Manager-Personal Investment Advisory program and the senior partner of her team. Sheila and her husband, Mark, live in Sierra Madre. Sheila was born and raised in Pasadena and was an usher at the Pasadena Playhouse while she attended Blair High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from nearby Occidental College in 1976. She and Mark have two children, Marissa Fox, a lawyer and Orion Marion, a professional musician.
David DiCristofaro (Vice-Chairman)
David DiCristofaro is the Vice-Chairman of The Pasadena Playhouse Executive Board. He is President of Wells Fargo, Los Angeles Region. DiCristofaro oversees more than 1,000 team members at nearly 60 banking stores in the communities of Alhambra, Arcadia, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bellflower, Compton, Downey, East Los Angeles, El Monte, Huntington Park, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Lakewood, Long Beach, Montebello, Monterey Park, Montrose, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, South Gate and Temple City. Previously, he was regional president for the South Coast Community Bank for four years. He also served as head of Wells Fargo’s retail bank financial management and development programs for Greater Los Angeles. DiCristofaro joined the former Norwest Bank in 1997 as managing director of online banking. In 1999, he was named to head finance and strategy for Wells Fargo’s Northern California Community Banking region, where he also oversaw operations and group services. Before joining Wells Fargo, DiCristofaro worked with Financial Institutions Consulting Group, FinExc Group LLC as senior consultant and chief financial officer at Roosevelt Bank as vice president of corporate planning. DiCristofaro received his bachelor’s degree in finance and management from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Tony Phillips (Treasurer)
C. Anthony Phillips, CPA is the Treasurer of The Pasadena Playhouse Executive Board. He is a partner at Phillips & Company, a Certified Public Accounting firm located in Pasadena. He is also President of Downstream Exchange Company which acts as an accommodator in tax deferred exchanges. His current civic positions include serving as Treasurer of Rotary Club of Pasadena, Secretary & Treasurer of the Pasadena Wine and Food Society, Treasurer of Stardusters Dance Club and Honorary Director of Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. His past civic positions include serving as President of Pasadena Symphony Association, President of Board of Trustees of the Pasadena Arts Council, President of Rotary Club of Pasadena, Director/Chairman of Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, Treasurer of Pasadena Chapter of California Institute for Cancer Research, Vice President of Pasadena Child Guidance Clinics, Reserve Pasadena Police Officer and President of Eastside Boy’s Club.
Linda Boyd Griffey (Secretary)
Linda Griffey is the Secretary of The Pasadena Playhouse Executive Board. She has served on the Board of Directors since the 1990s. Linda is a retired partner of O’Melveny & Myers, LLP, where she practiced law, specializing in executive compensation and employee benefits, for over 30 years. She is currently doing executive compensation projects as an independent contractor for a national executive compensation consulting firm. During her career, she has been a frequent author and lecturer on the subjects of employee benefits and compensation for USC Tax Institute, Practicing Law Institute, Prentice Hall Law & Business, and others. She is a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and has been honored by being named an honorary life member of the Western Pension & Benefits Conference; Chambers USA leading lawyer (2006 - 2011), and a Southern California “Super Lawyer” in surveys conducted by Law & Politics Media Inc. (2006 - 2011). Linda also serves on the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles and the Executive Leadership Board of the College of Pharmacy of the University of Iowa. Linda received a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Iowa in 1972 and a J.D. from Duke University in 1980. She and her husband, Jay, live in San Marino.
Lenore Almanzar
President, Friends of The Pasadena Playhouse
Valerie Amidon
President, The Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates
Sheri Ball
Sheri Ball was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of The Pasadena Playhouse. She has previously served on the Board and was the Treasurer of the Stampede Soccer Club. For the past four years, Sheri has been actively involved in serving on committees and fundraising for various clubs at her children’s high schools, including being a founding director for the Ayala High School FBLA. Sheri began her banking career in 1981. She is a Vice President in Corporate Trust at US Bank and holds the designation of Certified Corporate Trust Specialist from the Institute of Certified Banking. Sheri grew up in La Habra, California and attended Pasadena City College. She and her husband Andy have two children currently attending college.
Darrell Brooke
Darrell G. Brooke, a partner in the Pasadena and Monrovia offices of an established law firm with over 80 years of tradition, is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning Probate and Trust Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Darrell’s ties to the Pasadena Playhouse began with the creation of a scholarship fund by one of his clients for the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni and Associates over 20 years ago. Voted as a Southern California Super Lawyer and a Top Attorney by Pasadena Magazine, Darrell has dedicated his practice to estate planning for high net worth individuals and to serve the Pasadena probate court as a probate volunteer panel attorney in disputed elder law matters. Prior to joining the Pasadena Playhouse, Darrell served as President of the Levitt Pavilion Pasadena for 4 consecutive years, President of the Pasadena Quarterbacks for 2 years (including serving as host of the first Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony) and President of the Estate Planning Council of the San Gabriel Valley. He is a licensed Zumba instructor, teaching classes in Zumba Gold throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Darrell is the very proud father of Grayson Brooke, a nationally acclaimed television producer for the Bravo and HGTV networks.
Elizabeth Doran
Elizabeth Doran is the Executive Director of The Pasadena Playhouse. For a complete bio, click here.
Peggy Ebright
Peggy Ebright was born and raised in Cincinnati, and received a B.A. in Spanish and Theatre from the College of Wooster. She moved to California in 1965 with her husband Jim, a corporate attorney for Aerojet General, and her two sons, Don and Doug. Peggy has worked extensively with the San Marino Players, Dionysians, Pasadena Arts Council and the Junior League. She came to the Playhouse in 1965 to run the Children’s Theatre, joined the Board of Trustees and has worked with The Playhouse ever since – on stage, building sets, and with outreach, development, The Friends, and the Board of Directors. At present, Peggy is representing the new Playhouse Ambassadors program.
Michele Dedeaux Engemann
Michele Dedeaux Engemann served as Chair of The Pasadena Playhouse Board from 2008 to 2012 and was Vice-Chair prior to this role. She received a B.F.A. at the USC School of Theatre. Michele served as President of the USC Alumni Association, was a USC Trustee for five years, and continues to hold positions on both the USC School of Theatre Board of Counselors (of which she is the founder) and the Friends of the USC Libraries Board. She is part of a legendary Trojan Family. Her late father, Rod Dedeaux, coached the Trojan baseball team for 45 years, won 11 national championships and USC’s Dedeaux Field is named in his honor. Michele and her husband, Roger, established the USC Baseball Hall of Fame at the facility and continue to support all USC Athletics and various USC associations including the new Engemann Student Health Center, which will open in 2013. As an actress, Michele performed for three decades with Los Angeles’ Nine O’clock Players, where disadvantaged and physically/mentally impaired children have the opportunity to experience live theatre for the first time free of charge. As a business woman, she helped her husband build his money-management firm, Roger Engemann and Associates, which sold to Phoenix Investment Partners in 1997 as Engemann Asset Management. She serves on the Board of Directors of Dart Entities, a family-run transportation and warehousing corporation established by her father in 1938, and is CEO of The Engemann Family Foundation. Michele has received the “Women of Distinction” Award by both the Cities of Pasadena and Los Angeles. Her other board memberships include the Assistance League of Southern California and the Nine O’clock Players Theatre. She is an honorary member of the Altadena Guild, which supports the Huntington Medical Research Institutes where she and her husband serve as board members and Roger as its past president. Michele and Roger also serve on the board of overseers for the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. Her husband is also a trustee of Scripps College in Claremont and is a past trustee of the University of Oregon. Michele and her family are invested in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, where their sacristy lamp burns in perpetuity. She and her husband reside in Pasadena, where they also support the Pasadena Symphony, Hillsides, Boys and Girls Club, Chandler School and other organizations.
Sheldon Epps
Sheldon Epps is the Artistic Director of The Pasadena Playhouse. For a complete bio, click here.
George A. Henning
George A. Henning, the Chairman and President of Pacific Global, is portfolio manager of the Pacific Advisors Small Cap Value Fund, the Pacific Advisors Mid Cap Value Fund and individual client accounts. He also manages Pacific Global’s portion of the Multimanager Small Cap Value portfolio for the AXA Premier VIP Trust. He is also Chairman of the Pacific Advisors Funds. Mr. Henning has been in the financial services industry for over three decades. Prior to forming Pacific Global in 1991 and the Pacific Advisors Funds, he served as Senior Vice President of Transamerica Life Companies and President of its broker/dealer. Before joining Transamerica, Mr. Henning was Senior Vice President at Chubb LifeAmerica and President of its broker/dealer, mutual fund, and separate account mutual fund companies. He received a B.S. degree from Geneva College and a M.S. degree from Indiana University.
Teena Hostovich
Teena Hostovich is Executive Vice President/Executive Committee member for Lockton. Recognized as a leading global authority on professional liability and complex risk. Teena was named one of 50 "Women to Watch" in 2007 by Business Insurance and was an honoree for “Woman Making a Difference” by Los Angeles Business Journal. Named Power Broker/Responsibility Leader in 2011, she also has been recognized by the California State Legislature as "Outstanding Corporate Woman" for her contributions to the community. Recently, she was named one of the Fifty Fabulous Women of Pasadena by Pasadena Magazine (May 2012) and Women of Influence of Pasadena in (April 2012). Her positive leadership, intellectual creativity, integrity and strong work ethic serve as an inspiration to young women she mentors. Actively involved in politics, Teena is Presidential Partner/Advisor to President Obama, a member of the Democratic National Finance Committee, and a member of the 2013 Presidential Inauguration Committee. Deeply committed to organizations that make a difference in the world, her list includes: Board of Trustees - William J. Clinton Foundation; Huntington Hospital Strategic Planning Committee; St. Anne's Board of Directors; Los Angeles Philharmonic Board of Overseers; Hollywood Bowl Opening Night Committee; Pasadena Arts Council Board; Pasadena Playhouse Diversity Committee; Opportunity International Board of Governors, Levitt Pavilions National Board and Flintridge Prep Board of Trustees. She is a CAP Mentor/Advisor, teaching career planning and development to USC Marshall School of Business students. She is honored to be named to Pasadena Playhouse Board of Directors.
Brad King
Brad is a visionary in the areas of technology and business. He has twenty years of experience as an entrepreneur building early stage companies. He has launched five separate companies and invested in four times as many early stage ventures. He was one of the very first Internet pioneers in 1994, developing some of the earliest Internet-based technologies. In 1998 he sold his company, Net Effect, to Ask Jeeves. He then financed several successful ventures including eHarmony and Baidu. His last venture, iChange, was recently sold to Herbalife. Separately, Brad has enjoyed producing independent films under the banner of Epiphany Entertainment. His last film won the Alfred P. Sloan award and was invited to the Sundance, Cannes and Toronto film festivals. Brad has served as a trustee to Thrive Foundation For Youth, an advisor to Fuller Theological Seminary's School of Psychology, and board member to Pasadena Heritage. Brad lives in Pasadena with his wife, Pamela (a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary), and their three children.
Darrell Miller
Darrell Miller, a partner in the Los Angeles office of the national law firm Fox Rothschild LLP and co-chair of its Entertainment Law practice, has been at the forefront of the transformation taking place in the entertainment industry, helping stars capitalize on their brands as a result of the emergence of a myriad of innovative delivery platforms and new media outlets. Darrell came to Hollywood in the late 1980s to actively participate in the development of new content to fuel the digital revolution then known as the “Information Superhighway.” He quickly became a leader in that field, counseling clients on ways to engage their audiences via traditional media (radio, television and film) with a view toward distribution on new media platforms. With a razor-sharp focus on entertainment industry clients, Darrell has cultivated long-standing relationships with numerous studio executives and creative personnel, including artists, writers, directors and producers associated with a variety of television programs and motion pictures. He also serves as special counsel for major corporations and independent production companies relating to the entertainment industry. Consistently named in the Top 50 Showbiz Players by "Black Enterprise Magazine," Darrell has earned a reputation as a “nice guy” and as a dedicated—and when needed, tenacious—advocate for his clients.
Abel Ramirez
Abel R. Ramirez was born in Yucatan, Mexico and came to Pasadena as a young adult. He started his long career in Food Service at The Huntington Hotel (currently The Langham) and The Athenaeum at CalTech. He has been the CEO of Ramirez-Bianchi Corp which includes El Portal Restaurant, Yahaira's Café and Vanessa's Coffee House for over 18 years. He has been involved with and served on the Boards for Hillsides Home for Children, Playhouse District Association, Foothill Vocational Services, Latino Heritage and L.A. Food Bank. He was also just recently the President of the Board at Pasadena Senior Center. Abel has been married to Rosalia for over 40 years and has 3 sons and 6 grandchildren. Abel returns to the Board of the Pasadena Playhouse after a 2.5 year absence willing to continue his service to the organization and to the community.
Bingo Roncelli
Bingo Roncelli is a native Southern Californian and long-time community volunteer. She joined The Pasadena Playhouse Board because of her love of theater. Bingo and her husband Gino are world travelers and have visited over 200 countries. They have three marvelous children and four fabulous grand children. Bingo and Gino live in Arcadia.
Lilah Stangeland
Lilah Stangeland has been an active board member of The Pasadena Playhouse and has served on many other important community and civic affair organizations. She and her late husband, retired Vons CEO Roger Stangeland, have made important contributions to Arcadia Methodist Hospital Foundation, St. John’s Military Academy and The Pasadena Playhouse. Lilah lives in San Marino and has 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
Corky Hale Stoller
Corky Hale is a world renowned and critically acclaimed jazz pianist, harpist and singer. She has performed with Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé, Judy Collins, George Michael, Boy George and Björk. She has appeared at The White House, in Central Park, and at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, London’s Royal Albert Hall, RFK Stadium and on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson”. She is married to legendary songwriter Mike Stoller. To learn more about Corky Hale, please visit, www.corkyhale.com.
Mike Stoller
Mike Stoller is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber & Stoller. Elvis Presley recorded more than 20 of their songs, including "Hound Dog," and "Jailhouse Rock." Their many other hits include: "Kansas City," "Yakety Yak," "Love Potion #9," "Is That All There Is?" and "Stand By Me." SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ: THE SONGS OF LEIBER & STOLLER still holds the record as the longest running revue in Broadway history. Leiber & Stoller have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2009, Simon & Schuster published Hound Dog: The Leiber and Stoller Autobiography. Stoller is married to jazz great, Corky Hale. To learn more about Mike Stoller, please visit www.leiberstoller.com.
Martha Williamson
Martha Williamson is a 25-year veteran of the entertainment industry, writing and producing television drama, sit-com, and variety for all three major networks and cable. She is best known as the Executive Producer and Head Writer of the ground-breaking hit drama, "Touched By An Angel," which received 9 Emmy nominations over its nine-year run on CBS. Martha was also the first woman to solely executive produce two shows simultaneously when she created and executive-produced "Promised Land" also for CBS. Her work has been honored with numerous awards, among them, the Freedom Works Award from Congress, the Anti-Defamation League's Deborah Award, the Edward R. Murrow Responsibility in Television Award, the Williams College Bicentennial Medal, the prestigious Producer's Guild Nova Award, the Templeton Award and several NAACP Awards for best television drama. Martha was appointed by the President to the White House Counsel for Service and Civic Participation, and most recently served as the host of "A Touch of Encouragement," the #1 inspirational video website on Beliefnet.com. Martha has also appeared onstage on both coasts, performing her musical one-woman show "Martha At Risk." Martha is a native of Denver, Colorado and a graduate of Williams College. She is a popular speaker and the author of several books, including Inviting God to Your Wedding, which was recently released in its 10th anniversary edition by Random House. Martha lives in Southern California with her husband, Jon Andersen, and their two daughters. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Pasadena Playhouse since 2002.
Chair Emeriti:
David M. Davis,
Albert Lowe
Kerry McCluggage
Margaret Sedenquist
Board Members Emeriti:
Kathy Arntzen Roat
Carol Burnett
Ralph Hirschmann
Frank Kleeman
Dennis Lowe
Tad Lowrey
Rao Makineni
Abel Ramirez
Lyn Spector
Elliot Stahler
Greg Stone
Leslie Tolan
James Watterson
In Memoriam:
David Angell
Betty Ann Koen Brooks
Theodore Fitch Behr
Roger Stangeland