Carlsbad Playreaders Announces 2014 Season and New Artistic Directors

The Carlsbad Playreaders’ 2014 season will mark the first for new Artistic Directors Kathy Brombacher and Doug Smith. The season begins on Feb. 24 with Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers,” to be directed by Brombacher, Producing Artistic Director Emeritus for Moonlight Stage Productions. Brombacher and Smith will oversee the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

“I’m extremely proud to join my respected colleague Doug Smith to serve as Co-Artistic Director for the Carlsbad Playreaders in their 2014-2015 seasons,” Brombacher said.

Smith added, “It is a dream come true to be working alongside my dear friend and colleague Kathy Brombacher and sharing our mutual passion of enlightening and inspiring the community with quality theater.”

Carlsbad Playreaders 2014 season is as follows:
Feb. 24: “Lost in Yonkers” by Neil Simon
March 24: “God of Carnage” by Yasmina Reza
May 12: “The Spitfire Grill” by Fred Ally and James Valcq
June 16: “Love, Loss and What I Wore” by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron
Aug. 18: “4,000 Miles” by Amy Herzog
Oct. 27: “Good People” by David Lindsay-Abaire
Dec. 8: “Do Not Go Gentle” by Susan Zeder

Brombacher has helmed the artistic vision and growth of Moonlight Stage Productions in Vista since 1981 and recently retired, becoming Producing Artistic Director Emeritus. Over the 32 years of her artistic leadership, major milestones in the theater’s development occurred. Additionally, Brombacher produced or directed almost 200 musical and nonmusical productions, concerts and fundraisers, while advocating for strong youth theater programs in the community. Over the years, she has been the recipient of prestigious awards: The Craig Noel Award for “Theatrical Trailblazer” from the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle; the Shiley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Patte Awards for Theatrical Excellence; Woman of the Year from California Women in Government; Woman of Distinction by Soroptimist International; and induction into the Vista Historical Society’s Hall of Fame.

Co-Artistic Director Smith embarked on his 32-year career in theater education and production by returning to his alma mater, Fallbrook High School, after graduating from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts and a specialization in secondary education. He spent eight years at Fallbrook, followed by a 16-year tenure at Mt. Carmel High School in the Poway Unified School District. As part of the inaugural team of educators that developed and opened the district’s Westview High School, Smith was instrumental in the design of the theater and taught there eight years, retiring in 2010. In 2008, Smith was named the Outstanding Theatre Educator of the year by the Southern California Educational Theatre Association, he was 2009 Teacher of the Year at Westview, and was inducted into the San Diego Theatre Educators Hall of Fame in 2012.

Maelyn Gándola served as Carlsbad Playreaders Artistic Director for the 2013 and 2012 seasons. Gándola directed “It Had to Be You,” “Almost, Maine” and performed in “The Children’s Hour,” “Claudia Meets Fulano Colorado” and “The Clean House.” She received her bachelor’s in Theatre Arts — Directing and Communications from Brigham Young University and is also a playwright.

Carlsbad Playreaders was founded in 1995 by husband and wife team Jim and Pat Hansen. Over the past 16 years more than 100 play readings have been presented to more than 9,000 people. 

Play reading is storytelling at its most imaginative. Actors collectively tell the story of the play without scenery, props or costumes, engaging the audience as full participants who must use their imaginations to create the entire physical production.