Board of Directors List

Co-President Julia Allardice Gagne

• Directed and co-produced WPI's first World Premiere in March-April 2004
• Introduced new works and emerging playwrights to Central Florida audiences since 1991
• Administers WPI's Call for Scripts and guides the script selection process
• Artistic director for World Premiere of A Thousand Variations on a Lie Told Once

Co-President Courtney Miller

• Experience as a director, stage manager, company manager, production manager, designer and actor
• Lifelong Central Florida resident committed to supporting the local arts community
• Project Manager of Commuter Services in the Marketing department at LYNX
• Proud Rollins College alumna; received B.A. in Theater Arts in 2003

Vice President - New Play Development/Advocacy Kathleen Lindsey

• Professional career in theater for 35 years in directing, producing, acting and teaching.
• Directed 4 projects for WPI
• Produced on and off Broadway, directed and acted Off Broadway
• Graduate of North Carolina School of the arts in acting

Secretary Olivia Horn

• Audience Services Coordinator for the historic Annie Russell Theatre on Rollins College campus
• Previously worked as the Marketing/Public Relations Coordinator for the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park
• Active in the local theatre community as both a performer and an advocate for non-profit organizations

Treasurer Cecil Battiste

• Professor of Accounting at Valencia CC
• Was a CPA from 1990 to 2001
• Masters in Accounting

Communications Chair Marisa Carroll

• Senior Associate at Massey Communications as part of their PR team
• Former Public Relations Manager for Florida Theatrical Association /Broadway Across America,
• Volunteer for many events, including the Melbourne Independent Film Festival and the Florida Film Festival, and was on the 2008 Image Awards Committee for the Orlando Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

Fundraising Chair Nicolle Avery

• Theater experience in acting, directing, writing and producing
• B.A. in Dramatic Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001
• Experience in fundraising for local charitable events and organizations

Board Member Stella Bourassa

• Advocate and lover of theatre
• Avid volunteer for the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the Harry P. Leu Gardens museum
• Experience as a fundraiser, dispatcher, assistant, home school teacher, and in the children’s services arena
• Mother of six children
  

Board Member James Brendlinger

• Chairman of Arts and Communications at Lake Howell High School in Winter Park
• Fifteen years of experience in directing and producing theatrical events
• Founder and Director of Penguin Point Productions & Costumes
• Veteran producer at the Orlando Fringe Festival

Board Member Melissa Snowden

• Majored in Literature and minored in Women's Studies at UCF
• Edits and writes children's books at Scholastic Inc.
• Advocates representation of women's voices and visions
• Volunteers for several non-profit organizations, ranging from local to international

Board Member Susan Gerdeman

• Drama teacher at Lyman High School
• BA in Theatre from FSU
• Actor, dancer, director, playwright
• Co-founder of Paper Moon Theatre Company and Winter Park Playhouse Youth Theatre

Women Playwrights' Initiative (WPI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We accept tax-deductible contributions payable to WPI or to Women Playwrights Initiative. Mail to: PO Box 1546, Orlando, FL 32802-1546 with your contact information. Please email any questions to: WomenPlaywrights@gmail.com