Meet the Team
Philip Drennen
Executive Director
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Allie Haines
Development Director
Mackensie King
Artistic Director
Abby Kress
Executive Assistant
Becki Norgaard
Founder & CEO
Angie Thacker
Board President
Philip Drennen
Executive Director
Philip Drennen serves as Executive Director at TheatreLab Dayton and can also been seen on and off stage as an actor and director in their productions. Philip graduated college in 2006 with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music and his professional performing career took him across the US and the world including venues in London, Scandinavia, New Zealand, China and South Africa. After settling in Las Vegas and headlining the famous Strip, Philip moved back to his home town of Dayton to focus on Arts Administration and helped to rebrand and launch TheatreLab Dayton and continues to inspire local students, talent, and patrons in the Dayton area.
Mackensie King
Artistic Director
Mackensie King is a Dayton Local and has been with TheatreLab since its inception as a Resident Artist (formally D2D). In 2020, she stepped into the Artistic Director Position with a mission to offer high quality theatre in Dayton that featured local talent. Her training in the arts began at a young age where she studied with Howard School of Dance, piano with Bev Sheridan and voice with Lee Ann Kinner. She attended Sinclair Community College and Wright State University as a Theatre Studies Major while she continued to perform and direct around Dayton and the Columbus area. When not at the Theatre, you can catch Mackensie reading a book and discussing them with her favorite local book club. She believes that Theatre is truly one of the most important tools to teach empathy, compassion and the beauty of the human experience.
Becki Norgaard
Founder & CEO
Becki Norgaard is the founder and CEO of TheatreLab Dayton (formally D2D Productions). Theatre has always been a passion of Becki's and took off when she was cast in “I love you, you’re perfect, now change” during her time in the Army. After moving to Dayton, her passion for theater grew and she continued to perform and direct around the area. This eventually led to her decision to open TheatreLab, a home for local Dayton artists to perform at a professional level while also being compensated for their time and effort. During the day, Becki serves as CFO at Azimuth Corporation.
Allie Haines
Development Director
Allie Haines serves as the Director of Development at TheatreLab Dayton - a fast-growing, professional theater company based in downtown Dayton, Ohio. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and French from The College of Wooster. Allie’s interests span the realms of academia and the arts, but her passion for storytelling is the recurring theme throughout. In 2020, she became a published researcher, her work examining political narratives and mobilization. A multi-talented professional with 20+ years of performance experience, Allie excels as a singer, actor, and more recently - director (come check out TheatreLab's Misery this fall!). In addition to her artistic pursuits, Allie is a licensed real estate agent and certified yoga teacher. Outside of work, she loves to travel, having visited over 25 countries all over the world. She finds joy in the pages of literature, the epic harmonies of film scores, and quality time spent with friends, family, her husband and their perfect dog, Bilbo Waggins!
Abby Kress
Executive Assistant
Abby Kress serves as an Executive Assistant for TheatreLab Dayton, managing all social media platforms, as well as assisting in the day-to-day operations of the company. She is also a professional performer, choreographer, and dance instructor. Abby has enjoyed over 20 years of training in drama and dance, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre, Minor in Dance from Otterbein University. Prior to joining the TheatreLab team, Abby interned at Carnahan Casting in New York City, and assisted in the audition process for several Broadway shows/National Tours such as Moulin Rouge!, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Tootsie, Jagged Little Pill, and more. As an artist, Abby is passionate about combining pristine technique with the magic of storytelling and the joy of creativity. As a TheatreLab Dayton employee, her goal is to uphold the mission of employing, empowering, and celebrating Dayton-local artists who possess the same enthusiasm to create and learn. Outside of her theatrical pursuits, Abby loves all things Disney, and enjoys learning about history and popular culture.
Get Involved
Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and your community, but the benefits can be equally great for you. TheatreLab is always on the lookout for new Volunteers! Throughout the season, we have volunteer opportunities for all! From costumes to sets, volunteers are crucial to the success of TheatreLab Dayton!
If you're interested in volunteering, please enter your email below and we'll reach out as soon as possible!
Donations
This imperative funding enriches the lives and culture within our region and is crucial to the success of our incredibly talented artists!
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Lumber for 2022/2023 Season Shows - $2,000
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Moving Truck for shows - $100
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Sound Technician - $250
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Fog Machine - $500
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Props for 2022/2023 Season Shows - $500
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Batteries for 2022/2023 Season Shows - $50
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Costumes for 2022/2023 Season Shows - $1,200
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Set Rental for 2022/2023 Season Shows - $1,500
Contact Us
Philip Drennen, Executive Director
Mackensie King, Artistic Director
Auditions
auditions@theatrelabdayton.org
116 N Jefferson St #200, Dayton, OH 45402
Monday - Friday: 10AM -4PM