Our Board
Chairperson
Judi Rodman, Ph.D.
Judith Rodman, PhD, is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a motivational speaker, life coach, actress, and theatre director. Her educational credits include: Bachelor of Arts, English and Theater; Master of Arts, Speech and the Performing Arts; Master of Science, Clinical Counseling/Human Services; Doctorate, Psychology. However, she lists as her greatest achievements, three wonderful children, who have blessed her with seven beautiful grandchildren.
Judi’s professional credits and experiences include: Psychotherapist, private practice; faculty member for over 15 years of two universities, where she was the recipient of the coveted “Teacher of the Year Award”for Excellence in Teaching; and recipient of several grants from the Illinois Arts Council for dedication to teaching older adults.
She has been an actor and theater director for over 40 years, and for three years she won the award for Best Community Theatre Director on the North Shore of Chicago. Since moving to Arizona, she has continued her love of teaching and theatre directing, by serving as an adjunct faculty member of the Learning Curve, and as the founder of the Oro Valley Theatre Company, for whom she has directed several shows in the last 2 1/2 years.
Her dual background in Theater and Psychology have been instrumental in creating her positive personal philosophy: there are no liabilities only opportunities in life. She focuses on three words, as a mother, as a director and as a psychotherapist: Choice, Challenge, and Change.
Treasurer
Charlie Hurt
Charlie is a retired professor and academic administrator (Department Head, Dean, and Provost) with over 30 years of experience working with and serving on boards. Returned to Arizona in May, 2014. Prior Arizona resident for 16 years, eight of which were in Oro Valley (1994-2002). Specific skills in personnel management, strategic planning, budgeting, and negotiation. Managed units with operating budgets over $65 million and personnel counts of over 600. Significant experience with technology transfer, intellectual property, and obtaining grants and contracts. Awarded over $10 million in external grants and contracts including an NSF grant. Accomplished public speaker and author of 4 books and over 50 articles and reports. He held academic positions at the University of Virginia, McGill University, Simmons College, University of Arizona, West Chester University, and University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Member at Large
Karen Alexander
Since Karen was in her first play at the age of 10, she has literally been involved in theater for over 50 years now. After receiving her bachelor's degree in southern California, she honed her craft at A.C.T.'s (American Conservatory Theater) Summer Training Congress in San Francisco. To make ends meet, Karen began subbing in local schools during the day, while performing in plays during the evening. Lo and behold, that is where she found her true calling... as a school teacher! With a new goal in sight, Karen earned her teaching degree, a certificate to teach the gifted and talented (GATE), and her master's degree in Elementary Education.
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After 30 years in a classroom (with a trapped audience for 10 months of each year), Karen retired in 2018. She and her husband, Brian (also of 30 years), moved to Sun City Oro Valley. She is involved in numerous clubs and activities there, including the Sun City Variety Theatre, water volleyball, and hiking. Outside the SCOV community, Karen has been involved in a number of OVTC productions, is a member of the Tucson Audobon Society, and she is a docent over at Tohono Chul.
Member at Large
Harry "Mo" Green
Doctor, Harry “Mo” Greene is a Medical Oncologist who has taught and won teaching awards at Harvard, Univ. of Massachusetts and the University of Arizona. He was involved in Theater as a High School Student and loved it. Acting in James Hilton’s “ Lost Horizons” and as an extra in the movie “ Iron Eagles” and the Oberammergau Passion Play. His daughter Jennifer attended Boston University as a theater major and his son in law, David is a set and costume designer for San Diego’s Globe Theater. His wife Linda, a nurse, helped create a non-profit Theater Group “Act Up”for her daughter Jennifer’s High School Drama Program, which is still active and helps with the funding of Holden High School productions.
Mo is currently serving a four year term as a Town Councilman for Oro Valley, Arizona. He is the father of Harry III, a Coast Guard Pilot who lives in Hawaii but works in Alaska, Jen who works as a Nurse in San Diego and Michele who works and teaches nursing in Boston.
Member at Large
Carol Fratt
Carol Fratt is excited to be joining the Board of the Oro Valley Theater company. She comes to us with a background in fabric arts and painting. A degree in Political Science was followed 20 years later by a degree in Landscape Design. Carol owned a landscape company for several years.
She also served on several community boards while living in the Pacific Northwest. Carol is looking forward to being involved with the productions as well as contributing to the ongoing success of the Oro Valley Theater Company.
Member at Large
Karen Kreider
Having recently retired after 31 years at Disney in Burbank, CA, Karen and her husband, Bill Crounse moved to Oro Valley in November 2019 to be near family. Their daughter, Sara, lives in Chicago and works at several theaters there, in addition to studying improvisation and writing at Second City. Throughout her career at Disney, Karen was a book editor and author, an online producer, a CD-ROM developer, a product safety engineer and a Disney VoluntEAR in local elementary schools, reading and coaching 2nd graders and mentoring 5th graders to write their own 5-page screenplays.
Having received an MFA from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, Karen is thrilled to be back “on the boards” at OVTC in any capacity that is needed. In addition to working and acting in a variety of theatres, both in NY and LA, her BA Theatre training at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL has prepared her for every aspect of mounting a show, from props to lighting and set design to directing.
Her other hobbies include writing a play, singing in community choirs, tap dancing, yoga and lots of reading!
I am honored to be on the Board of Oro Valley Theatre Company!
Member at Large
Gene Abravaya
Gene has directed over thirty-five large-scale productions. Some favorites include Into the Woods, The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, Catch Me If You Can, Big Fish, The Light in the Piazza and Titanic. These last two earned him back-to-back Excellence in Theatre Awards from the San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle for Best Direction of a Musical. He is the author of three full length plays. The Book of Matthew (Leibowitz) and The Final Scene have been produced in Northern California, San Francisco, and the Mid-West. His third play, The Trial of John Brown, was performed by The Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre as a dramatic reading in 2020, and will be performed again in 2024 by The Stage Foundation Community Theatre.
Member at Large
Kathy Gillespie
Kathy has worn many hats throughout her professional life. She studied at Triton University. As a graduate of Subway University, she eventually owned and operated her own Subway restaurant in San Francisco.
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A summer job with an insurance company became a career as a licensed insurance professional and agency manager. While working as a kindergarten teacher, Kathy became inspired to create her own line of children’s clothing. A dream was realized when her clothing went to the White House and also used in international advertising campaigns.
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Moving to Arizona, Kathy’s clothing line expanded. She created beautiful clothing for weddings, quincieras and eventually costumes. Her designs have been featured in Tucson Lifestyle Brides. Later working at the Hilton in varied positions, Kathy met Judi Rodman, and collaborating with Judi, became our lead costumer for the OVTC since it’s inception 5 years ago.