Artistic and Production Staff
David Catanzarite, Founding Artistic Director
David Catanzarite is both a master stage director and expert educator with thirty years of teaching experience. He has directed more than 100 professional and college productions on both coasts, Chicago, and Toronto. Catanzarite worked as a resident artist in (the new) South Africa, and met Nelson Mandela during the country’s first free presidential elections. He toured twice in (the former) Catanzarite began his teaching career at the age of 21 as an adjunct theatre instructor at Stanford University. He is currently on the Theatre faculty at California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, and is Lead Senior English teacher at Rancho Mirage High School. He served full-time as head of the Directing programs at Pomona College (Claremont, CA) and Towson University (Baltimore, MD). He has also taught classes at UCLA; the University of Southern California; the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; the California State Universities at Los Angeles and Northridge; and five California community colleges.
Catanzarite served on the committee that wrote California’s first Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards in 2001, and leads professional development trainings for teachers throughout the state.
He has taught theatre at every grade level in the California public schools. From 2002 to 2006 he was a Visual and Performing Arts Adviser for Los Angeles Unified School District Local District 7, serving 82,000 K-12 students in Watts and South Central Los Angeles. He then became Assistant Principal at USC/32nd Street K-12 Performing Arts Magnet.
Catanzarite co-directed a A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Ben Donenberg for Shakespeare Festival/Los Angeles, which was attended by more than 40,000 spectators on the Los Angeles Cathedral Plaza. He worked for two seasons as Directing Assistant for New Plays Development at the Mark Taper Forum under Oskar Eustis, Jose Luis Valenzuela, and Robert Egan. In 1999 the German Consulate of San Francisco commissioned him to direct a marathon reading of Faust I and Faust II at Berkeley Repertory Theatre for Goethe’s 250th birthday.
At Green Room Theatre, Mr. Catanzarite has directed Twelve Angry Men, To Kill A Mockingbird, several melodramas, and a production of Gift of the Magi that toured African American Churches across the Coachella Valley. For Green Room’s Summer Conservatory he directed sold-out productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, and Mary Poppins at the 400-seat Indian Wells Theatre; his production of Tuesdays with Morrie, starring Hal Linden, was one of Indian Wells Theatre’s first hits. At College of the Desert he directed award-winning productions of At Risk, Our Town, and Blood Wedding; at Palm Springs High School he directed a record-breaking production of Phantom of the Opera, as well as Hairspray and The House of Bernarda Alba. His productions have garnered numerous Desert Star Awards, a Los Angeles NAACP Image Award Nomination, and numerous “picks of the week” in the Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly.
David Catanzarite is both a master stage director and expert educator with thirty years of teaching experience. He has directed more than 100 professional and college productions on both coasts, Chicago, and Toronto. Catanzarite worked as a resident artist in (the new) South Africa, and met Nelson Mandela during the country’s first free presidential elections. He toured twice in (the former) Catanzarite began his teaching career at the age of 21 as an adjunct theatre instructor at Stanford University. He is currently on the Theatre faculty at California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, and is Lead Senior English teacher at Rancho Mirage High School. He served full-time as head of the Directing programs at Pomona College (Claremont, CA) and Towson University (Baltimore, MD). He has also taught classes at UCLA; the University of Southern California; the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; the California State Universities at Los Angeles and Northridge; and five California community colleges.
Catanzarite served on the committee that wrote California’s first Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards in 2001, and leads professional development trainings for teachers throughout the state.
He has taught theatre at every grade level in the California public schools. From 2002 to 2006 he was a Visual and Performing Arts Adviser for Los Angeles Unified School District Local District 7, serving 82,000 K-12 students in Watts and South Central Los Angeles. He then became Assistant Principal at USC/32nd Street K-12 Performing Arts Magnet.
Catanzarite co-directed a A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Ben Donenberg for Shakespeare Festival/Los Angeles, which was attended by more than 40,000 spectators on the Los Angeles Cathedral Plaza. He worked for two seasons as Directing Assistant for New Plays Development at the Mark Taper Forum under Oskar Eustis, Jose Luis Valenzuela, and Robert Egan. In 1999 the German Consulate of San Francisco commissioned him to direct a marathon reading of Faust I and Faust II at Berkeley Repertory Theatre for Goethe’s 250th birthday.
At Green Room Theatre, Mr. Catanzarite has directed Twelve Angry Men, To Kill A Mockingbird, several melodramas, and a production of Gift of the Magi that toured African American Churches across the Coachella Valley. For Green Room’s Summer Conservatory he directed sold-out productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, and Mary Poppins at the 400-seat Indian Wells Theatre; his production of Tuesdays with Morrie, starring Hal Linden, was one of Indian Wells Theatre’s first hits. At College of the Desert he directed award-winning productions of At Risk, Our Town, and Blood Wedding; at Palm Springs High School he directed a record-breaking production of Phantom of the Opera, as well as Hairspray and The House of Bernarda Alba. His productions have garnered numerous Desert Star Awards, a Los Angeles NAACP Image Award Nomination, and numerous “picks of the week” in the Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly.
Karen Lin
Karen is the founding President and Producer of Green Room Theatre Company (GRTC). She is a National Board Certified teacher and a California State Credentialed teacher. She taught in public elementary school for a ten-year span in varying grades. During this time, she taught theatre to children through the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Arts Prototype Program.
She produced and directed children excerpts of Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, and Mary Poppins. She also directed 13 The Musical, Story Theatre, The Holiday Shuffle, The Three Peccaries, It Could Be Worse, The Peddler and the Monkeys, and The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Three Little Javelinas, The Hare and the Tortoise, The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Stinky Cheese Man, The Fox & Crow, Mice Council by Tony Padilla, Bird Bat and Beast, The Bullfrog, I’m Not Santa, Christmas in July, Sally’s Christmas Miracle, Bah Humbug, The Baker’s Dozen, The Princess and the Bowling Ball, Dog Cries Wolf, The Golden Touch, The Moneylender, All Three of Us, Casey at the Bat, When the Twins go to War, and many more short plays. She also taught acting for short children’s excerpts.
Karen was the media designer for At Risk at College of the Desert. She designed the set for Suzanne Lori Parks’s 365 Days with Watts Village Theatre. She also performed in At Risk, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mame, South Pacific, King and I, You Can’t Take it With you, Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, Children’s Hour, and Once Upon a Mattress. Karen also became a Getty Fellow in the Teacher’s Art Study Program at the Getty Museum. Locally, she serves actively as a Community Partner for the Ophelia Project. In addition to all this, she also enjoys playing piano.
Karen is the founding President and Producer of Green Room Theatre Company (GRTC). She is a National Board Certified teacher and a California State Credentialed teacher. She taught in public elementary school for a ten-year span in varying grades. During this time, she taught theatre to children through the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Arts Prototype Program.
She produced and directed children excerpts of Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, and Mary Poppins. She also directed 13 The Musical, Story Theatre, The Holiday Shuffle, The Three Peccaries, It Could Be Worse, The Peddler and the Monkeys, and The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Three Little Javelinas, The Hare and the Tortoise, The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Stinky Cheese Man, The Fox & Crow, Mice Council by Tony Padilla, Bird Bat and Beast, The Bullfrog, I’m Not Santa, Christmas in July, Sally’s Christmas Miracle, Bah Humbug, The Baker’s Dozen, The Princess and the Bowling Ball, Dog Cries Wolf, The Golden Touch, The Moneylender, All Three of Us, Casey at the Bat, When the Twins go to War, and many more short plays. She also taught acting for short children’s excerpts.
Karen was the media designer for At Risk at College of the Desert. She designed the set for Suzanne Lori Parks’s 365 Days with Watts Village Theatre. She also performed in At Risk, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mame, South Pacific, King and I, You Can’t Take it With you, Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, Children’s Hour, and Once Upon a Mattress. Karen also became a Getty Fellow in the Teacher’s Art Study Program at the Getty Museum. Locally, she serves actively as a Community Partner for the Ophelia Project. In addition to all this, she also enjoys playing piano.
Lilly Ayotte, Treasurer
Lilly Ayotte is the treasurer for Green Room Theatre Company. Having joined the Board of Directors in November of 2016, Lilly brings more than ten years of accounting and tax preparation experience, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Finance from CSUSB. Presently, she maintains several key positions with companies in the greater Coachella Valley, where her commitments include modernizing accounting procedures and holding a financial responsibility of up to $1.5 million.
Lilly enjoys traveling, dancing, and spending time with her family and friends. She recently participated in a table reading of To Kill a Mockingbird, hosted at Barnes & Noble. She currently resides in Palm Desert with her husband, Chad, and her three cats: Baby, Waffles, and Smokey.
Lilly Ayotte is the treasurer for Green Room Theatre Company. Having joined the Board of Directors in November of 2016, Lilly brings more than ten years of accounting and tax preparation experience, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Finance from CSUSB. Presently, she maintains several key positions with companies in the greater Coachella Valley, where her commitments include modernizing accounting procedures and holding a financial responsibility of up to $1.5 million.
Lilly enjoys traveling, dancing, and spending time with her family and friends. She recently participated in a table reading of To Kill a Mockingbird, hosted at Barnes & Noble. She currently resides in Palm Desert with her husband, Chad, and her three cats: Baby, Waffles, and Smokey.
Irene Creighton, Volunteer Coordinator
Irene Creighton has been Green Room Theatre’s Parent/Volunteer Coordinator since 2015. She is co-owner and operator of the Thai Smile Restaurant on El Paseo in Palm Desert, one of the Coachella Valley’s most popular upscale restaurants. She and her husband Matt have been in the restaurant business for more than 20 years.
Irene coached theatre performances for three years for Odyssey of the Mind - an international student collaborative problem-solving competition. In 2016, she led a team to Odyssey’s World Competition, which placed sixth in the World.
Irene is very active in the Desert Unified School District Foundation, and a dynamic member of the Palm Desert Middle School Parent Foundation.
Irene Creighton has been Green Room Theatre’s Parent/Volunteer Coordinator since 2015. She is co-owner and operator of the Thai Smile Restaurant on El Paseo in Palm Desert, one of the Coachella Valley’s most popular upscale restaurants. She and her husband Matt have been in the restaurant business for more than 20 years.
Irene coached theatre performances for three years for Odyssey of the Mind - an international student collaborative problem-solving competition. In 2016, she led a team to Odyssey’s World Competition, which placed sixth in the World.
Irene is very active in the Desert Unified School District Foundation, and a dynamic member of the Palm Desert Middle School Parent Foundation.
John Alex Houlton, Literary Advisor
John Alex Houlton was born and grew up in the north of England, served in the Royal Air Force, and earned his BA degree at Oxford in English language and literature. He first came to the United States for an advanced degree in Theatre, Film and Television at UCLA. His professional career was in British Government service in the United States, at the British Consulate-General in Los Angeles, largely in public affairs. During that time he produced five television series for US television, shot in Britain, and six large multidimensional British Festivals in the Southwestern US. His final position was as Co-Creator and Director of the British Film Office in the United States. He was awarded both an OBE [Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire] and an MBE [Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire] for his services.
On retirement, John Alex was free to make use of his talents for theatre -- directing and acting, as well as for writing fiction. He had founded Theatre 40, an Equity waiver theatre in Beverly Hill some 50 years ago, and rejoined the company in 2002 to act and direct, before moving to Palm Springs in 2006. His first collection of short stories was published also in 2006, and he has had a novel published every year since that. He writes both historical and contemporary gay-themed books, usually in the mystery and relationship genres.
After settling down in Cathedral Cove, he became involved with local theatre, working with such groups as Palm Canyon Theatre, Desert TheatreWorks, Dezart Performs, S2 Ss S, and Green Room Theatre. He has been nominated for six Desert Theatre League Awards and has won three. John Alex was married to the late Christine Evenson Houlton for 33 years, with two adult children and four grandchildren [number five is expected shortly]. He is now happily partnered with Michael Patino. He still enjoys working out at the gym, but has gradually and sadly given up riding and owning horses.
John Alex Houlton was born and grew up in the north of England, served in the Royal Air Force, and earned his BA degree at Oxford in English language and literature. He first came to the United States for an advanced degree in Theatre, Film and Television at UCLA. His professional career was in British Government service in the United States, at the British Consulate-General in Los Angeles, largely in public affairs. During that time he produced five television series for US television, shot in Britain, and six large multidimensional British Festivals in the Southwestern US. His final position was as Co-Creator and Director of the British Film Office in the United States. He was awarded both an OBE [Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire] and an MBE [Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire] for his services.
On retirement, John Alex was free to make use of his talents for theatre -- directing and acting, as well as for writing fiction. He had founded Theatre 40, an Equity waiver theatre in Beverly Hill some 50 years ago, and rejoined the company in 2002 to act and direct, before moving to Palm Springs in 2006. His first collection of short stories was published also in 2006, and he has had a novel published every year since that. He writes both historical and contemporary gay-themed books, usually in the mystery and relationship genres.
After settling down in Cathedral Cove, he became involved with local theatre, working with such groups as Palm Canyon Theatre, Desert TheatreWorks, Dezart Performs, S2 Ss S, and Green Room Theatre. He has been nominated for six Desert Theatre League Awards and has won three. John Alex was married to the late Christine Evenson Houlton for 33 years, with two adult children and four grandchildren [number five is expected shortly]. He is now happily partnered with Michael Patino. He still enjoys working out at the gym, but has gradually and sadly given up riding and owning horses.
