About us

Italian American Reconciliation Playbill

It all started when…

John Ruskin walked across Airport Ave, with his then-student Mikey Myers, to look at a WW2 airplane mechanic’s hangar with the idea that maybe it could become a theatre. Volunteers attached stage lights to the steel beam originally meant for plane engines, acting students with power tools installed theatre seats, and the hanger turned into the intimate L-shaped stage we know and love today. We opened our first play, Career, on February 14th, 2003. Over the next two decades, we produced more than 80 shows, 100’s of cafe plays, and earned numerous awards. Most treasured are the journeys we have taken our audiences on and the careers we have helped take flight.

Theatre Staff

Photo of John Ruskin sitting in a theatre seat — **Artistic Director/Founder**

**John Ruskin**
After graduating from the University of Colorado in Boulder, John Ruskin studied with the Yale School of Drama and the British American Drama Academy program in Oxford, England. Ruskin then attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York before becoming Sanford Meisner's apprentice and teaching with him there. Ruskin has been teaching Meisner's work since 1986 when he founded the Ruskin School of Acting. Ruskin founded the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica Airport in 2003. John Ruskin’s wife, Amy, runs the Young Actors classes at the school. John and Amy live in Topanga, California with their two sons, Bodhi and Cooper and their dog, Champa

Photo+of+Michael+Myers+sitting+in+a+theatre+seat — **Producing Artistic Director**

**Michael Myers**
Since 2002 Michael Myers has served as Ruskin Group Theatre’s Managing director. In that time, he has produced more than 80 projects. He has also directed and developed several original shows including *Paradise A Bluegras*s, *Sneaky Ole Time* a musical with music by Paul Overstreet, *The Rainbow Bridge, and Digging up Dad*. Myers is also the creator of the Ruskin Group Theatre L.A Cafe Plays which have been produced 197 times since 2004. Myers has served 12 years on Santa Monica Arts Commission, ten years as chair. During his time on the commission, Myers was integral in the city's decision to prioritize maintaining artist affordability in Santa Monica. In addition to theatre and arts advocacy, Mike has taught the Meisner technique and graduate classes at the Ruskin School of Acting since 2003

Photo of Nicole Millar sitting in a theatre seat — **Production Manager/Associate Producer**

**Nicole Millar**
Originally from England, Nicole Millar graduated from Hammersmith & West London College where she studied Performing Arts & Media. Millar moved to the states to continue her studies at UCB LA, Viola Spolin Improve, Second City, and Comedia d’el Arte. After graduating from the Meisner program at the Ruskin School of Acting, she was hired as a Stage Manager and eventually Production Manager for the Ruskin Group Theatre. She also associate produced many world acclaimed shows at the Ruskin that have moved onto the West End, off Broadway and Austin Playhouse. Millar is proud of her Greek Heritage and speaks the language fluently.

Photo of Mike Rielly sitting in a theatre seat — Managing Director

**Mike Reilly**
Originally from Upstate NY, Mike has worked with Ruskin Group Theatre since 2006 as Director, Producer, Production Manager, and everything in between. Among the plays that Mike has directed for RGT are: Death Of A Salesman, with Rob Morrow and Lee Garlington; Bad Habits, with Orson Bean and Ally Mills; Lonesome West, and Sam Shepard’s Cowboy Mouth. Mike holds an MA in Literature from LMU, and has taught acting to students ranging from young adult to adult professionals. Mike currently teaches Meisner technique for the Ruskin School of Acting. He lives in Thousand Oaks with his wife Elaina and their four sons.

Board members

Susan Hayden, Edgar “Eddie” Jauregui, Christine Kaplan, Dylan McDermott, Monia Joblin, John Ruskin, Howard Spector, Linda Sullivan

Honorary Board Members

Carole Middleton, Wendy & Titus Brenninkmeijer, Robert M. Myers, Patricia Dougherty, Fred Deni, J. Wurster

Supporters

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Donations of $15,000 And Up

Fred Deni, Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, , Chez & Roseanne Di Gregorio, Susan Hayden, Monia Joblin, Christine and Jordan Kaplan, Carole Middleton, Ian McCrae, Robert Myers and Linda J. Sullivan, Robert & Susan Ruskin, The City of Santa Monica Operational Support Program

Benefactors $10,000-14,999

Deena Bosnak & Family, Glad Foundation, Stable Foundation, Jennifer Field, David Kravitz,

Angels $5,000-9,999

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Marta Kane, Kenneth P. Lombino, Los Angeles Philanthropic Committee For the Arts. David and Vickie McFarland,

Patron of the Arts $1,000-4,999

Dan & Diana Attias, Attias Family Foundation, Axiom Real Estate Holdings, Eve Ensler, Rita Franciosa & Family, Susan Hayden, Dylan McDermott, Martin Sosin Foundation, Stanley & Betty Sheinbaum, Patricia Stark, Thomas Prosser, Ryan DeMesa, Susan Hayden Allport, David & Katie Soroko, Michael Nicklin, A New York Minute, Valarie Vanaman, Olivia Lua, Jimmy Tang, Maurice Lamarche, Paul Myers, Robin Russin, Newman Aaronson & Vanaman, Sheri Levy, Kevin Wyrauch, Christine & Jordan Kaplan, Eddie & Natalie Jauregui, Aubrey & Amelia Anderson, Grace Shen, Maryanne LaGuardia, Alan Watenmaker, Rupert Hitzig, Mary Marlowe

Lovers of The Stage $500-999

Billie Bernhard, John Finn, Dante & Marcella Spinotti, Robin & Sarah Russin, Amanda Keidan, Chris Mulkey & Karen Landry, Rita & Joe Corrigan, William Joseph, Joe Russin, Paul Williams

Great Friends of the Theatre $250-499

Judi Barker, Gail Meyer, Howard J. Morris, Greg and Terisa Myers, Todd Simon, Romaine McCoy, Vinny Thadhani, Stephan McIlvaine, Robert R McGinley, Alan & Diane Childs, Thomas Ruskin

Friends of the Theatre $25-249

Lee & Juanita Armen, Christina Olson Garcia, Dr. Samuel & Diane Waingrow, Judy Goldstein, Steve Haskell & Michelle Haner, Frederick & Paula Kuhns, Barry Levitt, Marilyn & Donald Gralla, Steven & Nancy Mindel, James Rebhorn, Bob & Robin Eatman, William Rothbard, Samuel M. Surloff, Peter & Kedren Werner, Joe Russin, Gwynne & Linda Jassim, Ed Horowitz, David Brooks, Jim Maldonado, Diane Sherry, Sharon Girdner, Stuart, M. Chanadler, Chris & Susie Piolarski, Judith Bourne, Gina Peterman, Jules Haimovitz, Katie Garland Noble, Ted & Carol Sattler, Ray & Veronica Reisler, Ratna Jones, Amaury Arce, Arthur Toretzky, Vik Chattergee, Michael Seplow, Eitan Gonen, Robert Pine, Daniel Taylor, Audrey Hazekamp, Kerry Franklin, Christine Salfitty, Rubin Santiago Hudson, Rachel Hardisty,Wes Merchant, Raul Dourado, Aubrey Anderson, Mario Didonato, Charles Sterling, Harutune Hamassian, Happy L Garacochea, Nicole Cannon, Kaylee Quilling, David Comperatore, Louis Erskine, Patricia Stark, David Bosnak, Peter Krasny, Kevin Hudnell, Amity M Janow, Anna Lobell, Kelly Gullett, Christina Byron, Ann and Virgil Shields, Bernie and Linda Fox, Don Girard, Mouchette van Helsdingen