Renee Scott
executive director

A born and raised New Yorker, Renee has trained at The Theatre School at DePaul University, The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, UCLA, and Improv Olympic. Renee has been to every state in the contiguous United States at least twice, while performing in three national tours, spreading the joy of musical theatre throughout the land. She has also worked off-Broadway, regionally, and in summer stock.

Some favorite experiences in the theatre include: Oolie/Donna in City of Angels, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Ilona in She Loves Me, and almost every female role (including Mary!) in Merrily We Roll Along. You can also catch Renee in Fill in the Blanke, a hilarious and darkly comic sketch show that she co-wrote. The show performs at Improv Olympic West. Sometimes, Renee even finds time to sleep!

Renee would like to extend her heartfelt thanks to everyone in Theatre 7, for keeping her sane (and making her crazy!), and Marc Mercury, without whom our first collaborative production of The Full Monty would have never happened!

For more information, please visit www.reneescott.net.

Aileen-Marie Scott
managing director

Growing up with a director as a father, Aileen has been involved in just about every aspect of theatre during her life. She didn't realize how lucky she was since she thought that every child grew up learning comic timing, hitting your mark, how to find the perfect prop, silence back stage, your crew is your friend, being true to the authors vision, and mostly that theatre deserves respect and 100% of you at all times. She attended California State University Northridge receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre, her concentration on directing and coaching.

Some of her performance credits include: Georgie in Theatre 7's (in association with Mercury Theater Productions) inaugural production of The Full Monty, Sarah in Quilters (South Bay CLO), Godspell (South Bay CLO), Flemmschen in Grand Hotel (Performance Riverside), Sally Bowles in Cabaret (Curtis Theatre), Chloe in Lips Together, Teeth Apart (Best Actress Award), Sara Jane Moore in Assassins (Best Ensemble Award), Gussie in Merrily We Roll Along, Chairy in Barnum, Beverly in The Shadow Box, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Amy in Company and The Bakers Wife as well as the Witch in Into the Woods.

Aileen attended the 2005 Cabaret Conference at Yale University, studying with masters such as Sally Mayes, Sharon McNight, Erv Raible, Heather MacRae, Michael Orland, Laurel Massé, Alex Rybeck and Julie Wilson to name a just a few. Life changing.

Directorially she has created productions of All My Sons, nominated for an Inland Valley Theatre League Award (ADA) for Best Revival, Company, Gypsy, The Fantasticks, The Crucible, 1776, Hello Dolly and Godspell. She also taught theatre and ran the theatre department at St. Francis High School but had to leave as her performing life became busier.

She is especially grateful for the productions of Merrily We Roll Along where she met her fellow Theatre 7 associates and The Full Monty when there had to put their dream to the test. You have changed my life and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us!!!

Samantha Gallagher
chief financial officer

Samantha is a native New Yorker who has been performing since childhood.

Some of her favorite roles include:

• Sister Leo in Nunsense
• Margie in State Fair
• Val in A Chorus Line

Kristie Rutledge
events coordinator

Kristie was thrilled to have directed Theatre 7's inaugural production of The Full Monty in association with her friend Marc Mercury, with whom she has worked with in multiple capacities both onstage and off on such productions as Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know and most recently Clue: The Musical.

Kristie spends her professional time, personal time, free time, and any other time she can find as Costume Designer for Santa Monica College and running the City of El Segundo Rec reation Park Youth Drama Program where her days, nights, and weekends are spent producing, directing, designing, choreographing and churning out future artists to be just like her.

Kristie's favorite directing credits include Annie Get Your Gun, Beauty and the Beast and Seussical: The Musical.

Kristie looks forward to wearing even more hats as Events Coordinator of Theatre 7.

Christopher Chen
interactive media director

There are two theatre-related defining moments in Chris' life: first, at age 9, on a class field trip to see his very first stage musical, he experienced an exciting, almost indescribable tingling sensation as the curtain rose and the cast began to sing. Second, at age 14, on a dare from another classmate, he auditioned for the school musical. From that moment on, Chris was forever bitten.

Along the way, Chris has studied theatre, acting, voice and dance at a variety of institutions. The most influential include: Northwestern University, the Cleveland Music School Settlement and the Dee Hillier School of Dance.

Chris' earliest jobs as a professional performer included work as a singer-dancer in musical reviews for theme parks: Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, Opryland USA in Nashville, Tennessee, and Busch Gardens-Williamsburg in Virginia, as well as for Regency Cruise Lines.

As a stage actor, Chris has benefitted from non-traditional casting his entire career. No matter what part of the country, directors and producers have always thought "outside the box" when casting Chris. Some highlights and favorites include: Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls (Brooklyn gambler), Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm in A Little Night Music (Swedish dragoon), Harry Beaton in Brigadoon (Scottish dancer), Jigger Craigin in Carousel (New England thug), Smudge in Forever Plaid (squeaky, clean-cut, ultimate Wonder Bread singer), Paul San Marco in A Chorus Line (Puerto Rican dancer), and, most recently, Joe Josephson in Merrily We Roll Along (Jewish New York producer) and Mrs. White in Clue - The Musical (female Cockney maid). What a journey, what a ride!

Chris' love of theatre is his ultimate joy. He looks forward to collaborating with his Theatre 7 associates, artists who Chris feels are of the highest level of integrity and creativity!

[ For the usual resumé, bio, photos, etc., visit www.christopherchen.com ]

Richard Van Slyke
public relations director

Born and raised in Albany, New York, Richard Van Slyke brings with him a varied and vast stage career. Despite receiving a B.S. in Business, Richard spent every free hour in the theatre: painting sets, running video cameras, hanging lights, cleaning up after people, assistant directing and every once in a while, acting.

After college, Richard spent the next few years building up his acting resume performing in the Albany area and then moved to New York City where he eventually found himself at St. Bart's Playhouse on Park Avenue performing and serving on the board. After a couple of years, he booked his first professional acting job in the beloved outdoor drama, Mark Twain - The Musical ! (He's NOT kidding!) in Elmira, New York. He followed this with an extensive tour of the East Coast and Canada as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol for American Family Theatre. Shortly after that, he ended up in Akron, Ohio at the Carousel Dinner Theatre where he earned his much sought-after Equity card (after three shows and 4 years).

In between, Richard spent a season at The Round Barn Theatre in Nappanee, Indiana and many off-off-Broadway theatres in New York City. In 2003, Richard moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television. L.A. audiences have seen Richard on stage at The Fremont Centre Theatre, Knightsbridge Theatre, Son of Semele Ensemble, The Long Beach Playhouse, NoHo Arts Center, Theater/Theatre and as a member of Acme Comedy Theatre's Charlie Company sketch group.

Richard has worked extensively in theater as house manager, box office supervisor, fundraiser and director. Some of his favorite roles are Harold in the Mercury Theater Productions / Theatre 7 production of The Full Monty, Val in Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Dan in Plain and Fancy, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress, Charlie Brown in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Grieves in Murder Me Once, Geoffrey in Stepping Out, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, John/Judas in Godspell and FDR in Annie.

Richard has also performed in cabarets in New York City including Duets with Mark and Richard, Other People and The Dick Van Slyke Show. Directing credits include The Lisbon Traviata, Subway Soaps, The Importance of Being Ernest and Trixie True Teen Detective as well as several cabarets, sketch shows and fundraisers.

Ellen Caranasos
director of house operations

Ellen has a theater performance degree from the University of Central Florida, and was a National Irene Ryan Award winner. Since moving to Los Angeles, Ellen has had the opportunity to work on many film and television projects.

Some of Ellen's favorite roles:

• Mary in Merrily We Roll Along
• Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
• The Baker's Wife in Into The Woods
• Medea in Medea
• Anne in Richard the Third
• Maria in Lend Me a Tenor