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

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

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 Bluegrass, 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

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, Amy Jacobson, Edgar “Eddie” Jauregui, Monia Joblin, Christine Kaplan, Dylan McDermott, Kelly Nelson, Lita Gaithers Owens, Kevin Ragsdale, John Ruskin, Howard Spector, Linda Sullivan

Honorary Board Members

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

Our Flight Team

Become a Supporter

Supersonic

$15,000 And Up

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

Benefactors $10,000-14,999

Deena Bosnak & Family, Eve Ensler, Jennifer Field, Glad Foundation, David Kravitz, Kevin Ragsdale, Stable Foundation,

Flying Angels

Donations of $5,000-9,999

Attias Family Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, David and Vickie McFarland, David Bosnak, Gail Myers, IM Joelson Foundation Inc, Kelly Nelson, Kenneth P. Lombino, Los Angeles Philanthropic Committee For the Arts, Marta Kane, Stephen Fife, Valarie Vanaman

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

A New York Minute, Alan Watenmaker, Alice & Christopher DeRham, Anna Paquettte,, Aubrey & Amelia Anderson, Axiom Real Estate Holdings, Christine & Jordan Kaplan, Dan & Diana Attias, David & Katie Soroko, Diane Morrow, Dylan McDermott, Eddie & Natalie Jauregui, Eve Ensler, Fred Jones Family Foundation, Grace Shen, Ginger Ramsey-Grippe, J M Wilson, Jeff Prater, Jimmy Tang, Kate Kelly, Kathleen Nicole Parker, Kevin Wyrauch, Martin Sosin Foundation, Mary Jo O'Neill, Mary Marlowe, Maryanne LaGuardia, Maurice Lamarche, Max Mayer, Michael Lippman, Michael Nicklin, Michael R. Myers, Newman Aaronson & Vanaman, Nicole Cannon, Olivia Lua, Patricia Stark, Paula Jacobson, Paul Myers, Ray & Veronica Reisler, Rita Franciosa & Family, Robert McGinley, Robin Russin, Ronald Meyer, Rupert Hitzig, Ryan DeMesa, Sheri Levy, SIMH LLC, Stanley & Betty Sheinbaum, Steve Schwartz, Susan Hayden, Susan Hayden Allport, Thomas Prosser, Todd & Tatiana James, Trinka Soloway, William Rothbard

First Class

$1,000-4,999

Alicia & Mike Cortrite, Amanda Keidan, Amity Janow, Amin Joseph, Ashley Noel, Billie Bernhard, Chris Mulkey & Karen Landry, Concezio Di Gregorio, Dante & Marcella Spinotti, David Swift, Debbon Ayer, Jack Walker, Joe Russin, John Finn, Judi Barker, Katherine Burton, Lita Gaithers, Marie & Jim Gilbert, Mark Hammer, Melissa Sage, Paul Williams, Rita & Joe Corrigan, Robin & Sarah Russin, Shayne Anderson, William Joseph

Tower Control

$500-999

Runway

$250-499

Alan & Diane Childs, Ann Garlington, Chris Mulkey, Dana Kelly, Gail Meyer, Greg and Terisa Myers, Howard J. Morris, Joe & Debra Galliani, Ken Levine, Michael O’Keefe, Nicole Millar, Paige, Morrow Kimball, Regan Kibbee, Robert R McGinley, Romaine McCoy, Ron Nelson Scott McGowan, Stephanie Sola, Stephan McIlvaine, Stephen Mazur, Thomas Ruskin, Todd Simon, Vinny Thadhani

Take off

$25-249

Abhijit Singh, Alana Cole, A.M. Rogers, Amaury Arce, Amir Talai, Amy Morse, Andrea Barzvi, Andria Kelling, Anna Carlise, Ashton Amaba, Audrey Hazekamp, Aubrey Anderson, Aurora Leonard, Barry Levitt, Bernard Berger, Bernie and Linda Fox, Betsy Douds Bob & Robin Eatman, Brandon Lill, Bruce Davison, Bryanna Hawes, Calla Tartikoff, Carolyn Thorogood, Catherine Butterfield, Cesar Osorio, Charles Sterling, Chris & Susie Piolarski, Christine Martini, Christina Byron, Christina Olson Garcia, Chima Rock, Christine Salfitty, Claire Barrett, Craig Mathers, Damian Anastasio, David Brooks, David Salper, Danny Katz, David Comperatore, Daniel Taylor, Darlene Hall, Denise Kassem, Denise Siamo, Diane Sherry, Donna Gentry, Dorla Hulse, Don Girard, Dr. Samuel & Diane Waingrow, Ed Horowitz, Eitan Gonen, Elaine Dochard-Hubbert, Eleni Loukas, Elaina Reilly, Elizabeth Zaino, Erin Cahill, Erin Knapik, Frederick & Paula Kuhns, George Bloom, George Miserlis, Gina Hecht, Gina Peterman, Ginna Zoellner, Grant Moran, Gwynne & Linda Jassim, Happy L Garacochea, Harutune Hamassian, Heath Centazzo, Holly Jones, Iraj Dehnow, Jack Merrill, Jackie, Lamatis, Jackie & Keith Moret, James Knight, James Ponce, James Rebhorn, James Ruskin, Jason Maston, Jenny Clark, Jeff LeBeau, Jim Maldonado, Joan Jobe Smith & Federick Voss, Joe Russin, Jon Ross, John Flynn, Joseph Manzo, Judy Abdo, Judy Goldstein, Jules Haimovitz, Jurgen Sumann, Katie Garland Noble, Kaylee Quilling, Kelly Gullett, Ken Lempit, Kevin Hudnell, Laurie Rocha, Leah Harrison, Lee & Juanita Armen, Lora Bofill, Lynda Pryes, Matthew Frey, Lisa Kahn, Lori Valentine, Louis Erskine, Lou J. Kikos, Louis Saliba, Lura Dymond, Magdalena Edwards, MandyVolpe, Marilyn & Donald Gralla, Mark Nasser, Mark Reilly, Marisa Kouroubacalis, Michael Friedman, Michael Schwartz, Michael Reilly, Michael Seplow, Mike Gerbi, Monica Teshale, Mouchette van Helsdingen, Nancy Cott, Nicole Cannon, Nicole Brandell, Nina Brissey, Nina Murano, Noam Dromi, Nora Hussey Oscar Garza, Paul Weisser, Paula Jacobson, Paul Zegler, Patricia Stark, Paz Hernandez, Peter & Kedren Werner, Peter Krasny, Rachel Hardisty, Ratna Jones, Raul Dourado, Ray & Veronica Reisler, Rebecca Grover, Richard Cardenas Jr, Richard Ragsdale, Robert Pine, Robert McCutchan, Robert Mollohan II, Roger Johnson, Rubin Santiago Hudson, Ronald Nelson, Ryan Hilterbran, Samuel M. Surloff, Sarah Figoten, Sarah St. Germain, Sean Reilly, Sharon Girdner, Sharyl Holtzman, Sharon Repass, Simone M L. Blais, TTE Simone, M. L. Blais Living Trust, Simone Almekias-Siegl, Soin Choi, Stephen Harrison, Stephen Marks, Susan House, Nancy Berggren, Steve Haskell & Michelle Haner, Steven & Nancy Mindel, Steven Meloan, Stuart M. Chandler, Ted & Carol Sattler, Terry Walters, Thomas Dea, Toni Webb, Todd Simon, Vatsal Gupta, Vicki Chattergee, Virginia Gay, Vivian Goldstein Weiss, Wes Merchant, William Ensley, Willie Campbell, Wolf Fleetwood-Ross,Yassir Nadifi, Yiola Georgiou,