Playhouse Staff

Susan Sluka (Cultural Center Supervisor) has been involved in theatre and the performing arts since childhood and has performed in and/or directed over 60 productions. In 1992 Susan founded "The Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company" in Central California, introducing quality, live theatre to young audiences, and served as the company's Artistic Director for 10 years, while also working as the Cultural Arts Coordinator for the City of Visalia. Susan has won awards for both her acting and community leadership efforts in Visalia, where she also wrote a weekly theatre newspaper column, voiced a weekly arts spotlight segment on local radio, supervised an award-winning Teen Mural program, hosted the City's weekly news magazine-style cable TV show, "Visalia Today" and co-produced a monthly teen television show called "Age Limit."

Since moving to the Inland Empire in January 2002, Susan has produced eight musical theatre productions for the Rancho Cucamonga Community Theatre, coordinated the creation of the RC Theatre Arts Academy, and this past spring opened the RC Theatre Arts Center, which will serve as the temporary home for the City's performing arts program until the opening of the Cultural Center at Victoria Gardens.

Susan is grateful for the visionary leadership of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, particularly in the Community Services Department, along with the fine artists, performers, directors, instructors and community members who support the artistic endeavors of a young community.

Jennifer Hunt (Special Events & Cultural Arts Supervisor) began her tenure with the City of Rancho Cucamonga in 2000 and has been involved in many different capacities. She brings to her position extensive knowledge of Special Event planning, years of recreational programming for youth and adults in addition to her creative ideas and enthusiastic personality. She supervises annual City Special Events such as the 4th of July Celebration, Founder's Day Parade, Concerts and Movies in the Park, Groundbreakings/Dedications and much more. Jennifer previously was involved in the City's Silver Anniversary Party hosting LeAnn Rimes at the Epicenter. Throughout her years with the City, Jennifer has worked within several youth programming areas providing quality community programs and services to the residents. She is excited to be a part of an exciting project that will create quality family experiences that will resonate for a lifetime.

Mireya “Murry” Hepner ((Lewis Family Playhouse Productions Coordinator) is responsible for the day to day management and creative supervision of the MainStreet Theatre Company productions, as well as contracting and logistics for all of the professional productions presented at the Lewis Family Playhouse.

Before coming to Rancho Cucamonga she spent over twenty years working in the professional theatre, and has worked on Broadway, Off Broadway, in Regional Theatre, on the road, and on a variety of special events, with such varied people as JoAnne Akalaitis and Julie Andrews. Some of her diverse assignments over the years include stage managing the original production of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's "Passion", producing a 10th Century play at the Cloisters in upper Manhattan, touring the U.S. and Australia with legendary mime Marcel Marceau, and production managing the Los Angeles production of The "Radio City Christmas Spectacular", among many others.

Murry has a BA in Theatre from UCLA, trained as a stage manager at the London Academy of Music and Drama, and as an Arts Manager in the MFA program at Brooklyn College. She is also on the board of Parson’s Nose Productions, a non-profit theatre company that introduces classic plays to family audiences. She is thrilled to be sharing the magic of the theatre with the children and families of the Inland Empire!

Patrick Hediger (Cultural Arts Coordinator) studied theatre arts management at El Camino College and California State University at Long Beach. While attending classes, he interned simultaneously at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre and the Los Angeles Theatre Center before becoming a union ticket seller working at the Ahmanson, Hollywood Bowl and Shubert Theatres. Patrick became the Operations Coordinator at the Orange County Performing Arts Center where his duties included working with incoming National Broadway tours.

He was lured by the call of the road, becoming an assistant/associate company manager for Disney's first stage production, "Beauty and the Beast," "Peter Pan" with Cathy Rigby, "Annie Get Your Gun" with Mary Lou Henner and Tom Wopat, and "Mamma Mia!" He was Company Manager for "Stones in His Pockets" and the National touring Company of "42nd Street." He also managed the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre for the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and had a short stint as the Education and Community Programs Manager for the Los Angeles Opera before having the honor of serving the Rancho Cucamonga community as part of this amazing new performance space.

Annette Mumolo, (Marketing Coordinator) our seasoned Entertainment veteran comes to us with many years of Marketing and Public Relations experience. Annette previously served as Media Relations Specialist for ABC Cable Networks where she was responsible for marketing original movies and series including Disney Channel's "Gotta Kick It Up," "Cheetah Girls," "Even Stevens" and ABC Family's "So Little Time," "Spider-Man" and "Power Rangers." Prior to ABC Cable Networks Group, Annette served as Senior Publicist for Fox Family Channel/Fox Kids Network where she managed publicity efforts for daytime programming, concert specials and special events working with a diversity of talent including "No Doubt," "Christina Aguilera," "Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen" and "Captain Kangaroo." Annette is extremely excited to be joining the Lewis Family Playhouse team and being a part of the most exciting family-oriented venue to arrive in the Inland Empire.

Cristina Gorka (Box Office Coordinator) has extensive experience ticketing theatrical, cultural and other events in a variety of venues. She comes to us from UC Riverside's Fine Arts Ticket Office. In addition, she has worked at such places as the Orange County Fairgrounds, the Anaheim Convention Center, the Crystal Cathedral Reservations Center, Orange County's Pacific Symphony at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre and the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Her familiarity with performing arts centers is well rounded. She has ushered, house managed, stage managed, built sets, designed lights, sewed costumes, booked events and coordinated outreach. An active member of INTIX (International Ticketing Organization) Cristina sat on the planning committee at last year's conference. Cristina is thrilled to be working on this exciting, eagerly anticipated project and looks forward to serving the ticketing needs of our wonderful community.