About
The Mission of Write Out Loud is to inspire, challenge and entertain by reading literature aloud to audiences of all ages.
Our History
Write Out Loud was born from a love literature and our desire to share that passion with the community. The first Story Concert, Something New, was produced June 29, 2007 at North Coast Repertory Theatre, in association with Tonic Productions, and made possible by Amy Biedel. The first season, opening with A Screw Askew in October that year, was made possible by the generosity of Cygnet Theatre Company. Our holiday program that December, Giving Season, was designed for families featured readers from age 13 to 80 years and audience members as young as eight. Audiences were growing and it appeared that WOL was a success.
Write Out Loud’s second season (2008-09) kicked off with an all-Twain program, Ever the Twain Shall Meet, which became the seed that inspired TwainFest, first produced in 2010. Educational programs began in 2011 with our first NEA BIG. READ – Read Imagine Create. Stories for Seniors (2012), StoryBox (Kamishibai) for young children (2013), Poetry Out Loud (2014), Ripples From Walden Pond (2017), PoeFest (2018), co-producing San Diego Student Shakespeare Festival (2019), World Kamishibai Forum and Listen To This (2020), have all since become part of WOL’s regular programming.
Board of Directors
LINDA SPUCK
Board President
About Linda
Linda Spuck – Principal, Linda Spuck Consulting. Formerly Vice President/Senior Trust Officer at Union Bank. Past President, Junior League of San Diego. A.B. – Music, Occidental College.
DR. BARBARA BRODERICK
Board Secretary
About Barbara
Dr. Barbara Broderick is a fundraising professional specializing in grant writing and program development. Doctorate San Diego State University.
ROSS PORTER
Board Treasurer
About Ross
Ross Porter is the Executive Director of Spreckels Organ Society. A third-generation native of San Diego, his career in marketing has included promotion of cross-border relations, clean air and lung health, and San Diego’s hard-working non-profit sector. As one who appreciates the performing arts “from the secure darkness of the audience,” he is familiar with the challenges of leading and running non-profit cultural organizations. BA Yale University.
JAMES PASCARELLA
Board Member
About James
James Pascarella is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Technical Coordinator in Chemistry and Hematology Scripps Mercy Medical Center Retired. BA University of California San Diego (Revelle). Currently magician, Dr. Zoolittle and Santa Claus at San Diego Zoo.
CHRISTOPHER REDO
Board Member
About Christopher
Christopher Redo, MBA, CFRE is Senior Philanthropic Advisor for the National Foundation of the Boy Scouts of America. BA/MBA University of San Diego.
WALTER RITTER
Executive Director, Co-Founder
and Board Member
About Walter
Walter Ritter, International Manufacturing, Retired.
BFA Theatre Arts, United States International University.
DR. LYNNE THROPE
Board Member
About Lynne
Dr. Lynne Thrope, Clinical Reading Therapist, Founder of The Reading Room in La Mesa, CA, Specialist in Bibliotherapy, Ph.D. Claremont Graduate University, Honored by the International Literacy Association with the “Celebrate Literacy Award” for exemplary service in the promotion of literacy.
Co-Founders & Directors
WALTER RITTER
Executive Director, Co-Founder
About Walter
Walter Ritter is an actor, singer, narrator, and kamishibai storyteller whose background includes 27 years as a business owner/manager. He has performed extensively throughout the San Diego region.
VERONICA MURPHY
Artistic Director, Co-Founder
About Veronica
Veronica Murphy has been performing on San Diego area stages for over 20 years. Her work with local companies includes Cygnet Theatre Company, Ion Theatre Company, Lamb’s Players Theatre, Lynx Performance, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Pam Turner Dance and Tonic Productions.
Veronica’s recordings of audio books for children are available at hovelaudio.com.
RACHAEL VANWORMER
Education Coordinator
About Rachael
An Actor, Teaching Artist, and Arts Education Administrator, Rachael manages Write Out Loud’s Education Department, directs and performs. She has also appeared at Cygnet Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, San Diego Rep, and others. Directing credits include The Laramie Project, The Secret Garden, Yo Vikings! and most recently, La Llorona for PoeFest.
Her Arts Education work includes positions for The Playwrights Project, Arts for Learning San Diego, and Canyon Crest Academy.
As a playwright, she has had plays produced by the Fritz Theatre, Playwrights Project, as well as several self-produced workshops and readings. She was the recipient of the Bill and Judy Garret Finish Line Commission at Cygnet Theatre in 2016.
Literary Advisors
RICHARD PLATT
CAREY WALL
Associate Artists
Allison Pearce
Andrew Oswald
Brian Mackey
Brittney Caldwell
Caitie Grady
David Fenner
Cynthia Gerber
Charles Evans Jr.
Eric Minella
Jason Heil
Julia Giozetti
Linda Libby
Monique Gaffney
Paul Maley
Rachael Van Wormer
Mark Daniszovsky
Ron Choulartan
Sandra Ruiz
Steve Smith
Steven Lone
Susan Clausen
Tim West