BLAKE KREMER

BOARD TERM 2024-2027

Blake is a longtime Tacoma attorney who represents peace and environmental activists in a variety of state and federal trials. 

Blake’s legal practice is diverse and includes criminal defense and personal injury work. He does pro bono work related to victim advocacy, hospice work, and his work for a pediatric HIV/AIDS support organization. Blake’s work reflects his commitment to social justice, including one of Washington’s last death penalty defense trials and defense of Father Bill Bichsel, Sister Anne Montgomery and others who engaged in civil resistance against nuclear weapons.  Blake has also successfully represented many environmental activists in jury trials and serves on many boards dedicated to issues close to his heart.

Blake believes that theater has an important role in bringing our community together as we continue to suffer the effects of a pandemic, and considers the work of this board to be more vital to our community than ever. 

MARIA VALENZUELA, VICE PRESIDENT

BOARD TERM 2024-2027

A native of Tacoma, Maria has been involved in the performing arts throughout the US and abroad as a performer, director, educator, and administrator... but it all began as a performer and volunteer nearly 40 years ago at TLT. She is a veteran of the US Navy and has extensive background in both non-profit and public/government administration. Maria is a frequent coach, clinician, and adjudicator of student choral and theatrical groups, and is currently the Director of Music and Drama at Saint Patrick School. Maria is so pleased to be returning to TLT this time to serve this community and its legacy as a member of the Board of Directors.

PAMELA ROZA HAYES

BOARD TERM 2024-2027

Pamela Roza has been a member of the Lakewood community since early 2018, having moved from South Florida to the Pacific Northwest in the summer of 2017. In Miami, Pamela taught at the prestigious New World School of the Arts, featured in the New York Times and whose alumni include Tarrell Alvin McCraney (Oscar for Moonlight), Alex Lacamoire (Tony Award - Hamilton), and David Del Rio (Grease:Live on FOX). 

Pamela, who made her debut at Lakewood Playhouse last September as Kate in Brighton Beach Memoirs, has been a professional theatre artist for going on three decades, starting back in 1991 with her first professional role as Martha in Careless Love at Area Stage Company in Miami Beach. It was the Area Stage where she appeared with Oscar Isaac (Poe in Star Wars: The Last Jedi) in the world premiere of Sleepwalkers by Jorge Ignacio Cortinas. 

Pamela originated a second role in the world premiere of The Sunken Living Room, by David Caudle, where she played John Magaro’s (Orange is the New Black; The Good Wife) negligent mother, Lynette. John and David’s subsequent Q&A via teleconference with Pamela’s Scene Study class at New World was featured in Samuel French’s Breaking Character Magazine. Pamela was also a frequent featured artist at GableStage in the world famous Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, winning a Miami New Times Best Actress Award for her performance in Boy Gets Girl and a Carbonell Award for Killer Joe. 

Pamela teaches the Linklater Vocal Method and focuses on a combination of Uta Hagen and Sanford Meisner in her approach to acting instruction. She is also trained in Alexander Technique and the Fitzmaurice Vocal Method, although she prefers to use the Linklater when teaching voice for the stage. 

ERIC CLAUSELL

Eric was born and raised in New Yorker City (NYC) where he trained and began his performing arts career. He identifies as an African American, Puerto Rican, Queer, Cisgender male, Performing and Teaching Artist. By day, Eric is a Clinical Psychologist at the Seattle VA Medical Center. Eric moved to Tacoma in 2012 for a new career opportunity in the VA, which he enjoys. Since arriving in the area, he has performed in productions all along the I-5 corridor from Portland to Bellingham and has thoroughly enjoyed the rich performing arts scene that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Eric is honored to join the Board of Tacoma Little Theatre during this important time of cultural transformation in the Tacoma Arts Community. He has been involved in several TLT productions as an actor, choreographer, and director. As a member of the TLT Board, Eric hopes to bring his passion, experience, and personal history in the theater to the TLT community. In addition to his local performing arts endeavors, Eric has performed professionally as a singer, dancer, and actor in musicals, also as a concert dancer in NYC, Los Angeles, Massachusetts, and Vienna Austria. He's had the privilege of touring the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia in Broadway tours collaborating with so many inspiring artists in his career that have inspired him to strive for excellence and honesty in the creative process.

TLT WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Tacoma Little Theatre of Tacoma, Washington, is being honored with the Diamond Crown Organizational Award by the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT). The 2021 AACT National Award presentations will be pre-recorded and streamed during Virtual AACTFest 2021 National Theatre Festival, Saturday, June 19, beginning at 11:45AM (Eastern). To view the AACT National Awards presentations and participate in other exciting Virtual AACTFest 2021 events during June 14–20, 2021, register at aact.org/21.

The AACT Diamond Crown Organizational Award recognizes longevity and vitality of AACT member theatres that have expanded programming and/or facilities in the past ten years and have the administrative leadership to remain vital to their communities for the next ten years. Recipients must have been in continuous operation for seventy-five years. Visit aact.org/awards for information on all AACT National Awards, 2021 AACT Award winners, and previous honorees.

Tacoma Little Theatre (TLT) was founded in 1918 as the Tacoma Little Theatre and Drama League, and at 103 years is among the oldest community theatres currently operating in the United States. TLT’s vision is to offer a destination for the diverse community of Tacoma and Puget Sound by offering a well-rounded season of mainstage productions, staged readings, murder mysteries, special events, and a year-around education program serving both adults and children. TLT increases community awareness through special ticket programs and embracing other non-profit and service organizations, such as United Way. With the support of the community and local funders, TLT was able to complete a full remodel of its auditorium and lobby spaces, beginning in June of 2020. This was the first major upgrade since the 1950s, and came as a result of listening and responding to patron feedback. After a break in response to the Covid pandemic, the theatre is looking forward to welcoming back patrons in the fall of 2021.

AACT provides networking, resources, and support for America’s theatres. AACT represents the interests of more than 7,000 theatres across the United States and its territories, as well as theatre companies with the U.S. Military Services overseas.