Darrell Rodenbaugh
Chief Executive Officer
Darrell Rodenbaugh is a full-time volunteer serving as Chief Executive Officer of North Texas Performing Arts since 2015, donating his salary in support of a mission he deeply believes in: giving as many children as possible the profound experience of taking the stage and having their voices heard.
Darrell has been a volunteer with NTPA for almost two decades, joining the Plano Children’s Theatre Board of Directors (which evolved into the NTPA) in 2010 and served pro bono as Executive Director through 2011, guiding it through financial difficulties. He was elected Board President for eight consecutive terms and left the board to assume the full-time CEO role in 2018, leading the organization to over 12X growth in his leadership tenure.
Darrell created the AMP Awards, the ACE (Acting Company for Excellence) Program, the North Texas Performing Arts organization and structure, the “Ten Characters”, the NTPA STARS Youth Protection Program, and the NTPA Academy. Under his leadership, other new programs were successfully launched including NTPA – Fairview, NTPA – Frisco, NTPA – Dallas, NTPA – Starcatchers and NTPA – Repertory, and the NTPA Community Theatre, Collegiate Pursuits and NTPA Studios, and the NTPA Deaf Theatre. Darrell is responsible for the creation of the Willow Bend Center of the Arts, convincing Starwood Retail Partners to provide the space on favorable negotiated terms, secured financing, and designed much of the facility. He recruited and worked alongside the incredible “Team of Steel” volunteers who generously contributed their time and talent to construct much of the theatre now in place today.
Darrell’s wife Lisa began volunteering at NTPA before he did, and was the creator of the “Curtain Club”, the precursor to the current NTPA Membership Program and volunteer system. Lisa is a founding member of the NTPA Repertory Board of Directors and served as Chairperson and serves as Finance Director. Their children, Chris and Lee, were founding members of the ACE’s and together participated in over 70 NTPA productions. Chris completed his BBA and MBA at Loyola of Chicago, and JD at Northwestern Law School, and is a litigation attorney in Chicago. Lee completed her BS in Neuroscience from Baylor University and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Texas Women’s University in Houston, and practices in Houston, Texas.
Darrell is a Plano-area investor and volunteer who prior to his tenure at NTPA spent twenty-five years in the high-tech industry in sales, sales management, and general manager roles with IBM, Oracle, Yahoo!, i2 Technologies, and prior to this role was SVP and General Manager for McAfee’s global $300M Mid-Market business division. He went on to build a security and life-safety services company and residential services company, and currently serves on other company boards.
Darrell is a graduate and now Trustee at Washburn University and earned his MBA at the University of Houston. He is completing his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership at Jesuit Rockhurst University, with expected completion in 2027.
Danielle Shermer
Senior Marketing Director
Danielle Shermer brings more than 20 years of marketing expertise and a lifelong love of theatre to her role as Senior Marketing Director at NTPA. A proud graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Theatre, Danielle began her career on stage before transitioning into the world of marketing, where she has led innovative campaigns across industries including healthcare, tech, and entertainment. A Dallas native and alumna of Ursuline Academy, Danielle is thrilled to combine her two passions—marketing and the performing arts—at NTPA. As a mom to two young performers whose lives have been deeply impacted by NTPA, Danielle is committed to amplifying the organization’s mission and magic to families across North Texas.
Seth Davidson
Business Manager
Seth Davidson assumed the role of NTPA Business Manager in December of 2021, and has been a member of the NTPA financial management team for over two years. Seth oversees most of NTPA’s “back office” operations including all financial and office management functions.
Seth has over twenty years of financial management and business administration experience.
Donovan Lawson
Director of Marketing
Donovan Marie Lawson graduated from Oklahoma City University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre for Young Audiences with a Directing Minor. She started performing at a young age at Miss Persis Studio and Theatre Arlington, and continues to perform around the DFW metroplex today. Her favorite stage credits include Miriam in Fly By Night, Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Rusty in Footloose earning her the Best Actress in a Musical at the 45th Annual Stony Awards, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, Rita La Porta in Lucky Stiff, and Dorothy in Oz! Discovering her love for the arts and children, she decided to combine the two and work in children’s theatres across North Texas.
Donovan joined the NTPA staff in 2017 as an Adjunct Director, and she has directed dozens of shows, classes and camps at NTPA. In 2018 she also began serving on NTPA Vice President of Marketing & Sales Lauren Boykin’s Marketing team during her tenure as one of NTPA’s inaugural Resident Directors. Donovan’s favorite NTPA directing and choreography credits are Junie B. Jones The Musical Jr, High School Musical Jr, Annie Jr, Alice in Wonderland, and Once on This Island, Jr. Donovan is thrilled to be a part of the NTPA family where she has the wonderful opportunity to share her knowledge as a theatre artist, director, designer, marketer, and arts advocate helping to enrich the lives of children!
Trysh Pope
Director of Development Programs
Trysh Pope joined the NTPA Staff Development Team in 2023, after serving as a dedicated NTPA volunteer since 2013. She served as Board Chairperson of Fairview Theatre Management Board from 2015 to 2017, with the amazing team of volunteers who built NTPA–Fairview. From 2018 to 2023 she served as a member of the NTPA Governing Board of Directors. She was honored with two Legacy Awards throughout her years of volunteer contribution.
Trysh graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising and worked as a Marketing professional during her early career. In addition to NTPA Boards, she served on PTA/PTO boards in many capacities for over a decade – graduating from the State of Texas PTA Emerging Leaders Academy and McKinney ISD Leadership Academy. Her passion in service is inclusivity, kindness, disability awareness, and encouraging the next generation of leaders to find ways to give back to their communities and always serve and share their hearts with others.
She is profoundly honored to be part of the NTPA Staff, because she truly believes that theatre makes a meaningful difference, a lifelong impact, and that the arts transform lives. The NTPA theatre family is a huge part of her heart and she is beyond grateful that her husband Tim and kids Sophie and Zack, have been able to spend over a decade both onstage and behind the scenes, calling NTPA home.
Orit Chaim Gerstner
Director of Development Projects
Orit Chaim Gerstner is a seasoned professional in the film and television industry, with a wealth of experience as a director, producer, and screenwriter. Throughout her career, she has worked on a diverse range of projects, including commercials, sitcoms, documentary series, and movies in Israel. In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, Orit has also been deeply committed to non-profit organizations, dedicating over two decades to working and volunteering her time and expertise. She holds a degree in Film and Television from Minshar School of Art in Israel. Recently, Orit relocated to Texas with her husband and son, and since then she has been actively engaged in various non-profit organizations in the DFW metroplex area.
Jenna Moore
Production Services Manager
Andrew Evans
Technical Director
