Our Team

Richard J. Martinez (he/him)

Founder, Creative Director, Instructor

Richard J. Martinez is the driving force behind The Playful Stage, fulfilling his lifelong passion for theatre by creating a vibrant and inclusive theatre school.

Richard began teaching improv in 2015, and his supportive and encouraging teaching style helped lead countless students to personal breakthroughs, both on and off the stage. He taught improv classes, both advanced and introductory, at Held2gether for eight years, and has been a student of Impro, Second City, Groundlings, and IO West. In addition to classes at The Playful Stage, Richard also coaches improv at local high schools, medical programs, and for various corporate events.

As a neurodivergent person, Richard finds both grounding and empowerment in the arts, which inspire his dedication to fostering self-discovery and creative expression in others. As a gay, Black, and Mexican artist, he celebrates inclusion in the theatre arts and the power of diverse voices. As a human being looking for meaningful connection with others, Richard appreciates that the theatre arts has always been a space to seek that out, and is proud to have created a space where others can find their own connections and community.

Richard has had a lifelong love for theatre. In 2025 he directed the critically acclaimed community theatre world premiere of Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill: The Musical at Landmark Theatre in Long Beach. In 2025, he also directed Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s sold out run of Richard III. Additionally, he served as Associate Director for the 2022 Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company production of Rent and was the director of The Eight: Reindeer Monologues for both New Strand Ensemble (2008) and Held2gether (2016).

As a stage actor, he has appeared in such productions as The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (“Judas”) - Burnight Theatre, In the Blood (“Jabber/Chili”) - The Garage Theatre, Angels In America (“Belize”) and more.

Staff/Guest Instructors/Guest Facilitators

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    Dr. Evelyn Carter

    she/her

    Dr. Evelyn Carter (she/her) is a research nerd and a musical theater enthusiast. In her professional life, Evelyn is a social psychologist and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultant. Her first book - WAS THAT RACIST? How to Detect, Interrupt, and Unlearn Bias in Everyday Life - was published in January 2026.

    In her personal life, Evelyn is a trained improviser (Second City Hollywood, The Playful Stage) and a performer (most recently as “Frankie” in the world premiere of the community theater production of Jagged Little Pill: The Musical, produced by Landmark Theatre Company). Her favorite experiences are the ones that bring her personal and professional passions together.


    Evelyn lives in Long Beach with her husband and her daughters -- two of the most vivacious toddlers you will ever meet.

    Find her on the internet at evelynrcarter.com and @evelynrcarter on IG.

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    Felipe Fernandez

    he/him

    Felipe Fernandez (he/him) is just a guy who enjoys improv.  He discovered improv at the tail end of the pandemic, doing improv scenes through video conferencing.  Many years have passed and Felipe still enjoys improv and nerding about it with his friends.

    In addition to improv, Felipe’s previous experience as a teacher and software engineer allows him to approach improv in a framework and modular fashion.  Such philosophy allows new improv artists to easily grasp the fundamentals of improv, quelling fears and start having fun.

    By day, Felipe works as a front-end web developer.  He enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons, board games, watching anime, and eating at unique eateries.

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    Junbug

    they/them

    Junbug (they/them) is an improviser and firm believer in the power of play and human connection. At 18, they moved from Japan to the United States on their own, beginning a journey that would eventually lead to becoming a CPA.

    Junbug's journey toward the stage actually began with Toastmasters. While working through severe social anxiety, they took on the challenge of becoming President of a struggling Toastmasters club and helped lead it to Smedley Distinguished Club status. The confidence and growth they found through that experience left them looking for new ways to challenge themselves, connect with others, and keep growing.

    That search led Junbug to improv, and they quickly fell in love. Not just with the art form, but with the community they found at The Playful Stage. As an AuDHD improviser performing in their second language, Junbug brings their uniquely authentic perspective to the stage. Improv has given them a place to trust their instincts, embrace the unexpected, connect with the people around them, and continue discovering just how much can happen when we give ourselves permission to play.

    Funny, playful, and always looking for opportunities to love and be loved, Junbug is passionate about helping others experience the connection and self-discovery they have found along the way. They are a founding member of the improv team Queeriosity and are especially driven to help people who might not think of themselves as natural performers discover that there is a place for them onstage, too. That passion is what drives Junbug as the force behind The Treehouse, TPS student performance showcase. They are excited to help others find the courage to play, connect, and grow; both onstage and off.

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    Liz Lanier

    she/her

    Liz Lanier (she/her) is a highly accomplished performer hailing from Southern California, with a rich background in theatre, improv, and sketch comedy that spans over several years. With a profound passion for character development, captivating storytelling, and empowering artistic expressions, Liz has dedicated herself to nurturing the talents of aspiring artists.

    Liz's expertise lies in the transformative power of improv, which she adeptly imparts to her students. Her deep commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment enables new students to embark on a remarkable journey of self-discovery, self-growth, and heightened confidence.

    Through her guidance, students are encouraged to embrace their unique voices, explore new horizons, and tap into their creative potential. Liz appreciates the opportunity to share the magic of improv and instilling in her students a newfound sense of empowerment and the ability to thrive on and off the stage.

    @tislizlanier

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    Kendra Nicholson

    she/her

    Kendra Nicholson (she/her) received her degree in Theatre with a minor in English. After being a stay-at-home mom for several years, she worked her way back into performing and directing community theatre before she found improv.

    As a child she dreamed of being a teacher when she grew up, and was able to make that dream come true when she began performing and teaching improv with Held2gether in Long Beach, CA.

    In 2018, she lost her 18-year-old son to suicide. She stepped away from improv and began writing. Her first book, “The Climb,” is a young adult fictional novel written from the perspective of a 13-year-old boy who loses his big brother to suicide. She looks forward to sharing her experience of how improv has been beneficial to her grief journey and her writing.

    https://kendranicholson.com/

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    Penelope Pauley

    she/her

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    Dr. Eric Price

    he/him

    Dr. Eric Price (he/him) is a counselor, educator, and improviser who is passionate about the intersection between mental health and creativity. Eric currently serves as a professor of Counseling at California State University Fullerton, and a licensed professional clinical counselor at Provia Psychology in Long Beach.

    Eric’s improv journey includes training throughout Long Beach as well as UCB and Groundlings in Los Angeles. He is also one of the founding members of the improv team Queeriosity and he actively explores how improvisation can be used as a powerful tool for mental health, self-expression, and personal development.

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    DeRod Taylor

    they/them

    DeRod Taylor, M.A. (they/them) is a professor of communication studies at El Camino College, specializing in performance studies and intercultural communication. They wrote, directed, and starred in The Soulfood Museum at the University of Northern Iowa.

    They starred as Richard III in the Helen Borgers Theater’s 2025 production of Richard III. DeRod is a frequent player with the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, where they portrayed Betty Zatop in Coming and Going during the company’s 2025 Play Shorts Festival. They also were featured in the ensemble in the world premiere of the community theatre production of Jagged Little Pill: The Musical, produced by Landmark Theatre Company.

    @powerofpookie

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    Nelli Veletyan

    she/her

    Nelli Veletyan (she/her) is a storyteller, an educator, and a professional silly adult. She’s been a theater kid since she was six (back in the late 1900s for y’all young peeps), and has performed in plays, musicals, improv and sketch comedy shows. She first found improv through Comedy Sportz in high school, and returned to improv in 2017 in full force. She has a background in short-form, long-form, musical improv and sketch comedy. In addition to improv, you can also find her reading, writing short stories, working on her novel, or frollicking through nature with her husband and their pup Henry. 

    She believes stories (silly and otherwise) shared in any form are at the core of what it means to be human—and that improv is one of the most powerful forms of collaborative storytelling out there. Her favorite improv moments are the ones that build community, shed light on shared experiences, and allow you to get silly, let go of expectation, and simply play.

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    Mallory White

    she/her

    Mallory White (she/her) is an actor, dancer and writer with many years of experience studying and performing in New York and California.

    Current artistic endeavors include dancing with WE Dance, teaching Danceprov at the Playful Stage and creating content on Raised Vegas about her debut novel, ATOMIC ROULETTE.

    Mallory was cast as “Queen Margaret” in the Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s 2025 production of Richard III.

    IG: mallorywhitecreative