Our team of playful people.
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.
Richard has had a lifelong love for theatre, appearing in such productions as The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (“Judas”), The Grapes of Wrath (“Jim Casy”), The All-American Genderf*ck Cabaret (“DJ”), Angels In America (“Belize”) and more. Notably, he served as Associate Director for the critically acclaimed production of Rent with Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company in 2022, as well as the Director of The Eight: Reindeer Monologues for both New Strand Ensemble (2008) and Held2gether (2016).
Living with ADHD and anxiety, Richard finds solace and empowerment in the arts, which fuels his commitment to fostering self-discovery for all. As a gay, Black, and Mexican person, Richard embraces inclusivity and celebrates the rich diversity of individuals.
Kendra Nicholson 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.
Kendra Nicholson (she/her)
Facilitator, Group Discussion Leader