2024-2025 BTG Board of Directors at Morgan Park Academy: Home of the Beverly Theatre Guild
Standing from left:
Camilla Joe-O’Keefe, Publicity Chair; Sheilah O’Grady, Social Chair;
Wayne O. Wendell, President; Emil Zbella, Secretary; Diane R. Pojedynski, Treasurer
Seated from left: Lynne Simari, Vice President; Sharon Mason, Business Manager
Photo credit: Camilla Joe-O’Keefe, 11/16/2024
Wayne Wendell, President: Wayne has been a member of the Beverly Theatre Guild for 33 years and currently serves as its President, has been a Board member for many years. He has been involved in all aspects of community theatre, from performer to technical director. Professionally, in addition to performing, Wayne was the Operations Manager for Dreamstreet Theatre (Equity house) for 6 years, Operations Manager for Beverly Arts Facility for 9 years, Facilities Manager for Broadway in Chicago for 5 years, and is now the manager of the Morgan Park Academy Arts Center. Currently, he is directing ‘Chicago the Musical: High School Edition’ for Morgan Park Academy’s upper school production. He also serves as Lighting Designer for several theatre companies in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
Lynne Simari, Vice President: Lynne has been a BTG member since 1989. Her first show was Funny Girl. She has produced seven shows for the Guild and directed three times. Lynne is a retired teacher who tutors private students. Her current passion for the Guild is costuming, and she is part of the team that has costumed many of the recent shows. Participating in theatre has been an important part of Lynne’s life since she was 6 years old, and she loves working on shows with BTG.
Diane Pojedynski, Treasurer: Diane has been a BTG member since 2016. During that time, she has worked in various capacities including house manager, usher, assisting with ticket or concession sales, and stage crew. She has served in the capacity of Treasurer since the 2019-2020 season. She concluded a 41-year career with the federal government in April 2011, with the majority of time in the employ of the National Credit Union Administration. The last twenty years of her career were spent in the capacity as a Federal Institutions Examiner.
Emil Zbella, Secretary: Emil is retired from a career in marketing as Senior Vice President and Director of Advertising and Promotions for LaSalle Bank, NA. In this capacity, he supervised several marketing areas including the bank’s outside advertising agencies and design firms. He was also responsible for managing the bank’s many sponsorship activities. Emil joined the Beverly Theatre Guild in 1975 and over the years has served in several Board positions including 13 years as President. He currently serves as Board Member and Past President of The International Music Foundation, a producing organization of free classical concerts; President of the Parish Council for St. Simon the Apostle Church; and Resident Set Designer for BTG and St. Sebastian Players, a community theatre organization. In the past he has served on the Boards of The League of Chicago Theatres; Theatre II, a professional, non-equity theatre company; and Contact Chicago, a crisis hotline.
Sharon Mason, Business Manager: Sharon holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration. She has been the music director or director for over 30 musicals at high school and community theater levels. She has led workshops in education for adult learners nationwide. She is a member of the Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, National Association of Principals, Illinois Principal’s Association, Illinois Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education. Currently, Sharon serves as the Arts Liaison and teacher in a Chicago Public Elementary School in the Englewood Area.
Camilla Joe-O’Keefe, Publicity Director: Camilla joined the Beverly Theatre Guild in 2019 after realizing she missed being involved with theatre productions, which she first started doing as a stage mom. Her oldest daughter’s passionate involvement in theatre eventually led her to become the coordinator of the St. Barnabas Family School Association Theatre Arts Program, a position she held for 9+ years. Her past theatre experience includes costuming, most recently for BTG shows Urinetown, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Harvey, and The Sting; set building, painting, props, and lighting; and even a brief foray into acting in BTG’s Zoom production of Almost Maine. As the Publicity Director for BTG, she is responsible for promoting BTG’s productions to the community through press releases, publicity materials, and show programs. Her past creative hobbies of photography, sewing, woodworking, and other crafts have given her many skills that serve her well in the world of theater. During the day she works as an optometrist for SVS Vision in Lansing, IL, where she provides comprehensive eye exams and prescribes eyeglasses and contact lenses. A native of California, Camilla received her undergraduate, Masters, and Doctor of Optometry degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. Go Bears!
Sheilah O’Grady, Social ChairSheilah is Beverly born and raised, and proud to call BTG her theater home. She has been involved in numerous productions with a variety of Chicagoland organizations in both onstage and offstage capacities. Her favorite roles include assistant director, lightboard operator, and Daniel’s mom. She currently lives in Orland Park and works full time as a supervising attorney for the Westside Justice Center. She is easily bribed with chocolate.