Kristianne Kurner
(she/her)
Founder & Executive Artistic Director
Kristianne founded New Village Arts in 2001, and she has grown the organization from a starting budget of $2,500 with two employees to a current budget of $1.8 million with over 20 employees. Trained as an actor and director, she has worked on every NVA theatrical production. Her directing credits include Awake & Sing! The Weir, The Trip to Bountiful, True West, Sailor’s Song, The Waverly Gallery, A Lie of the Mind, and the premiere outside of Broadway and London of Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman. Her work has received numerous awards, including San Diego Theatre Critics Circle and KPBS Awards for Theatre Excellence. She is the recipient of the Clare Rose Sabbatical Award from Fieldstone Leadership Network and serves on the Board of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Education: BFA Theatre, College of William & Mary; MFA Acting, the Actors Studio/New School.
Brenda Beckett
(she/her)
General Manager
Brenda Beckett, M.A., SPHR, SHRM-SCP has a blended finance and HR management and leadership background and a love of theatre. She has served on many nonprofit boards and worked for several large nonprofit institutions, as well as public and private companies of all sizes. Brenda’s specialties include leadership and organizational development, finance and HR leadership strategies, and nonprofit development. Brenda has her B.A. from UCSD, M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Claremont Lincoln University, and business certifications in Finance, HR, Marketing, and Nonprofit Management from UCSD Extension. She is currently on the board of the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts, which supports the Arts and Culture programs for the City of Carlsbad and on the board of the International Coaching Federation, Orange County.
Kali Boston
(she/her)
Artistic Producer
Originally from Massachusetts, Kali moved to California to attend University of California, San Diego. She holds a BA in Theatre with a specific focus of Directing. Over the past couple of years Kali has worn many hats in different theatre companies, festivals and UCSD Credits ranging from Production Assistant to Artistic Director/Producer. Recent Credits and Jobs Include: Producer and Director (Heathers, Zorina Productions), Production Assistant (Dishwasher Dreams, The Old Globe), Assistant Director (A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, New Village Arts), Production Manager (Jewish Arts Festival), Assistant Director (Thicker Than…, UCSD), Assistant Stage Manager (FallWorks Dance Performance, UCSD), Black Girl Joy (Trina, UCSD), In Every Generation (Production Assistant, San Diego Rep).
Bre Eugenio
(she/her)
Patron Services and Development Manager
Bre was first introduced to the world of performance as a dancer. She was represented by DDO Artistic Agency in LA where she went on countless auditions, landing jobs like being a background dancer on Dance on Sunset, Hoopersize Me exercise video, a featured dancer in the Kung Fu Panda music video, and dancing for the WNBA LA sparks basketball team as a Sparkid for two seasons. Now retired from dance, she came to New Village Arts to explore her love of theatre and discovered a passion for working behind the scenes. Bre has worked Front of House for 3 years, including House Management, Bar, and Box Office. She loves NVA, and is so excited to help the company continue to flourish!
Olivia Pence
(she/her)
Manager of Marketing and Communications
Olivia is thrilled to be joining the NVA Team as Manager of Marketing & Communications. Olivia has been seen on the NVA stage in multiple past productions, including Around the World in 80 Days, Into the Woods, and Singing in the Rain. In addition to her professional performing career, Olivia works for the Servant Leadership Institute as their Social Media Producer and Administrative Assistant. It was here that she learned of her passion for marketing and social media. In her free time, Olivia enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading from her extensive book collection, and performing when she can. Being a part of the NVA Team is an absolute dream come true!
Lena Ceja
(she/her)
Social Media Marketing Assistant
Lena Ceja is a performer from the Inland Empire who is actively working towards her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing with an emphasis in Digital and Social Media Marketing. She has been doing theater for about ten years now and could not be more grateful for the community of support she has found herself in in San Diego. She is ecstatic to join the NVA team and continue to empower others through the extension of creativity, community, and theater.
Bryttney-Mischele Salvant
(She/Her)
Fellowship Manager
Born in Monterey Bay, California, Bryttney-Mischele is a dedicated artist, educator, and program leader with a passion for fostering creativity and community engagement. Her journey in the arts began as a self-taught creator, later expanding into education, mentorship, and event coordination. As a paint Instructor, she has helped students explore artistic expression in a supportive environment. Her role as a Summer Camp Supervisor for the BIPOC Support Foundation allowed her to develop engaging arts programs while ensuring a safe and inclusive space for young creatives. She has also showcased her work as a Featured Artist at events like Lightning in a Bottle and My Black City, using live painting to engage diverse audiences. Through Poetic Artistry, she has designed impactful arts programs, authored coloring books, and collaborated with organizations to uplift emerging artists. She is committed to mentorship, representation, and fostering inclusive artistic spaces.
Marcus Rico
(He/Him)
Technical Manager
Marcus graduated from Mt. San Jacinto College with an AA in Audio Technology. Previous NVA credits; Leonard Bernstein’s New York (Sound Designer/Sound Engineer), Into the Woods (Sound Engineer), 1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas (Sound Engineer), Beehive (Sound Engineer), Murder for Two (Sound Engineer), Around the World in 80 Days (Sound Engineer), Little Shop of Horrors (Sound Engineer), and The Roommate (Co-Sound Designer). Recent NVA productions include Fun Home, numerous productions on our White Family Next Stage, Doubt, Singin’ in the Rain, and many more!
Lanette Granger
(she/her)
Bookkeeper
Born and raised in Los Angeles County. Math was my favorite subject in school, and it was a natural transition into bookkeeping. Earned a BS (Bachelor’s of Science) degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Cal Poly, Pomona. Worked as a bookkeeper while raising three daughters. Later, earned an MLIS (Master’s of Library and Information Science) degree from San Jose State University, and worked as a cataloging and systems librarian at two community colleges. Did collection development for one of their Theater Arts programs. Relocated to San Diego in 2017, continued remote bookkeeping, and worked as a part-time librarian at SD Miramar College. Excited to work with such friendly and creative spirits at NVA. Their passion for their work is boundless, and for me to branch out to the nonprofit accounting processes.