Laguna selects new high school theater director

Laguna Beach High School may soon have a new theater director, a former teacher and director from the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana.

Alexis Karol has also directed drama productions for the Huntington Beach Union High School District’s Academy for the Performing Arts. She would replace Mark Dressler, who retired in June after 25 years with the Laguna Beach Unified School District.

The school board must vote on Karol’s hiring and will take up the matter July 28.

Karol was one of 57 candidates to apply for the position. Karol’s arts experience as an actor, director, producer and stage manager stood out, Laguna Beach High Principal Chris Herzfeld said in a news release.

She appeared in musicals such as “A Wonderful Life,” “The Sound of Music” and “Man of La Mancha.”

“Alexis exudes so much positive energy, it’s infectious,” Herzfeld said. “I know she will build on the legacy of Mark Dressler and the Park Avenue Players. Her prior work at APA and OCSA was impressive, and we are excited for her to get started here at LBHS.”

Karol received a bachelor’s degree in theater from Fordham University in New York City and a master’s in education from National University in Costa Mesa with credentials in English and theater.

“It is an honor to have been selected from the pool of esteemed applicants,” Karol said in the release. “I feel very fortunate for the opportunity to step into the shoes of such a well-respected teacher and director, especially in a community with a very deep appreciation for the arts and education.”

If Karol is approved by the board, she would also teach drama at Laguna Beach High School but unlike Dressler would not direct productions at Thurston Middle School, which has a new drama and English teacher, Christina Wiggins.

“We anticipate that by staffing each school with a teacher, we will be able to increase enrollment in theater programs, much as we have done with our music program,” Supt. Sherine Smith wrote in an email.