Board of Directors

Dru Bailey Martinez, President

Jesse Miller, Vice President

She/Her. Dru is a Civil Engineering student at the University of New Mexico. She has been involved with the ABQ theatre community since 2011. She has been with HAP since the beginning where she played Toulouse in The Aristocats. She has since choreographed, stage managed, and continued to act for HAP. She has also choreographed for Albuquerque Little Theatre and can be seen acting at just about any theatre in town. She is honored to be able to represent and serve a theatre company she loves so much. ​

He/Him. Jesse Miller is proud to be a part of such a new and exciting opportunity with Hold the Applause Productions as Vice President. He has been a part of Albuquerque theatre for the last four years after graduating college from Eastern New Mexico University. He has been apart of Hold the Applause Production’s Importance of Being Earnest, Almost Maine, and Sense and Sensibility. Jesse is excited to be a part of a new theatre era where professionalism comes first and foremost.

Kelli Ingle, Secretary

She/Her. Kelli Ingle has been involved with HAP since 2018 and has music directed three shows: Camp Rock, The Addams Family Jr., and The Little Mermaid Jr. She fell in love with community theatre in 2016 when she performed in Hairspray at ALT. Since then, she has performed in three shows with ALT and one show with MTS. Her favorite part of community theatre is all of the incredible people she has met. When she isn't enthralled with theatre, you can find her studying to complete her degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Grand Canyon University hoping to someday become a doctor.

Ariana Gant, Treasurer

She/Her/Hers. Ariana has been involved in the ABQ theatre community for the past ten years in a number of capacities. She has performed in over 20 productions with a variety of groups, including performing as a Best Actress Nominee in the Enchantment Awards two years in a row. She has also co-produced two musicals, served as choreographer for five productions, and taught a number of dance classes. Ariana is currently pursuing degrees in Business Management, Theatre, and Dance at Western Washington University. Ariana has been with HAP since 2017 and is exceptionally proud to be part of this amazing company!

Daniella Brown, Board Member

She/Her. Daniella Brown is currently working on getting her bachelors in Theatre and Drama at Grand Canyon University. Her Disciplines include Sound Design, Acting, and Props Construction. She has been doing theatre since she was 8 years old and loves being a part of the loving theatre community in New Mexico.

Chase Clark, Board Member

He/Him. Chase Clark is a born and raised New Mexican who is relatively new to the theatre scene. He graduated from UNM with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and a Masters in Physical Education. He aspires to use his background in education to help further HAP’s mission of providing multigenerational theatre to the Albuquerque community.

Riley Robinson, Board Member

He/Him. Riley and his family have been in the Albuquerque theatre community for the last ten years. Riley holds a Masters Degree from Wayland Baptist University and is currently teaching high school English. He’s been performing his entire life and has recently enjoyed playing Maurice in Beauty and the Beast, Santa in Elf: the Musical, and also loves just being in the ensemble and singing.

Lauren Jehle, Board Member

She/Her. Lauren Jehle is thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful theatre company. She has been involved in theatre since elementary school and has become very involved in the Albuquerque theatre scene in the last 2 years. Her most recent performances include: Almost, Maine (HAP), Spamalot (MTS), Silent Sky (HAP), and Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express (ALT). She is looking forward to her future in theatre and with Hold the Applause Productions.

Dakotah Lopez, Board Member

He/Him. Dakotah has been an artist in theater for 9 years. From children's theater, adult theater, opera, and film, his passion for acting and creating art is a vital part of himself. He is currently a student at UNM pursuing a degree in theatre with plans to graduate with his bachelor's in acting and an associates degree in vocal performance.

Lizzie Schneider, Board Member

She/They. Lizzie has been involved in theatre since 6th grade but has loved being the center of attention since birth. She started with homeschool drama class plays, graduated to student led community theatre, and eventually they were involved with both CNM and GCU theatre productions. Lizzie first got involved with HAP in 2019 when they were cast in Puffs! - Their favorite show to have been in to date - and has grown her involvement in HAP since then as an actor, assistant director, stage manager, sound designer, and now board member! She is excited to help with the growth of the HAP community!

HAP Staff

Natalie Shields, Executive & Artistic Director

She/Her/Hers. Natalie Shields is a theatre director/producer, actress, and writer. She has directed dozens of productions in the Albuquerque area, including the New Mexican premiere of the Off-Broadway hit Puffs! Other directing credits include: Silent Sky (HAP), Happy but Homeless (GCU), and I and You (HAP, virtual production). In 2014, Natalie founded Hold the Applause Productions, where she is now the Artistic Director. Natalie received her BFA from Grand Canyon University, and spent her first few post-grad years working in Entertainment for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.