"​A play is fiction — and fiction is fact distilled into truth." - Edward Albee
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The Old Pros is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2004 whose members share a love for the theater arts.  In addition to presenting mainstage productions at the Laguna Woods Performing Arts Center, the Old Pros have monthly education and entertainment meetings. Membership requires only an interest in participating in a theatrical group. Among the Old Pros are professional actors, production crews, directors and backstage personnel; people who last acted or stage-managed some years ago; and newcomers who have joined to explore the different opportunities on, behind, in front of, and around the stage.

2022 Board Members

Cristina Mack
President

Karen Elliott-Taylor
Vice President & Membership Chair

Sharone Rosen
​Secretary

Sheryl Strich
Past President

Cindy Mumma
​Treasurer

Carol Glenn
Program Chair

Gila Zalon
Member-at-large

Ben Holtman
Parliamentarian

Mark Rabinowitch
​Member-at-large 

Jules Zalon
Member-at-large

The Founding of the Old Pros

In 2004, Shirley Lasagna, a professional entertainer, and her husband moved to Laguna Woods and registered her musical performance act as “The Old Pros”, enabling them to perform for the community. She, and a small number of performers who shared a love for topnotch performance arts, formed a club named The Old Pros. This entertainment group focused on variety and professional levels of performance and quality. It exists today still maintaining the highest level of competence for audience satisfaction, providing a spectrum of opportunities for its members to engage in theatrical activities.

​Original members of the Old Pros
Back Row: Ed Hayes, Ruth May, Jim Bragg, Bill Schroeder, Irv Wordes, Nina Brice, Else Cahan, Al Weissman
Front Row: Sheila Bialka, Shirley Lasagna, Stan Lehrfeld, Mario Pellegrini