Staff

Jake Speck

Executive Director

Jake Speck joined A.D. Players as Executive Director in August of 2017, assuming leadership of the Houston company founded by Jeannette Clift George in 1967. Founding President & Managing Director of Nashville’s Studio Tenn Theatre Company from 2010 – 2017, Jake led Studio Tenn from infancy to one of the most celebrated and well attended theatre companies in the southeast. A Dallas native with Tennessee roots, Jake has seen great success as a producer and arts administrator and has an impressive performing resume, including a two-year run in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Jersey Boys and roles in regional productions of Kiss Me Kate, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Forever Plaid, The Melville Boys and many more. His television credits include featured performances on the Emmy and Tony Awards, a recurring role in the ABC series “Nashville” and the Netflix series “Master of None” opposite Aziz Ansari. Jake has also appeared in multiple films and performed a private concert for the President and First Lady at the White House. At Studio Tenn he starred in productions of Les Miserables, Twelve Angry Men and Monty Python’s Spamalot. Jake trained professionally at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City. He and his wife Emily are the parents of three young sons, Nash, Noah and Leo. “It’s an honor to join an organization with such a rich and storied history,” says Speck, “and to lead A. D. Players into its next phase of excellence in Houston’s rich and diverse arts community.”

Kevin Dean

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Kevin Michael Dean joined A.D. Players in 1998, and was named Interim Artistic Director in January of 2018. In March of 2019, the Board unanimously voted to appoint him Artistic Director. As a member of the resident acting company Kevin’s most memorable roles include Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey, Ed in You Can’t Take It With You, Pastor Oglethorpe in Smoke on the Mountain, Juror #8 in Twelve Angry Men and Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Beams Are Creaking. His directing credits include the inaugural production in the Jeannette and L.M. George Theater, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Barefoot in the Park, The Jungle Book and The Hobbit. As a writer Kevin has co-written two Lifetime Network movies, A Woman Betrayed and The Preacher’s Sin. Kevin hails from Odessa, Texas, and studied acting at KD Conservatory® College of Film and Dramatic Arts in Dallas, Texas. He and his wife Jennifer are the parents of a daughter, Livey, and wranglers of two crazy pooches, Oscar and Lucy.

Sheri Suarez Foreman

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

sheri@adplayers.org

Sheri joined A.D. Players in November 2017 as Development Director. Sheri has served in various capacities in executive management and development for non-profit organizations over the past 20 years - she directed non-profit and community agencies in Texas, California and Colorado, giving her extensive operational and leadership experience. Most recently, Sheri served as both COO and CEO for Houston’s Commission for Adult Education – Houston Center for Literacy (HCL). Before working with HCL, Sheri served as the Director of Special Events for the Alley Theatre. Sheri is passionate about the arts, education and community development. Sheri has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, owning and operating her own business in Nashville, TN for nearly 10 years. Sheri’s only on stage role was as a hotbox dancer in her high school production of Guys & Dolls but she LOVES and is passionate about theatre arts. Sheri has also been extremely active in her community as a literacy tutor volunteer, in many capacities with her children’s youth sports and scout activities. Sheri has two children Sydney (20) and Jude (17). A native Houstonian and long time Spring Branch resident, she attended Texas A&M for both her undergraduate and graduate work and completed her MBA in 2009.

patricia CRUZ-harris

FINANCE Director

patricia@adplayers.org

Patricia joined A.D. Players in December 2017 as Finance Director. Patricia has over twenty-five years of accounting, financial budgeting, and management experience in the non-profit sector, as well as auditing experience directed to non-profit organizations. For over ten years, Patricia operated as the VP of Finance and Administration for Houston Center for Literacy (HCL), a Commission of Adult Education created by the Mayor of the City of Houston. Previously, she held the position of Senior Accounting Manager/Assistant Controller at Baker Ripley (formerly known as Neighborhood Centers, Inc.). Patricia’s talent is in the accounting field but she loves, respects, and admires the arts and all the brilliant actors and staff behind the stage. Patricia is very active with her church, serving as a vestry member, treasurer, and volunteer accountant for over 15 years. Her family participated with the Scouts of America for over 10 years and two of her sons are now Eagle Scouts. She and her husband Kevin are the proud parents of three sons, Jorge, Stephen, and John. A native of Mexico, she attended La Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas where she graduated with a bachelors in Accounting and an MBA. Additionally, Patricia attended the Non-Profit Finance Certification Program at Rice University. When Patricia isn’t balancing books, she’s taking Zumba and dancing classes. Patricia is proud to be part of the A.D. Players mission and family.

JENNIFER DEAN

MARKETING DIRECTOR

jennifer@adplayers.org

Jennifer Dean joined the A.D. Players in March of 2018 as the Marketing Director. Jennifer studied Theater Arts at Baylor University and graduated with her BFA in 2000. She came to Houston after graduation and worked for the A.D. Players as an actress, Box Office Manager, and Intern Director from 2000-2005. For the past 13 years she has worked as the Communications Director and Worship Associate at West University Baptist and Crosspoint Church developing her skills in Marketing and Communications as well as continuing to be involved in the theater community around Houston. She has appeared onstage at A.D. Players in Pride and Prejudice, Anastasia, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Diary of Anne Frank, Shadowlands, Charley's Aunt and more; at 4th Wall in Reckless; at Classical Theater in Miss Julie; at Main Street Theater in Enemies, Silent Sky, Coast of Utopia, I Am Barbie and Driftwood; and Stages Repertory Theater in Dollhouse. Directing credits: The God Game, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Shakespeare In Vegas and co-director of Lobby Hero at Stark Naked/4th Wall; 12 Angry Men, Leaving Iowa, Charley's Aunt, and The First Church of Texaco, at A.D. Players. Jennifer has been honored to be nominated by Houston Press for her work on several of these productions. Returning to the A.D. Players for this season is exciting. Jennifer feels privileged to help the company take its next steps to embrace the new mission and help others discover this hidden jewel of the Houston community. When not working she spends time with her husband Kevin, and daughter Livey.

Ric Hodgin

Director of Operations

ric@adplayers.org

In his four decades with A.D. Players, Ric Hodgin has done every theater job imaginable in addition to acting. Most recently, as Director of Operations he facilitated the Company’s move into its new home – the Jeannette and L.M. George Theater – after more than 30 years at tiny Grace Theater on West Alabama. As a member of the Player’s resident acting company, Ric has entertained audiences in a series of memorable roles including King George II in Joyful Noise, John Proctor in The Crucible, and the patriarch of the Frank family in The Diary of Anne Frank. Other acting credits include Dr. Treves in The Elephant Man and Adam in The Diaries of Adam and Eve, and in addition Ric has directed several shows including The Cotton Patch Gospel and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Ric is a native of North Dakota, but a Texan since 1979. He and his wife Karen are the parents of three children, and grandparents of five.