About

Executive Director
(Click name for full bio)

David is probably best known and loved for annually portraying the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge in his own musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which celebrates its 52nd consecutive year of production this year. A Christmas Carol was named the number one special event at DPAC for the 2014-15 season, and December 7-13, 2014, was declared “A Christmas Carol Week” by the City of Raleigh's Mayor. With three international tours to its credit, and having played to two million people, the production is now cited as “... one of the most successful shows in North Carolina theater history. 

2023 marked David’s final appearance in the role of Scrooge.  He has turned the role over to his eldest son, Ira IV.  His youngest son, Thomas, plays the role of Peter Cratchit.  David continues to direct the show and in 2025 happily returned to the production as the Lamplighter. A Christmas Carol remains a true family affair. 

David is the author of A Lover’s Guide to The Outer Banks, Confessions Of An Elf, The Russian Galatea, and The Bittersweet Voyage Of The Golden Ship Hatteras. He is also a contributing author to Murder in Dealey Plaza: What We Know Now That We Didn’t Know Then. 

The proud father of three - Ira David Wood IV, Evan Rachel Wood, and Thomas Miller Wood. David and his wife, Ashley, remain proud to call North Carolina “home”.

Artistic Director

Ira has made numerous appearances in television as well as feature films with such stars as Edward Norton, Julie Taymor, Keith Caradine, Kelly McGillis, and James Woods. He has also been featured in many local theatrical productions including Henry V, The Lion In Winter, The Pillowman, and two productions of Romeo and Juliet- once as Romeo and then as Director while also tackling the role of Mercutio in a sold out TIP production. He was also proud to play the part of Old Tom in the 2010 Tony Award-winning outdoor drama, The Lost Colony. Ira performed the role of Scrooge in the locally beloved A Christmas Carol while his father was recovering from open heart surgery. Ira now performs and splits the role of Scrooge with his father in the locally beloved A Christmas Carol. Locally, he was most recently seen as John in A Life In The Theatre, Frank Finger in It's Only a Play, Jason/Tyrone in Hand to God and Lee Harvey Oswald in Assassins, as well as roles in Theatre In The Park’s production of Dracula, HAIR, The Elephant Man, True West, Playing With Fire and the world premiere of Adrienne Earle Pender's N.

Executive Assistant

Ashley graduated in 1994 from Salem College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She first joined Theatre In The Park as the Office Manager after several years of working in advertising and now works as the Executive Assistant, coordinating all of the Executive Director’s public appearances and scheduling. Ashley also maintains the extensive A Christmas Carol archives for the theatre.

Operations Director

Yamila Monge is a 2015 graduate of NC State University. Before working at Theatre in the Park full-time, Yamila was the box office administrator for Goodnights & Helium Comedy Clubs . Yamila loves working not only in front of house but behind the scenes as well. Yamila has worked as a Stage Manager in the Triangle for many years, working closely with Theatre in the Park and The Justice Theatre Project. Along with Stage Management, Yamila also dabbles in Sound & Projection Design and Directing. She has directed BEST OF ENEMIES with the Justice Theatre Project, BY THE WAY MEET VERA STARK & STEW at Theatre in the Park. When Yamila is not wrangling actors or calling cues, you can find her spinning tunes in downtown Raleigh as DJ Yamillionaire! Yamila is also honored to be part of the Vixen Board of Directors!

Business Manager

Brent Simpson came to Theatre In The Park after 15 years in the telecommunications industry, working for companies such as MCI, Global Crossing, and Verizon. He is a 2007 graduate of Campbell University and holds a degree in Social Science. Brent not only enjoys working behind the scenes at Theatre In The Park, but has also been seen on stage in Ira David Wood III’s A Christmas Carol as the Baker and Mr. Fezziwig. Other Theatre In The Park credits include Romeo and Juliet and Angels in America. While away from Theatre In The Park, Brent enjoys attending local theatre productions, reading, movies, and traveling.

Patron Services/Box Office Manager

Andrea has been an active part of the Raleigh Theatre Community for many years. Local performance credits include Tracey in SWEAT with The Justice Theatre Project, Jess in Of Good Stock, Sara Jane Moore in Assassins, Chelsea in On Golden Pond, Harper in Angels in America Parts I & II, Honey in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Lady Montague in Romeo & Juliet (all with Theatre In The Park). Maureen in RENT (NRACT), The Mom in A Christmas Story (North Carolina Theatre). Rosamund in The Robber Bridegroom, Laura in The World Premiere of Drift and Woman #2 in I Love you You're Perfect, Now Change (all with Theatre Raleigh). Favorite regional roles include Eva Peron in Evita, Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Regina in The Little Foxes.

Assistant Technical Director

Kaili is a recent graduate from Appalachian State University and has moved back from Raleigh. In Boone, she studied the technical aspects of theatre, including lighting and scenic design. In February of 2023, she was nominated as a lighting designer for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and got to transfer her nominated show, The Moors, to Georgia Southern University for the regional festival. The following March, she was a lighting designer for the Appalachian State Opera Department. Last summer, they served as a lighting designer for two shows for Ensemble Stage in Banner Elk, North Carolina. She moved back to Raleigh in April 2024 and hopes to continue her work with Theatre in the Park and other theatre companies in the area