About

Executive Director
(Click name for full bio)

Ira David Wood III is the Founder & Executive Director of Theatre In The Park. A graduate of The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, he was raised in Enfield, NC and became his hometown’s first Eagle Scout. Summers during his college years were spent as a leading actor in The Lost Colony, the oldest outdoor drama in the country. For the past four summer seasons, David has served as Director of The Lost Colony. Upon graduation, he became the first Theatre Arts Consultant for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. A year later, he founded Theatre In The Park, and established its home in the Pullen Park Armory building. In only a few years, Theatre In The Park became North Carolina’s largest community theatre with an international reputation.

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.

Managing Director

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.

Ticketing Manager

Gretchen Struckmeyer is a 2019 graduate of Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music. She has previously worked as a ticketing assistant at the North Carolina Opera, and she loves being a part of the behind-the-scenes of local arts companies. In addition to her technical expertise in ticketing, Gretchen is a trained opera singer with a soft spot for golden age musicals. Her favorite roles include Papagena from The Magic Flute and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief. When she’s not assisting the box office, you can find her singing, knitting, or sewing!