STAFF
Patrick Lathrop – Executive Director
Patrick Lathrop is an actor, director, costumer and educator. He holds a BA in Theatre Performance, an MFA in Musical Theatre, and an MA in Costume History and Design. Patrick has been a teaching artist for over 25 years with a strong background in nontraditional, informal and museum education utilizing the visual and performing arts to foster creativity and self-esteem in young people. Patrick has worked with a variety of organizations including the Imagination Celebration of Orange County, Orange County Department of Education, Pasadena Junior Theatre, Pasadena Unified School District, and San Diego Junior Theatre. Just prior to moving from Southern California, Patrick worked with the San Diego Old Globe Theatre to help develop a new Shakespeare curriculum for fifth graders. Patrick began with the Coaster Theater as the summer camp director in August of 2009. In November of that year he moved to Cannon Beach to work in the box office and be the education director. Since then he has directed several education productions and he has directed and acted in several Coaster Theatre productions.
Jenni Tronier – Marketing & Operations Director
Jenni studied acting in NYC at The Academy of Dramatic Arts and Circle in the Square Theatre School. After graduating from Circle she co-founded Phenomenon Productions, Inc. in NYC with her husband Ryan Hull. With Phenomenon Productions she co-produced Zastrozzi: The Master of Discipline, Just Assassins and a new work staged reading of Beyond. She took a few years away from theatre to return to school and study art history at Hunter College. In 2004 she moved to Portland, OR where she worked for Coffee Bean Intl, a private label coffee roaster, as business development coordinator, creative manager, and marketing project manager. In 2012, she and her family moved to Cannon Beach and she joined the Coaster Theatre Playhouse in June 2013. She has appeared on the Coaster Theatre stage in Bunbury, Don’t Dress for Dinner, Twelfth Night, Present Laughter and The Importance of Being Earnest. She has directed the theatre’s productions of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David Sweeney – President
David Sweeney is best known at the Coaster Theatre Playhouse for his acting. He has appeared in70 productions since his Coaster debut in the 2000 production of The Music Man. As an actor, he has recently been seen as Doctor Westfelt and Renfield in Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors and Scrooge in A Carol for Tiny Tim. David serves as chair of the program committee of the Coaster Theatre Playhouse Board. This committee is charged with recommending a season of plays which will offer a rich variety of styles and genres for Coaster Theatre patrons. He retired after 38 years in ordained ministry and rejoined the Coaster Theatre Playhouse Board in 2024.
Debbie Nelson – Secretary
Debbie is a lifelong resident of Cannon Beach and first appeared on the Coaster Theatre stage at age 13 (and again the following year) in the original Dicken’s play of Scrooge. She had the immense pleasure of being in The Wizard of Oz as the flying monkey and the coroner 45 years later! Her love of Cannon Beach and upholding traditions and memories in her hometown has led her to accept a position on the theatre’s board of directors. She’s now a retired florist, married to John (who owns Coaster Construction), mother of three, grandmother of 6 and an enthusiastic ukulele player. Other favorite activities are serving as judicial chair with the Miss Clatsop County Scholarship Program and assisting with events at North Coast Family Fellowship.
Rhonda Warnack – Treasurer
Rhonda and her husband, Padraig Ansbro, moved to Seaside in 2019 and made the North Coast their home. After enjoying a performance at the Coaster Theater, she was excited to become a part of this dynamic community. Rhonda has had the opportunity to perform in a variety of shows and looks forward to being a part of more performances in the future. Professionally, Rhonda has been a Program/Project Manager for over 20 years focusing on consulting for state and federal government IT systems. Over the last 25 years, Rhonda and her husband have hosted an annual gift-drive called Madeline’s Party (www.madelinesparty.com). Working with a handful of volunteers and supported by generous donors they have provided holiday gifts to vulnerable families for over 25 years. The gift drive has brought in over 7,000 gifts and supports on average 15 families per year. They look forward to many more successful years of giving. California Trojans!
Bryan Churchill – Director
Bryan joined the Coaster Theatre Board of Directors in 2023 after retiring his 25-year practice as a corporate attorney. He and his wife recently settled in Manzanita in 2020. Thereafter, Bryan focused his creative energies acting in several coastal theater productions while maintaining an active presence in the community as a local photographer and musician. Bryan’s acting credits include Arsenic & Old Lace, It’s a Wonderful Life, Guilty Conscience, 12 Angry Jurors, Sleuth and his directorial debut of the modern multi-media stage production of The Girl on the Train.
Tim Schwieger – Director
After retiring from his successful business of 44 years, Tim is pleased to join the Theatre Board of Directors in 2026. Volunteering in the community was crucial for him and helping with the board was the perfect transition after retirement. Acting is also a passion for him as well and Tim was thrilled to appear in three Coaster productions in 2025, including Play On!, Elvis Has Left the Building, and A Carol for Tiny Tim. Tim has prior experience as a high school actor, radio station disc jockey, and recording engineer. He presently hosts a Classic Rock ‘n Roll Radio Show on KMUN Community Radio. Tim is a certified Beatles zealot and is Ringo in a Beatle’s cover band, ShabbyRoad.