David Fillenwarth, Executive Director - A native Western New Yorker, Dave joined the Lancaster Opera House as the Box Office Manager in 2001. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo with a Bachelors degree in Communication.
His career in the theater and the entertainment field started in 1986 as a manager for General Cinemas. While employed in the movie industry, Dave won numerous national awards promoting movies for Disney, Warner Bros., and Fox. His appreciation for the live arts developed in the mid 1990's as a manager and promoter of local music. His career path landed him as the Director of Ticketing and Marketing for Majestic Theater (Melody Fair), Promotional Director for Media Play, and a stint back in the movie business as a manager for Regal Theaters.
When not at the Lancaster Opera House, you can find Dave enjoying life with his wife and 2 daughters......and on the golf course, when they allow it.
Kirkland Gilmer, Technical Director received his BA in Theatre Arts as both an actor and technician twenty-odd years ago and has been working in the performing arts ever since. He spent a number of years touring children’s theatre as an actor, designer, and production manager. He also has worked as the Production Manager for the Greater Buffalo Opera Company and Production Coordinator for the Buffalo Philharmonic and Virginia Symphony Orchestras, Assistant Technical Director for Point Park College in Pittsburgh and the interim Technical Director for St. Andrews College in N.C. His local acting credits include performances with TOY, the Alleyway, Kavinoky, Ujima, Buffalo Ensemble, Irish Classical and Shakespeare in Delaware Park theater companies. Besides his regular duties as Technical Director, he has also served as Director, Assistant Director, and Scenic Designer for various productions at the Opera House, and thoroughly enjoyed cameo appearances in two productions and was a featured actor in another here at the Opera House.
David Bondrow, Artistic Director, is proud to join the team at the Lancaster Opera House after appearing on stage as well as directing the summer musical theatre camp. David brings a wealth of theatrical knowledge having produced Grease starring American Idol’s John Stevens at the Riviera Theatre, receiving international recognition for producing the Harold Lloyd Comedy Film Festival, as well as directing several local theatre productions.
A graduate of New York University with a BM in vocal performance, David has appeared locally with Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Irish Classical Theatre Company, TOY, and Upstage NY. David toured Europe in The Phantom of the Opera and has appeared at several regional theatres. David has soloed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and sang with Lionel Hampton and with Tito Puente at the Lambs Club in NYC. He has appeared in television commercials for Vh1, Doritos and Lasertron.
David is an advisor to the Buffalo International Film Festival, the host of LCTV’s Access to Government, a member of the improv troupe ComedySportz, and an acting teacher at Villa Maria College.
