About Us

 Paulina Staab   

Paulina Staab is a lifer here in Newport. She is a graduate of Newport High School and went on to study theatre at University of Idaho. She is a proud mom of three girls and is married to her best friend Nathan, who is also a graduate of Newport. Theatre is her passion and advocating for the arts is her hobby. You may have seen her as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde or as a drunken ancestor in Addams Family: The Musical, among various other shows spanning the course of 20+ years. Paulina is so happy to be leading the Pend Oreille Players organization and feels so lucky to be a part of this amazing community. 

 Kris Fry  

 Kristi Bell

I spent my career in Financial Management, as a Congressional Aide, Office Management as

well as a number of part time positions while raising my two daughters. My community

involvement includes coaching for Special Olympics where I met my husband, Jeff; creating,

producing and hosting a children’s television reading program entitled “Let’s Read”, and serving

in a variety of volunteer capacities in PTA and in my church. Becoming an empty nester allowed

me to pursue my love of community theater first as ‘Clairee’ in “Steel Magnolias”, in the musical

“Annie”, “The Dixie Swim Club”, and as a Director in “The Importance of Being Earnest”, a

number of One Act Plays for the Festival and New Play Workshop productions as the

Director/Facilitator. I currently serve on the POPA Board of Directors as the Treasurer/Secretary

and volunteer in a number of other areas at the playhouse including Grant Writing. Seeing the

Community come together to bring live theater to the stage and all that it takes to make a

production happen is a beautiful thing! I am grateful to be a part of POPA.

Janine Goodrich

Janine’s family moved to Newport in 2005 and they have all been involved with the Pend Oreille Players in various capacities over the last 10 years.  Janine’s first appearance at the playhouse was in “Next to Normal’, followed by “Legally Blonde”, “Coming to America” and “Something's Afoot”.   She also directed a youth production and was the music director for our recent “All Together Now” Broadway concert.  Janine is grateful for POPA and all  the opportunities and joy it has provided her and her family. 

 Amy Dawson

  Amy Schoedel grew up in Chattaroy and has always loved performing with various community theatre groups in the Spokane area. Her first appearance at the Playhouse was in “The Addams Family Musical” as Alice Beineke. While most of her theatre experience is performing on stage, she is excited to be involved with behind the scenes planning here at the Playhouse. She is also the theater’s Costume Shop Manager.

 Lori Soleibe-Lianglais 

I am retired from a 40 year career in Architecture/Engineering and Construction Management. I am a board member with the theater. I have drawn the “as-built” drawings for the theater and have helped with the new look of the exterior of the theater and painting the interior. In the future, I will be supporting the theater with continuing upgrades and fundraisers as needed. 

Brian  Lianglais  

  I am retired and have about 30 years’ experience in Facility Management. I have been involved with Capital projects and Project Management. I plan to be the Project Manager for the upcoming building renewal project. I have acted in a few productions and directed a ONE ACT play. I believe my background will help the Pend Oreille Player as I have worked with people to achieve results most of my working career, and I look forward to working with everyone at POPA.

   Danny litowitz

Norm Smith

Racine Balow

Darlene Mossman, Ph.D.

I relocated to Diamond Lake from CA after retiring in 2018 from a career in education and just love this area! In addition to taking on the duties of Executive Director for POPA, I am also the group leader for Welcome Home Veterans Quilts of Valor and 1st VP (Programs) at Washington State Quilters. I have been in bands (singing and playing bass guitar) for over 30 years and my first toe dip into acting was in Coming to America in 2019 at the playhouse. I was very impressed with the kindness, patience, and willingness to help a newbie, displayed by the other actors, and knew that I wanted to be more involved. I have been part of a grant writing team that has secured multiple successful grants for POPA, which has been very rewarding. As a person with a Ph.D. in psychology, I find theater people most interesting!