IVRT Welcomes New Board President, Dean McVay

LA VERNE, CA - Inland Valley Repertory Theatre Company (IVRT) is proud to announce Dean McVay as the new Board President. Mr. McVay is an attorney and partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, as well as an Adjunct Professor at the University of La Verne College of Law. A dedicated supporter of the arts, McVay has been a patron and donor to IVRT for over twelve years. Prior to his appointment as Board President, he served three years on the Board of Trustees and held officer positions on various local non-profit boards.

Since 2004, Dean McVay has been a member of the San Bernardino Symphony Board of Directors, serving as President from 2017 to 2022. He has also contributed as a board member for the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association, San Bernardino County Museum Association, Association of California Symphony Orchestras, Dignity Health Inland Empire Foundation, The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino, University of La Verne Senate, Pride Law Bar Association of the IE, Kimberly Crest House & Gardens, and Ophelia’s Jump Productions.
In recognition of his contributions, Mr. McVay received the San Bernardino Symphony’s prestigious “Golden Baton” Award in 2015. He has been honored as “Adjunct Professor of the Year” at the University of La Verne College of Law every year from 2011 to 2021. Additionally, he received the University-wide “Excellence in Teaching Award” in 2004 and was named “Professor of the Year” in 2000 from the University of La Verne College of Law.

What motivated you to join the Board?
I have enjoyed attending IVRT productions for many years as a season ticket holder. I was involved in theater as a youth and have been an avid Arts supporter and season ticket purchaser throughout the Southland since moving to California 35 years ago. Several years ago, when I was President of the San Bernardino Symphony, I invited IVRT’s Donna Marie Minano to join our SB Symphony board – which she did, and which she now leads as President. I was later honored to be invited to join the IVRT Board as well. Donna Marie and I collaborated on a production of Candide to celebrate Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday, with the Symphony and IVRT joining forces. It was a stupendous production - one I will always be proud of bringing to the California Theater.

After serving on the Symphony board 20 years, I rotated off that board, and I am now excited to step up as President of the Inland Valley Repertory Theater Board of Directors. I am so proud to lead this amazing Board who helps run this organization of committed actors, singers, producers, directors, and stage crew. It is fascinating and invigorating to see the artistic process from “behind the scenes” and backstage. The creative arts world is one that has always intrigued me, and IVRT is one of the best. The IE Magazine recently conferred the prestigious ward of “Best Performing Arts Company” in the Inland Empire to IVRT, but we have known this little secret for many years now! I’m so pleased and honored to help lead this legendary group into the next chapter of successes.

What is it about IVRT that inspires you?
I am in awe of the talent of the IVRT creative team and the breadth of productions IVRT presents throughout the year. The actors bring their “A Game” to everything they do. These are working professionals, who have families, full time jobs, other commitments and other “gigs,” but make time to bring their absolute best to each show they are in. I am so grateful we have local talent and a local production company presenting outstanding entertainment to our burgeoning Inland Region. We continue to employ local actors, present youth theater programming opportunities for the local youth and inspire and entertain thousands of theatergoers every year. IVRT is an inspiring group of extraordinary individuals, with whom I am so very proud to be affiliated.

What are your aspirations as the newly elected Board President?
I have experience running other non-profit boards and have learned a few tips about good board governance, which I plan to share with our talented and diverse IVRT Board of Directors. At each of our board meetings we will delve into Susan Howlett’s insightful book, “Boards on Fire,” to further inspire our trustees in their leadership, fiduciary and fundraising skills. I love hearing the artistic programming ideas of our Artistic Director Frank Minano, who has an uncanny ability of selecting the right shows and plays for our local audiences. Helping to lead this IVRT Board of Directors is a labor of love, amongst friends who have become like “family,” and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a representative and cheerleader for this outstanding theater company.

About Inland Valley Repertory Theatre (IVRT)
Founded in 1990 by Frank and Donna Marie Minano, IVRT is committed to presenting high-quality local theatrical productions that highlight the talents of actors of all ages. The company is dedicated to producing critically acclaimed and award-winning works, offering competitive wages to local artists, and promoting arts education through various outreach programs.

As a non-profit regional theatre company, IVRT has performed at multiple venues across the Inland Valley. The company was previously based at the Candlelight Pavilion until its closure in 2022 and now stages performances at the Morgan Auditorium in La Verne and the Lewis Family Playhouse in Rancho Cucamonga.
Recently, IVRT received the title of Best Performing Arts Company from Inland Empire Magazine and has been honored twice with the Rancho Cucamonga Community Foundation’s Primavera Award for its outstanding contributions to the arts.

For its upcoming 2025 season, over 180 actors auditioned, with performances opening on March 29 with IVRT’s 100th production, The Fantasticks. The season will also feature Disney’s Newsies opening on July 19, Dear Jack, Dear Louise on July 25, Glengarry Glen Ross on August 1, and Holly Dolly Christmas on November 29 and 30. All performances will take place at the beautiful Morgan Auditorium on the University of La Verne campus.
Tickets for all IVRT performances are available at ivrt.org or by calling 909-859-4878.