Moonlight Stage Productions

Kathy Brombacher, Founder and Artistic Director-Emeritus

Kathy Brombacher founded Moonlight Stage Productions in 1981 and helmed its artistic vision and growth until her retirement from the City of Vista in late 2012. Over the 32 years of her artistic leadership, working with Jim Porter, Cathy Brendel and Bill Fortmueller (Directors of the Recreation and Community Services Department), she has seen major milestones in the theatre’s development. In 1995, the City of Vista put Moonlight’s staff in charge of renovating the AVO Playhouse, transforming it from a 1948 movie theatre to a beautiful legitimate theatre where Moonlight produces its indoor Winter Season. In 2009, the miraculous completion of the new state-of-the art Amphitheatre stage house was a 20-year dream come to fruition, with leadership by Project Manager Marie Ertel. Over her 32-year career, Kathy has produced or directed almost 200 musical and non-musical productions, concerts, and fund-raisers, while advocating for strong youth theatre programs in the community. She has been called a leader and catalyst for the growth of theatrical arts in North County. Over the years, Kathy has been the recipient of prestigious awards: The Craig Noel Award for "Theatrical Trailblazer" from the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle; the Shiley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Patté Awards for Theatrical Excellence; Woman of the Year from California Women in Government; Woman of Distinction by Soroptimist International; and induction into the Vista Historical Society's Hall of Fame. She is proud to have been part of the grant-writing team to have received three grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to help fund Moonlight's artistic work in the winter seasons. Married to Dr. Robert Brombacher, she is deeply grateful for her career with the City of Vista as a Program Manager for Cultural Arts. She salutes the Moonlight Cultural Foundation for their supremely dedicated fund-raising work on behalf of the theatre throughout its history. One of Kathy’s proudest achievements is seeing the young artists and technicians who began their theatrical career at Moonlight who have gone on to perform professionally, or work backstage in professional venues as designers and technicians. Kathy is extremely pleased with the selection of Steve Glaudini, the new Producing Artistic Director of Moonlight’s Cultural Arts program for the City, who brings extraordinary professionalism and achievements to the theatre, along with 18 years of acting and directing experience at Moonlight.