Executive Artistic Director
MFA Program Director

Katie Mallinson is a director and dramaturg with an interest in developing communities, particularly in her hometown of Buffalo. Her focus is on dramaturgical values as a foundation for artistry, identity, and collaboration.

She received her MFA in Dramaturgy from the Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University. She earned the 2022 Artie Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play for Photograph 51 at The Jewish Repertory Theatre.

Additional select directorial credits include: Guards at the Taj, The Nether, Dinner With Friends, and Freud’s Last Session (Road Less Traveled Productions); People, Places & Things and Equivocation (Kavinoky Theatre); Design for Living (Irish Classical Theatre); Deathtrap (Lancaster Opera House); and She Kills Monsters, Copenhagen and On the Verge: Or, The Geography of Yearning (Niagara University Theatre). Katie is also a member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and an Ensemble Member at Road Less Traveled Productions.

Director of Operations

Reneé is a stage manager and arts manager with over sixteen years of professional theatre experience. She studied at Niagara County Community College and the University at Buffalo, where she received her BFA in Theatre Design, Technology, & Management. After a few years of working professionally in the field, she returned to UB to continue her studies and received her MA in Arts Management.

She spent 13 years working as the Resident Production Stage Manager for the Irish Classical Theatre Company and has also had the pleasure of working with Artpark, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Torn Space Theatre, and Kleinhans Music Hall.

Reneé started as the Director of Operations for the D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre in September 2023 and is excited to work with the rest of the Kavinoky team in continuing to bring high quality live theatre to the Buffalo area. In addition to the Kavinoky, she is currently working part-time as the Stage Management instructor at Niagara County Community College.

Director of Development & Audience Services

Ben brings over twenty years of professional theatre making to The Kavinoky. He studied theatre performance at NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts at Playwrights Horizons Theatre School and at The State University of New York at Buffalo, where he received his BFA in musical theatre performance.

While working continually as a professional actor for the past twenty years, he has also been a Marketing Associate, a designer, a small business owner, and he founded a 501(c)(6) theatre trade organization called ARTA. As the founding president of The Association for Regional Theatre Artists (ARTA), Ben also brings a lifelong passion for artist advocacy to his new role.

Ben joined the D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre team in May of 2022 as the Director of Development & Audience Services and he is extremely grateful to work at one of Buffalo’s foremost producing companies.

Production Stage Manager

Derek Moran brings a lifelong career in the performing arts and over 10 years of stage management experience to his role. Derek was a member of the original cast of Lord of The Dance and toured the world with both them and Riverdance, for over 15 years. Following that, Derek worked on over 30 productions as an assistant stage manager and deck stage-manager in the Buffalo area, while also serving as the Office and Academic Coordinator of the Niagara University Theatre Dept.

Audience Services Lead

Kai is an actor, singer, dancer, and overall theatre practitioner. Having recently moved to Buffalo from Houston, Texas, Kai holds a B.F.A. in Acting and Directing from Stephen F. Austin State University. 

While mainly working as an actor professionally, Kai also has experience and training in many areas of theatrical production. Kai has professional credits in fields such as stage management, intimacy coordination, marketing & media management, box office supervision, public relations, and wardrobe supervision. Kai also has directed shows such as Horse Girls, Emily/Emily, and Richard III.

Kai joined the D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre team in September of 2024 and is extremely excited to work with the rest of the Kavinoky team to continue bringing exceptional live theatre to Buffalo audiences. In addition to working with the Kavinoky, Kai also has the pleasure of working with other professional theatre companies in the WNY area and can be found performing in their various productions.