Board of Directors

Alice Court, President

Alice hails from Canada where she started her career as host and writer for a children’s television show.  She then took her Masters of Business and worked in Marketing in Toronto, England and Boston. She and her husband, David came to Boca Grande for a one week vacation with their three children in 2004 and fell in love with this magical island. They purchased a home in 2005 but for some reason she waited 10 years to try out for a Royal Palm Players show. She had so much fun she has been involved every year since! Alice also enjoys playing mediocre golf and bridge, playing and visiting with her children and grandchildren, walking the beach and of course…sunsets!  Alice is honoured to be the incoming President this year and is especially grateful to work with this remarkably talented and fun board. 

Erica Ress Martin, Vice President

Erica is widely credited with revitalizing Royal Palm Players in 2013 with a strategy based on FUN! With fun as her mantra, she rebooted the Kids’ Drama Club, produced 14 shows and starred in California Suite, Lend Me a Tenor, Oklahoma, Boca Girls and Guys & Dolls. Before retiring to Boca Grande, Erica was New York’s only award-winning copywriter/creative director who was also a member of the New York State Bar. To keep the joy in her life now, Erica serves on the Friends’ board, is the founder of Grande Glee and Spark Boca Grande. Her husband, Gary, is amazed at her passion for RPP and only wishes she was as passionate about fly fishing.

Peter Powell, Treasurer

Peter has enjoyed being a part of RPP’s Hello, Dolly!, Guys & Dolls, and My Fair Lady. Performing onstage, singing in glee club, and theater management were treasured parts of growing up. After graduating from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, he returned to his hometown of Kansas City to build a business in, of all things, salt and sand. He is thrilled to return to his youth by joining the great team at RPP. He and his wife Cappy are residents in Boca Grande, enjoying golfing, beaching, and time with family.

Sarah McDonald, Secretary

Sarah has been a full time resident of Boca Grande for about a year.  She and her husband bought their house in 1998.  A graduate of the University of Detroit, she was a Registered Medical Technologist until the birth of their first son.  She has been a member of various RPP productions both onstage and behind the scenes since her extremely brief appearance in Guys and Dolls.  Other activities on island and off include being the president of the League of Women Voters of Lee County and playing tennis as much as possible at the Pass Club.  She is also a volunteer at the Community Center when needed.  She is very excited about the 21-22 RPP season.

Julia Pierce, Marketing

New to the board, Julia brings her 30 years of graphic design experience to head up RPP’s marketing and publicity committee. Her involvement with RPP began with the female version of “The Odd Couple” and has since encompassed roles from a cockney flower girl to an amnesiac nun. When she’s not in front of an audience or computer Julia enjoys painting, time on the tennis court or looking for golf balls.

Elaine Skypala, Education Commitee & Workshops

Elaine was lucky enough to land a job at a major Philadelphia TV station right after college. She produced several live TV shows and appeared on the children’s show. Eventually her love of animals lured her away to work for the Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for 30 years. When she moved to Boca Grande she saw that the animals here were in paradise. She returned to having fun entertaining people. She has appeared in many RPP productions, and her husband Ed always tells her she is good, because he is a wise husband. This is her first year on the Board.

James Martin, Engagement & Development

James arrived on Boca Grande in the Fall of 2014 and immediately fulfilled one of his bucket list items after receiving a part in OKLAHOMA. Since that time, you may have seen him in MOON OVER BUFFALO, GUYS AND DOLLS, DUETS ,A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, AND A FUN LOVING NUN, IN NUNSENSE. James is a proud committe member of FRIENDS, The Great Adventures & Exploration Series and Sings with Grand Glee. When not performing:  Family, golf, tennis, boating, fly fishing & travel occupy the remainder of his time.

Randy Bell, Director

Randy joined RPP board in 2015. In his early years he had some involvement with theatre. His reintroduction was as Stage Manager for RPP’s successful productions of Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma!, Hello Dolly! and Don’t Drink the Water and was Producer for Present Laughter. He is a past member of the board of Boca Grande Art Center and is involved with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Before retirement, Randy operated his family business enterprises in Newfoundland.  He made Boca Grande his winter home from Hilton Head, SC. He also serves as Play Reading Committee Chair.

Priscilla Masselink, Director

Priscilla and her husband Mark moved in 2012 to Boca Grande after raising three sons in Darien, CT.  Impressed with with the talent and opportunities on this special island, she quickly became involved with Royal Palm Players.  She has enjoyed several roles in both the fall readings, comedies, and other special productions.  She will appear this season in Present Laughter. She also has tried her hand at directing both Arm Chair Theater, and one of the three acts in last season’s Duets.  Priscilla is active with Kids Drama Club at the Island School with other RPP volunteers.  When not learning lines, she can be found, golfing, playing tennis, painting, and enjoying Boca life.

Linda Rollyson, Director

Linda has recently rejoined the RPP board (for a third time!) and is happy to be involved again with this organization that is near and dear to her heart.  Over the years she has acted as VP of RPP and as co-chair of ArmChair Theater and the RPP workshop program.  On stage, Linda has performed in many RPP productions since first stepping on the RPP stage in 2002. Outside the theater she enjoys singing with Grande Glee, reading, playing social bridge, taking spin classes and especially, boating with Mike.

Bill Whitney, Director

Bill and his wife Nancy have been coming to Boca Grande since 2009 after they retired from jobs in financial services in the Boston area. Bill served on the RPP finance committee before joining the Board in 2019. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and has been involved in a wide range of banking activities. Bill has enjoyed being involved with RPP because of his love of musical theater and playing drums/percussion. Bill has helped to produce the last five RPP musicals and also played “in the pit” for each one of them. He is very pleased to be part of the RPP and Boca Grande communities.  

Scott Wise, Director

Scott and his wife Linden, both displaced New York lawyers, discovered Boca Grande and Royal Palm Players in 2017.  Reliving his high school musical theater experience, Scott soon joined RPP as an assistant stage manager and since has appeared in My Fair Lady, Anything Goes, and Nunsense.  He’s even (unexpectedly) taken up tap dancing!  Scott joined the RPP Board in 2020 and couldn’t be more pleased to be part of such a vibrant, creative and fun-loving community.

Jasmine Deal, Production Manager

Jasmine comes to Boca Grande after an extensive residency at surrounding Sarasota theatres serving as a technical theatre generalist, sound designer, and stage manager. Some of her favorite production credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Venice Theatre), Children of Eden (Out-of-door Academy), Blood Brothers (Venice Theatre), and Annie Get Your Gun (Sarasota Players). While her career has taken her by way of the technical side, she has also appeared in many productions singing and dancing at Venice Theatre since she was 12 years old.

Charmaine Reynolds, Box Office Manager

Charmaine is thrilled to take on a larger role at Royal Palm Players this season, expanding on her part-time work during the 2019-2020 season. Her involvement began after she attended the incredibly fun production of “Don’t Drink the Water,” after which Charmaine volunteered to help the formidable RPP costume team. She has been involved ever since. Before she retired to Englewood four years ago, Charmaine volunteered as the proud theater Mom to two talented sons and participated in many theatre productions. Highlights include “Singing in the Rain” where she designed and created the costumes, as well as “Les Miserables” where she worked on costumes, built props, and painted the set. A native of Illinois, Charmaine and her husband moved to the Milwaukee area in 1993 where they raised two sons and several llamas. Prior to raising her family, Charmaine worked in Chicago as a software trainer, specializing in integrating word processing and email software into law firms. Charmaine also loves to sing and is looking forward to making her RPP stage debut in “Miracle on 34th Street” this season.