Kim Maxwell
Director of the Annual Fund and Community Relations
Tel: (805) 646-4343 Ext 135

Development - Annual Fund

Year Appointed: 2009




Co-Founder, Theater 150
Co-Founder, Ojai Playwrights Conference

Beginning her career as an actress, Kim appeared in numerous plays, commercials, television shows and films before moving from Los Angeles to Ojai in 1992. In 1996, Kim co-founded Theater 150, where she produced, directed, taught and served as Artistic Director for eleven years. Kim co-founded the Ojai Playwrights Conference in 1997, where she continues to serve as a board member and director of its youth program.

Accepting the position of the Director of Besant Hill School’s Annual Fund after twenty years of teaching came about organically, two years after her daughter Lily was accepted to the school as a freshman. About her new employer Kim says, "This school has changed my daughter’s life and the gratitude I feel towards the faculty, staff and administration that comprise this gem of a community is immeasurable. Institutions require funding to keep their doors open and their programming strong. I wanted the opportunity to give back and to ensure those doors were open for my son Woody when he applies here in 2013."

Kim is particularly proud and grateful for the school’s long-standing commitment as the host venue for her beloved Ojai Playwrights Conference. Every year for fourteen years, the finest professional theater artists this country has to offer gather on the Besant Hill School campus to nurture and develop the next season of plays to hit the New York, Chicago and London stages. The Zalk Theatre has played host to the likes of Terrence McNally, Jon Robin Baitz, Bill Cain, David Lindsay-Abaire, Christopher Durang, David Ives and countless others.

Kim lives in the beautiful town of Ojai with her amazing children Lily and Woody, her storytelling cronies, dedicated students and fellow word-nerds.