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Artistic Director, Producer, Actress
Gia was born in Torrance, CA at Little Company of Mary Hospital, just down the street from her current office. She was raised in San Pedro and has spent the majority of her life in and around the South Bay. She is a graduate of UCLA, and also spent many years involved in the Harbor College theatre department, where she co-authored an educational play about AIDS entitled "Don't Get Too Close" which toured for several years. One of her most cherished activities in life is working with young people, which she was able do to as an instructor and director in the College for Kids program at Harbor College, where she met and worked with some incredible young people. She also enjoys volunteering with a local Girl Scout troop here in Torrance; an amazing group of young woman going for their Gold Award, which is no easy task!
Gia has worked for the City of Torrance since 1998, and in that time has produced over 30 productions for the Torrance Theatre Company, and it's earlier inceptions. Additionally, she works with StarLight Productions youth theatre program, Torrance Civic Chorale, Regina Klenjoski Dance Company, and a host of performing arts instructors to produce a variety of concerts, showcases and recitals throughout the year. She is also in charge of the main stage at the City's annual "Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration" at Wilson Park, and the annual Shakespeare in the Park program. Sometimes she is also called upon to help with special events; recently she wrote and directed a show featuring a handful of her fellow City of Torrance Employees who performed at the City's annual Employee recognition dinner. In short, Gia is a busy girl. In her eleven years in Torrance she has been recognized with Spot Awards, Staff Awards, Parks and Recreation Employee of the Year, NPRA Staff Member of the Year, and the Torrance Cultural Arts Commission's Excellence in Art Award for Drama.
She has two amazing, supportive, (and thankfully) artistic parents, who have enjoyed volunteering their time and talents to the TTC; and she loves being able to include them in what she does. Even more so, is her husband Cary Jordahl, who will forever hold the title of the TTC's Greatest Volunteer. The two have been an amazing team together, and they have joined forces on all but two of the thirty-three shows produced before 2009.
Gia has met wonderful people in Torrance and is constantly reminded how lucky she is to work in such a great City, with dedicated, passionate, and FUN people, from Elected Officials to volunteers!
Gia has credits as a writer, director, choreographer, lyricist, actress, producer, and every single job in between. While the jobs are not always glamorous, she understands the importance of each of them, and what a valuable role every person plays in the creation of great theatre. Her greatest joy is being with people in this process, from the actors, to the creative team, to the patrons in the audience, all of those components together is what really makes the magic happen as far as she is concerned.
She enjoys playing with new friends on occasion and has been lucky enough to find a home away from home with Little Fish Theatre and Shakespeare by the Sea in San Pedro, which is exciting for her since its her hometown. In 2009 she'll be directing for the 3rd time with these fine folks and is tickled to have the opportunity to do so and to see theatre going strong in San Pedro, Torrance and throughout the South Bay.
When she gets down time she enjoys relaxing, leisurely trips to Las Vegas to rejuvenate... but that's rare. She hopes to manage a family, some Italian lessons, traveling, and a series of children's books in her future; but for now, she's happy to be a worker bee for the TTC and contribute to the arts in any way that she can. |
