About us…

Speaking of Home is a collective built on community, a group of friends committed to joy and curiosity in our art.

We’ve known each other for over half of our lives, and have spent most of that time creating art together. Whether acting in classic plays or devising films that combine our separate passions, our projects spring from the simple joy we continue to find with each other. For us, rehearsal rooms and film sets are more than just places of production: they are spaces to be together, to share a common space and explore our life through our art. Drawing from our own stories, our relationship to each other, and ourselves, our devised works are experimental, joyful, and sincere.

We bring nothing but ourselves, and we look for the same in those who join our summer camps or our production company. Anyone who wants to bring their authentic self, and create art with others who do the same, belongs here.

Brighton Beach Memoirs, Institute of Theatre Arts (2022)

Sophie Matossian

PROGRAM DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER
Sophie’s bio
Reece Harmon

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Reece (she/her) is an actor, director, and teacher of theater arts and english language arts. She received her BA in English Education with an emphasis in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University with a semester abroad studying Theatre Arts at University of Birmingham, England. She received teaching credentials in English and Social Studies from Cal State San Marcos. She has taught for many years at institutions across south Orange County as well as in public schools in north San Diego County. She is currently an English Language Arts teacher for high school students and a Theatre teacher for middle and elementary school students. Reece hopes to get her Masters in Theatre Arts and continue teaching both English and Theatre at a high school level. She enjoys reading and traveling and hopes to have more time and opportunities for both in the near future.
Ben Yawn

PRODUCING AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
Ben (he/him) is an actor, playwright, producer, editor, and theatrical designer. He is working towards his BA in Theater at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, with an emphasis in Acting. During his time at UCLA, Ben has trained in playwriting, sound design, and combat for stage and film, in addition to his major coursework in acting and theatrical studies. He also has training in Meisner and improv, with experience in photography, editing, and working with and leading young artists. He is a co-founder of Speaking of Home Productions and has had the opportunity to self-produce, direct, and manage projects such as The Midnight Dreary (2024), Letter of Resignation (2024), and Big Rock: The Rockumentary (2024). Ben has an affinity for theater for social change; science; gaming with friends, world building, and their ties to immersive sensory theater. He hopes to continue devising projects with his friends and peers to bring more accessible and personal art into an open space, finding new and interesting ways to affect audiences of all kinds.
Elaina Lorenzo Marino

DIRECTOR OF LITERARY & DRAMATURGY
Elaina Lorenzo Marino (she/they) is a playwright, filmmaker, and researcher currently living in Los Angeles. This spring, she is finishing her B.A. in Theater (Integrated Studies) at UCLA, and has presented research at numerous academic conferences, including ASTR 2024, Q-Grad 2024, and Experiment in Trouble 2025. She is also the current Social Media Director and Undergrad Liaison for UCLA's Center for Performance Studies.
As a founding member of Speaking of Home, she has co-written and directed six of the company's films, including the feature-length film Big Rock: The Rockumentary (2024). She is excited to continue creating with SOH, and to give summer camp members the same guidance, community, and acceptance that made theater her passion, and home, since high school.
Zack Mallgrave

COMPANY MANAGER & TEACHING ARTIST
Zack’s bio
Rachael Valdez

MEDIA DIRECTOR & TEACHING ARTIST
Rachael (she/her) is a deeply passionate, creative, and expressive actress and artist. She recently received two associate degrees from Saddleback College in Theater Arts and is currently in the process of applying as a transfer student to BFA programs for acting and musical theatre. She is deeply interested in storytelling and believes that theater plays a significant role in teaching compassion and creating a sense of community among people. While she considers herself an actress first, she also has several other hobbies, including sewing, scrapbooking, painting, video production, and graphic design. She finds that the root of her love for each activity stems from a strong desire to create art that has a lasting impact and fulfills a part of her soul that desires to be seen.