R. L. Mirabal retired in 2023 as the Theatre Arts Director at Lake Braddock Secondary in Burke, Va. A native of the Bronx, New York, R. L. graduated from Alexandria, Virginia’s Fort Hunt High School in 1985 and received his BA in Drama and Speech from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. in 1989. Influenced by great educator mentors Fr. Gilbert Hartke, Dr. John (Jack) C. Carr, James Dotson, as well as his parents, R. L. directed over 200 mainstage and one-act productions in 33 years. Under his direction, The Lake Braddock Theatre has obtained honors and awards including eleven VHSL District One-Act Play Championships, four Class 6 State Festival appearances, one state championship, the National Capitol Area Cappie award for Best Play, twice, and was invited to perform at the American High School Theatre Festival at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. In addition to his work at Lake Braddock, R. L. directed for the Playworks new scripts program with the International Thespian Society since the program’s inception in 1995, and taught creative writing and Shakespeare at the Fairfax County Summer Institute for the Arts.