Staff

Kevin Harris

Managing Artistic Director

Kevin Harris received his MFA in Directing from the University of Iowa (2007), his BFA in Acting from New York University (1996), and his California Teaching Credential from Chapman University. While at NYU, he spent three years at the Atlantic Theatre Company studying acting under David Mamet, William H. Macy, and Felicity Huffman; he also spent a year at Musical Theatre Works (CAP 21) learning the finer intricacies of “jazz hands”. Favorite roles at the Atlantic include The Russian (Chess), Alan Strang (Equus), Jamie (The Last Five Years), Orsino (12th Night), and Rev. Hale (The Crucible). For several years, Kevin worked as a freelance director in L.O.R.T./Equity theatres across the nation. Favorite shows: The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Comedy of Errors, The Exhibitionists, Militant Language, Woyzeck, Ghost Sonata, The Cherry Orchard, Man of la Mancha, and several original plays which have gone on to be produced at the New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theatre, The O’Neill, Cherry Lane, and many others. From 1999-2002 he was the Artistic Director of Centerpoint Theatre Group in San Luis Obispo, CA. In 2005, he traveled to the West Bank and Gaza Strip to co-write and direct an original play with Ashtar Theatre, Palestine’s only professional theatre company. The subsequent play, The Era of Whales, has been performed in Gaza, Ramallah, Nablus, Jerusalem, and several international theatre festivals. Kevin has taught at the University of Iowa, University of Chicago, and has led dozens of workshops on A Practical Handbook for the Actor across the country.

Patty Thayer

Development & Capital Campaign Director

After earning a BA degree in Theatre and Speech Communications, Patty began her professional life at Lamb’s Players Theatre in the San Diego area, working first as an actress, then in the box office, house management, tour scheduling, fundraising, marketing and even bookkeeping. Thus are lifelong arts administrators created. After relocating to the Central Coast with her husband David and their two sons, Patty joined the staff at the San Luis Obispo Symphony and successfully led the marketing and communications efforts for that organization for 16 years. She has been a part of the team at SLO REP since 2013. Patty is a proud graduate of Leadership San Luis Obispo Class XI and serves on the Parking and Access Committee for Downtown SLO.

Kerry DiMaggio

Education Director

A native of the Central Coast, Kerry has been involved in theatre since she was young, including many productions on SLO REP stage. Kerry holds a BA (with honors) in Theatre Arts from Cal Poly’s Theatre and Dance Department, where her interest in teaching was piqued by a course in Children’s Drama. Kerry began working with ACT as an instructor, and shortly after transitioned to Education Director. 15 years later, she is thrilled to still be leading this fantastic program! Kerry is also an actor, singer, and director, and when not onstage in some capacity, she can be found enjoying SLO with her husband and their two young daughters.

Suzy Newman

Production Manager / Special Projects

Suzy Newman has worked in regional theatres throughout the country, but has spent most of her career in theatres on the Central Coast. She was the Company Manager at The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville and the Development Coordinator for PCPA – Pacific Conservatory Theatre. She received her MFA in Acting from the University of Alabama and continues to freelance as an actor and director.

David Linfield

Technical Director / Designer

Dave was bitten by the theatre bug in 1990, when an audition notice for a community theatre production caught his fancy. He discovered a whole new circle of friends and has spent a large portion of his evenings since then rehearsing and performing with theatre groups around the county. Over the years, he has migrated away from performing, and has embraced technical stagecraft as much more than a hobby. While Dave hasn’t had any formal theatre arts schooling, his educational background in graphic design and his occupational experience with retail display and housing construction have all blended together nicely with his passion for designing and building sets.

Rachel Tietz

Assistant Education Director

Rachel Tietz is absolutely thrilled to be a member of the SLO REP team! A graduate of the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) 2011, Rachel also earned a degree in Arts and Humanities from Allan Hancock College during the 2020 theatre hiatus. She has been teaching and directing for the ACT program since 2017. Previous SLO REP acting credits include Betty Jean in The Marvelous Wonderettes, Ruth Condomine in Blithe Spirit, Philia in A Funny Thing Happened…Forum, Ulla in The Producers, and Miss Shields in A Christmas Story. She has also had the pleasure to write, direct, and perform in many shows at The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville. A central coast native, Rachel has a deep passion for working with young artists and for enriching the arts community.

Shannon Peters

Assistant Education Director/Empleo Office Manager

Shannon Peters is beyond grateful to be back home on the central coast and a member of SLO REP’s education team! A graduate of PCPA, Shannon continued her education at Utah State University earning a BFA before moving to New York and starring in multiple customer service roles! Previous SLO REP credits include A Wrinkle in Time (Director), Xanadu (Melpomene) and Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Deedee). Other favorite roles include Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (USU), Viola in Twelfth Night (USU) and the Actress in Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Lyric Repertory Theatre). As an alumni of the ACT Program and the daughter of an educator, she feels at home in the classroom and understands the importance of cultivating joy and creative freedom for young performers of all ages.

Brian Lampert

Front-of-House Manager/Volunteer Coordinator

Brian brings a wealth of experience from his time at Universal Studios Hollywood, where he managed teams within the Attractions and Entertainment departments. His love for providing world-class theme park entertainment shines through in his work, as he’s deeply passionate about creating theater and fostering volunteerism here at SLO REP.

He’s an Improv actor and performed at Upright Citizens Brigade LA, Bovine Metropolis Denver, and teaches his own classes. Brian’s journey in the world of theater is grounded by a BA from Cal Poly’s Theatre and Dance Department.

Carey Blauvelt

Box Office Staff (Weekends)

Sonya Jackson

Assistant House Manager

Amanda Thayer

Box Office Staff / ACT Teacher

Aaron Jackson

Box Office Staff / Assistant House Manager

Cynthia Ford

Box Office Staff / Assistant House Manager

Anton Spike Harris-Newman

Theatre Security

Anton joined SLO REP in late 2019 as an office intern and quickly made himself indispensable – particularly excelling at snack detection and floor maintenance. At the onset of the pandemic, Anton successfully pivoted to become SLO REP’s first-ever comfort counselor, providing cuddles and humor to anyone in need. He made several guest appearances on The Intermission Show, SLO REP’s 2020 answer to a shuttered stage and though he was a much-requested favorite, Anton chose to eschew the fame garnered from his brief foray into acting and instead employ his uncanny doorbell SFX detection skills for a new career in theatre security. Our new office digs at 3533 Empleo Street became his domain in 2022 where he greeted our young theatre students, barked at the FedEx guy and managed our weekly staff meetings.

Sadly, we lost our dear Anton in September 2023. We will miss him terribly, but we know his doggy spirit lives on in the hallways at Empleo, backstage at Morro Street and in our hearts forever.