Leadership and Staff

Rick Lombardo, Artistic Director

Rick Lombardo is in his fifth season as Artistic Director at San Jose Rep where his productions include The Death of the Novel, God of Carnage, A Christmas Carol (2011 and 2012), Spring Awakening, Love in American Times, The Dresser, Black Pearl Sings!, The Weir, and As You Like It. He was previously the artistic director for 13 years at the award-winning New Repertory Theatre in Greater Boston and in 2009 was awarded the Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence from the Boston Theater Critics Association for his work. His more than thirty productions there included award-winning productions of The Clean House, Sweeney Todd, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, A Streetcar Named Desire, Ragtime, and Waiting for Godot. His production of Bill W. and Dr. Bob enjoyed an extended run off-Broadway. His work has also been seen at the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Arizona Theatre Company, New York City's Town Hall, Opera Boston, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, The Actors Shakespeare Project, Porthouse Theater, and The Berkshire Theatre Festival, among others. He was co-director of the theatre program at Fordham University's College at Lincoln Center, and founding artistic director of the off-Broadway Stillwater Theatre Company in New York.  Mr. Lombardo is an Executive Board member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and lives in San Jose with his wife, actress Rachel Harker, and daughter.

Nick Nichols, Managing Director

Nick Nichols has worked in professional theatre for over 30 years. He joined San Jose Rep in late 2003 as director of production and served as interim managing director from March 2006 until being appointed managing director in November 2006. Prior to his work with San Jose Rep, Mr. Nichols served as production manager for Ballet San Jose. He worked in the same capacity during the inaugural season of Symphony Silicon Valley and was technical director for the American Musical Theatre of San Jose for 11 years. Mr. Nichols taught theatre management and design at Santa Clara University, San Jose State University, and the University of California, Santa Cruz, and he ran his own theatre design and consulting business, retaining clients spanning from NASA/Ames to Princess Cruises, Univision, and numerous museums. Mr. Nichols holds a BA in theatre from Santa Clara University, an MFA. from Temple University, and has done post-graduate work in arts administration at Golden Gate University. He is past-chair of the San Jose Arts and Cultural Roundtable, is a member of the Local Plan Advancement Team for the City of San Jose’s Cultural Vision Plan, serves on the 1st ACT Silicon Valley Catalyst Team, is vice-chair of the Downtown Parking Board, and is chair of Rota-Arts, a committee of the Rotary Club of San Jose, which is working to bring music and arts appreciation and education to under-served elementary school students in San Jose.
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Kirsten Brandt, Associate Artistic Director
kirstenb@sjrep.com

Kirsten Brandt is an award-winning playwright, director and producer.  She directed the critically acclaimed productions of Legacy of Light, Groundswell, Splitting Infinity, This Wonderful Life and Rabbit Hole at San Jose Repertory Theatre. She has served as the Executive Artistic Director of Sledgehammer Theatre, San Diego’s leading Alternative theatre.  At Sledgehammer, Brandt produced 23 productions (including nine world premiere and five west coast premieres) and directed 15 productions, garnering numerous “Critic’s Choice” nods and 32 awards (San Diego Critic’s Circle, Backstage West Garland, KPBS Patte Award, San Diego Playbill). Notable productions at Sledgehammer include Macbeth, The Dream Play, Furious Blood, Knife in the Heart, and  Sweet Charity.   She was one of the co-founders and curators of DURGA, the Women’s Performance Festival of San Diego in 2000 & 2001.  Regionally, she has directed for The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, TheatreWorks, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, San Diego Repertory Theatre, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Sierra Repertory and Diversionary Theatre. She is the author of the award-winning Berzerkergang, NU, The Waves and The Frankenstein Project.  Brandt received a San Diego Critic’s Circle Award for “Creative Achievement” and another for “Outstanding Direction” for The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow at The Old Globe. Brandt’s wrote and directed The Thinning Veil is a telematic, multi-venue, multi-media performance piece which had its world premiere at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she lectures in the Theatre Arts Department.  She is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and a proud alumna of the University of California,San Diego. www.kirstenbrandt.com

Sheri Frumkin, Director of Development
sherif@sjrep.com

Sheri Frumkin has worked in performing arts and non-profits since 1994.  Her extensive South Bay non-profit fundraising experience began at Santa Clara University in central development, then as Corporate Gifts Manager for the San Jose Symphony, the Software Development Forum as their Business Development Manager, and lastly spent five years as Director of Development for Ballet San Jose.  Sheri holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Musicology from University of California, Santa Barbara, and is a board member of American Ice Theatre and an Advisory Board member of the Jewish Studies Program at San Jose State University.

Karen Altree Piemme, Director of Outreach
karenp@sjrep.com

Karen Piemme was invited to the Rep in 1993 to help develop and expand its Red Ladder Theatre Company for which she is Associate Director. Ms. Piemme additionally develops and implements the Rep’s many education and outreach programs, including internships, job shadowing, classroom study guides, acting classes, artists-in-schools, and the Creative Playshop Series—a unique program for children and families that has been replicated by other regional theatres. As an active Bay Area theatre staff member and community leader, Ms. Piemme is a community mentor, often appears as a guest speaker, and serves as a member of the Theatre Services Committee for Theatre Bay Area. Ms. Piemme is an accomplished director, actor and acting instructor specializing in youth and community access. She received her degree in Acting and Directing from Syracuse University and also trained in England at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Jane Casamajor, Production Manager
janec@sjrep.com

Jane Casamajor is happy to be back at San Jose Repertory Theatre as Production Manager. In five plus years at Boston University Jane completed her Masters of Fine Arts and had the pleasure of being an integral part of one of the premiere theater conservatory programs in the country. As Production Manager at Boston University, Jane had the pleasure of managing such initiatives as the Boston Center for American Performance (BCAP), the professional extension of the school; the InCite Arts Festival, an eclectic and compelling combination of titles and artists produced in New York and Washington, D.C.; as well as having the privilege to work with talented young artists and professional acclaimed faculty. Prior to Boston, Ms. Casamajor was the Associate Production Manager/Facilities here at San Jose Rep managing rental contracts, the facility, and assisting with all aspects of Production. Additional work experience includes six years at Arena Stage, in Washington, D.C., as the Production Office Coordinator and Human Resources Intern. Ms. Casamajor also held a variety of positions with Peninsula Players Theatre in Fish Creek Wisconsin and Madison Repertory Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin. Ms. Casamajor is pleased to be working with the energetic and creative team here at San Jose Rep and enjoying the California sunshine.