Leadership and Staff

Rick Lombardo, Artistic Director

Rick Lombardo is in his fourth season as artistic director at San Jose Rep, where he has directed Spring Awakening, the world premiere of Love in American Times, The Dresser, Black Pearl Sings!, The Weir, and As You Like It, which received nominations for outstanding production and outstanding direction by the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. He was the artistic director for 13 years at the award-winning New Repertory Theatre, the leading mid-size resident theatre in the greater-Boston area. In 2009, he was awarded the Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence from the Boston Theatre Critics Association for his work at New Rep. He is also the recipient of four individual Elliot Norton Awards and is a nine-time winner of the “IRNE” Award for his productions of The Clean House, Sweeney Todd, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, A Streetcar Named Desire, Ragtime, Waiting for Godot, and The Weir. His world premiere of According to Tip transferred to Boston’s theatre district in 2009, and his New Rep production of Bill W. and Dr. Bob enjoyed an extended run off-Broadway in 2007. In the New England area, Mr. Lombardo also directed at Opera Boston, the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, and the Actors Shakespeare Project, among others. He was previously artistic director of the Players Guild in Ohio, co-director of the theatre program at Fordham University’s College at Lincoln Center, as well as founding artistic director of the Stillwaters Theatre Company in New York City. Mr. Lombardo is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers 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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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.

Bruce Elsperger, Associate Producer
brucee@sjrep.com

Bruce Elsperger is in his 19th season at San Jose Rep. He is the casting
director/literary manager and has stage managed San Jose Rep’s productions of Making Tracks, The Wind Cries Mary, Love in the Title, Communicating Doors, Old Wicked Songs, and The Lady’s Not for Burning, among others. Mr. Elsperger stage managed for eight seasons with American Conservatory Theater, where his credits include Home, Oleanna, The Duchess of Malfi, Nothing Sacred, Golden Boy, Right Mind, A Christmas Carol, Cyrano de Bergerac, Learned Ladies, and Hecuba. He was production stage manager with Seattle’s Intiman Theatre and Bathhouse Theater, as well as at Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) Theaterfest in Santa Maria/Solvang, CA. He was also production stage manager for a Western U.S. tour of The Big Broadcast. Onstage, Mr. Elsperger has appeared in San Jose Rep’s productions of Anna Christie and Desire Under the Elms. His directorial credits include The Dying Gaul, A Breeze from the Gulf, Bag Lady, A Streetcar Named Desire, and A Tribute to American Musical Theatre. In addition, Mr. Elsperger was resident casting director at New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco for five seasons and has been engaged to cast several independent productions in the Bay Area.

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.

Christopher Morris, Production Manager
christopherm@sjrep.com

Mr. Morris has been working for with San Jose Repertory Theatre since the start of the 2003/04 season.  He has over 12 years of production experience from prominent theatres such as Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, and The Old Globe Theatre.  Mr. Morris earned his BFA in Theatre Design from Millikin University, and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama in Technical Design and Production.