Leadership and Staff
Rick Lombardo, Artistic Director
Rick Lombardo has been the artistic director of the San
Jose Rep since October 2008. He is the recipient of
four Elliot Norton Awards and 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 has transferred for an extended run to Boston’s
theatre district. His production of Bill W and Dr. Bob
enjoyed an extended run off-Broadway in 2006. In the
New England area, Mr. Lombardo has directed at
Opera Boston, The Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre and
the Actors Shakespeare Project. He was previously the
Artistic Director of the Players Guild in Ohio, as well as
the Founding Artistic Director of the Stillwaters Theatre
Company in New York City. He is a member of the
Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
Nick Nichols, Managing Director
Nick Nichols has worked in professional theatre for over 30 years. He has worked professionally as a Stage Carpenter, Rigger, Stage Manager, Lighting and Set Designer, Technical Director, Director of Production and now Managing Director. Nichols was Technical Director for The American Musical Theatre of San Jose for 11 years, Production Manager for Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley for two years, Production Manager for Symphony San Jose Silicon Valley in their inaugural season and, in 2003, came to the San Jose Rep as Director of Production. He became Managing Director of the Rep in November 2006. He has worked and/or taught at The University of Nebraska, Santa Clara University, San Jose State University and the University of California Santa Cruz. Mr. Nichols has worked as a consultant for such clients as NASA/Ames, Princess Cruises, Holland-America Cruise Lines, The Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, The Rosicrucian Museum and Univision. Nick holds a B.A. in theatre arts from Santa Clara University, an M.F.A. in technical production/lighting design from Temple University and has done post graduate work in Arts Management and Administration at Golden Gate University. He is a member of the Advancement Board for the Santa Clara University Center for the Performing Arts. He is co-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 grammar school students in San Jose.
Timothy Near, Senior Artistic Advisor
Timothy Near recently concluded 21 years of service
as Artistic Director of San Jose Repertory Theatre.
During this time she developed and produced over 25
new plays, contributed significant leadership as well as
artistic and technical guidance to the design and
building of the Rep’s new theatre facility and led the
company to be among the most respected and
artistically adventurous resident theatres in the
country. In the spring of 2008 she left her Artistic
Director position to resume her career as a free lance
director. Over the past summer, Near directed
productions of Uncle Vanya at California Shakespeare
Theatre, Enchanted April at Arizona Theatre Company
and Doubt at Center Rep. Near has directed at numerous theatres throughout the U.S., including The Guthrie, Berkeley Rep, The Alliance Theatre Co., The Mark Taper Forum, L.A.’s Tiffany Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C., The New York Shakespeare Festival, Union Square Theatre in NYC, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse, Center Rep, The Intiman, A Contemporary Theatre and Portland Center Stage. She has directed two operas, The Crucible and Lucia di Lammermoor, at Opera San Jose. She is also an actress and is the recipient of New York’s Obie Award for her performance in Still Life.
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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.
Cecilia Clark, Director of Marketing
ceciliac@sjrep.com
Ms. Clark has spent the last 18 years working in the Bay Area in marketing, public relations, special events management and fundraising. The majority of that time has been spent working in the arts and cultural world as Communications Manager for Arts Council Silicon Valley, Director of Marketing and Communications for History San Jose and Membership Manager for Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. Ms. Clark has consulted for WORKS/San Jose gallery and performance space, Palo Alto Youth Museum, and has also worked as a free-lance writer for local publications. A 2005 graduate of Leadership Morgan Hill and two-time board member of Morgan Hill Community Foundation, Ms. Clark actively volunteers for numerous organizations including Community Solutions, Leadership Morgan Hill and many others. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations/Journalism from San Jose State University. Ms. Clark joined the Rep in July 2006.
Bruce Elsperger, Artistic Associate/Casting Director
brucee@sjrep.com
Bruce Elsperger is in his 15th season as Casting Director as San Jose Repertory Theatre. He has stage managed the Rep’s productions of Mary’s Wedding, The Wind Cries Mary, Aliens in America, Love in the Title, Communicating Doors, Old Wicked Songs, The Lady’s Not for Burning, Holiday, Mirandolina, Blithe Spirit, Later Life, Sylvia, Banjo Dancing, Beehive and Redwood Curtain. Elsperger stage managed for eight seasons with American Conservatory Theatre, 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. Mr Elsperger was Production Stage Manager with Seattle’s Intiman Theatre, the Bathhouse Theatre and for a western U.S. tour of The Big Broadcast, as well as at PCPA Theaterfest. He has also appeared onstage at the Rep in Anna Christie and Desire Under the Elms. Elsperger’s directing credits include The Dying Gaul, A Breeze From the Gulf, Bag Lady, and A Streetcar Named Desire. He was resident casting director at NCTC 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.
Christa Stiner, Director of Finance
christas@sjrep.com
Ms. Stiner has worked in performing arts administration and production since 1991. Her background includes marketing, patron services, production management and accounting in both for profit and nonprofit theater. From 1999 until 2003 she was the Director of Finance and Administration for Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley. She comes to The San Jose Rep after a year as the Director of Operations at Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. She has served on a number of nonprofit boards.
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.