SVST Staff Photo, 2025
(Photo by Dylan K Johnson Photography)
Staff & Production Team
Yvonne A.K. Johnson (Executive Artistic Director) is the founder and leader of the award-winning Spokane Valley Summer Theatre and future Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center, producing musical theatre and an educationally focused Conservatory program for students Grades 2-12. Her talent and professional management base extends from artists performing on Broadway, the West End and regionally across the country. Johnson holds several advanced theatre degrees including a B.A. at Carthage College in Speech, Communications and Theatre, an M.A. in Contemporary Theatre Practice from the University of Essex in Colchester, England and an M.F.A. in Directing from Minnesota State University. From 1996 until 2001, Johnson served as the Artistic Director of Kassiopia Theatre Company in London, England. She then became the Company Director and Producer of the national award-winning CLIMB Theatre, Inc. in Minnesota's Twin Cities followed by Executive Artistic Director for the national award-winning Spokane Civic Theatre. While residing in New York during the initial formative years of SVST, her independent work in board development, strategic planning and talent management had her traveling coast to coast working with various artists and institutions. Over the past 30 years, she has produced and directed over 250 productions for various schools, universities, community and professional theaters throughout the U.S. and United Kingdom.
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Johnson has continually been an advocate for Theatre in Education throughout her career, previously founding two Academy programs for youth in grades 2-12 at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin and establishing the Spokane Civic Theatre Academy in Spokane, Washington in addition to SVST/ICSVPAC's Conservatory. Johnson has received numerous accolades and recognitions for directing and producing throughout her tenure. Most recently she received a 2022 Governor's Arts and Heritage Award in Leadership, a 2022 Women in Business Leadership Award, a 2021 Difference Maker Award and the 2021 Governor's Arts & Luminary Award for SVST. As an Executive Artistic Director, Johnson has a proven track record of producing high quality artistic productions with record breaking financial success. She has led several capital campaigns throughout her career with the culmination being a beacon of light and hope for the region, the Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center. Shine on, Team SVST/ICSVPAC!
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Dr. Andrea Olsen (Associate Artistic Director) is honored to have been part of Spokane Valley Summer Theatre from its inception as music director, vocal coach, choreographer, and performer. Most recently, Andrea directed the 2025 production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's A Grand Night for Singing. Notable SVST roles include the Narrator in Joseph... Dreamcoat, Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Alice Murphy in Bright Star, Witch in Into the Woods, Patsy Cline in Always, Patsy Cline, Donna in Mamma Mia, Lily in The Secret Garden, and Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County. Other local roles include Christine in Phantom, Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls, Cathy in The Last Five Years, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Florence in CHESS, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, Betty in White Christmas, Jane in Jane Eyre, and Fantine in Les Misérables. Andrea holds several advanced degrees in music including a Doctorate in Sacred Music. Additionally, Andrea holds regional and national awards for choreography and music direction. Currently, she is also the Director of Music Ministry at St. John’s Cathedral.
Collin J. Pittmann (Director of Education & Production Manager) ​holds an MFA in Directing from the UK’s #1 Drama School (East15 - University of Essex) in London. In 2024, Pittmann Assistant Directed the World Premiere of Wilko, an Off-West End production at the Queen's Theatre. In 2023, Pittmann received the Washington State Governor’s ‘Young Leader Award.’ He is a graduate of Texas Christian University, where he double majored in journalism and theatre. While at TCU, Pittmann arranged and directed an award-winning revue production titled Wonder Women: Celebrating Women’s Roles on Broadway. He was recognized by the university as an 'Emerging Leader' in 2023. An involved theatre artist and Spokane native, Pittmann is an experienced communicator who thrives working across mediums. SVST Directing credits include Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville and the annual SVST Rising Stars.
Katie Guarisco (Business Administration Officer) is a lifelong resident of Spokane Valley and a graduate of Eastern Washington University. Katie brings a wide variety of experience from different industries to SVST/ICSVPAC. She has worked for successful advertising agencies as project manager and media buyer for local and national clients. Katie has owned two award-winning business with her husband, one in the restaurant industry and the other in the advertising industry where she was both office manager and bookkeeper. She has been married for 34 years and has 3 adult children. Katie is passionate about the opportunities SVST and the Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center brings to the region!
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Susanna Baylon (Media Coordinator) is an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist with experience in anchoring, reporting and producing in markets including Spokane and Tampa, Florida. Susanna works as a freelance writer/producer, and also has experience as an adjunct professor, event planner and contributor to local radio programs. Susanna’s passion for the performing arts goes back to her childhood. Her family has been with SVST since its start, thanks to her daughter Noelle Fries.
David Baker (Technical Director) is a Theater Designer and Technical Director with over 30 years of professional experience. A born Washingtonian, David received his bachelor’s degree in Drama at the University of Washington before earning a Master’s in Fine Arts in Theater Production at Southern Methodist University, Dallas. David is pleased and excited to be with SVST for his fourth season. Although relatively new to the organization, he is not new to theatre in the Spokane area where he has worked a number of years and has compiled multiple credits in scenic and lighting design, and technical direction in dozens of productions.
Brent Wise (Finance & Construction Consultant) was a former VP of Commercial Banking and a graduate of the prestigious Pacific Coast Banking School, Brent has honed his skills in financial strategy, risk management, and client relations. Brent’s expertise spans across various demographics, from young families just starting their financial journey to high-net-worth executives and business owners looking to optimize their wealth. He has a particular knack for helping public sector employees and union members maximize their pension benefits – an often underserved niche in the financial planning world. Find out more about his firm, Wise Choice Planning.
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Esther Iverson (Costume Designer) has been involved in teaching and designing costumes in various community, educational and professional theatres including Minnesota State University where she met and had the pleasure of working with Yvonne Johnson. She was included in some of Yvonne’s theatre projects, including shows in Minnesota, Wisconsin, London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Daniel Urzika (Senior Audio Engineer) is a lifelong musician, singer and techie. After getting involved with audio visual production at a young age, Daniel decided to pursue audio engineering as a career. He joined SVST during their 2019 season, working on Always... Patsy Cline, The Sound of Music, and Mamma Mia!. His more recent credits include Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, South Pacific, Bright Star, Escape to Margaritaville, Grease and more. Daniel is thrilled to have found a home in SVST, and cannot wait to keep sharing the gift that is live theatre with our community.
Logan Tiedt (Senior Lighting Designer) is a graduate of Southern Oregon University with a BFA in Lighting Design and BS in Music. In his ninth season with SVST, he designed a variety of SVST productions including Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, South Pacific, Bright Star, The Bridges of Madison County, The Sound of Music, Mamma Mia! and more. He has also designed for the Oregon Fringe Festival and the Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU (Music and Theatre Performances).