IMPORTANT UPDATE:
SVST will be moving to Central Valley High School (821 S Sullivan Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99037) for 2024 Divine Season 9. South Pacific, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Rising Stars, and all conservatory camps will be at Central Valley High School. Your tickets and seats will remain valid, as the Central Valley High School Theatre's seating is identical. Parking at Central Valley High School will be in the South parking lot.
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 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 theatres throughout the U.S. and United Kingdom. Johnson
has continually been an advocate for Theatre in Education throughout her career,
previously founding two Academy programs for youth grades K–12 at Carroll College in
Waukesha, Wisconsin and establishing the Spokane Civic Theatre Academy in
Spokane, Washington in addition to SVST/SVPAC’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, Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center. Shine on Team SVST/ICSVPAC!
Anne M. “Marnie” Rorholm (Managing Director) is a Gonzaga University MBA PhD (Leadership Studies), obtaining her undergraduate business degree at Santa Clara University. She is the inaugural winner of the Eva Lassman Memorial Grant for Holocaust research and serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Hate Studies. Dr. Rorholm is a published author and 2020 Greenleaf Scholar, researching the intersection of servant-leadership and her dissertation topic, interruptive symbology. Dr. Rorholm has worked in higher education and in municipal government, where she served in Business and Developer Services, and as the Director of the Mayor’s Office for the City of Spokane. She has been a long-time supporter of the performing arts in the Northwest region, including as a SAG-eligible actress herself, represented by Ryan Artists Inc. in Portland, Oregon and the Harris Talent Agency in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is a military spouse and mother to two adult sons (also performers!). She enjoys connecting the government and local business communities to the professional arts community, to create a vibrant live-theatre scene that contributes significantly to tourism and the local economy.
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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. Notable SVST roles include the 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 in addition to regional and national awards for choreography and music direction. Currently, she is Director of Music Ministry at St. John’s Cathedral in addition to holding several music faculty positions at North Idaho College and Spokane Falls Community College.
Melody Chang Heaton (Communications & Marketing Director) has earned nationwide praise and acclaim for innovation and leadership within organizations belonging to the Broadway League and Opera America. She is currently also serves as the Executive Director of the Asian Opera Alliance, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to striving for broader equity throughout the opera industry. She has previously served as a board member for the Spokane Symphony and Spokane Arts. Ms. Chang graduated from Washington State University, where she studied voice with Dr. Julie Anne Wieck. She is regularly invited to speak at top arts universities and Fortune 500 companies, as well as consult with many of the most renowed opera companies in the nation. Most recently, she consulted on Los Angeles Opera’s 2024 production of Turandot, designed by Sir David Hockney and debuted in 1992. In 2021, she created the Chang Heaton Scholarship for Music Excellence to award five first-generation BIPOC college students studying music or theatre with unrestricted funds for items required for theatre/music degrees that aren’t usually covered by traditional scholarships. She was recently recognized as a top ANHPI Mover & Shaker (2022), received a 2021 Women in Business Leadership Award for her work in the arts, and was named YWCA’s 2024 Woman of Achievement in Arts & Culture. She is regularly seen onstage at Spokane Valley Summer Theatre.
Collin J. Pittmann (Director of Education & Production Manager) ​is currently pursuing an MFA in Theatre Directing at the UK’s #1 Drama School - East15 (London). Pittmann recently worked as Assistant Director on the World Premiere of an Off-West End production titled Wilko at the Queen's Theatre. In 2023, Pittmann received the Washington Governor’s Arts & Heritage ‘Young Leader Award.’ He is a 2021 graduate of Texas Christian University, where he double majored in theatre and broadcast journalism. 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 works as Director of Education and Production Manager for the acclaimed Spokane Valley Summer Theatre (SVST). His recent SVST credits include Director of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, Co-Director of SVST Rising Stars, and Production Stage Manager for The Bridges of Madison County, Sister Act, Little House on the Prairie, The Sound of Music and Into The Woods. He is thrilled to continue his work with SVST and looks forward to a lifelong career in theatre and education.
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 excited to be a part of the SVST/Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center team and the exciting opportunities it brings to our 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.
Linay Robison (Costume Designer) is pleased to be returning as Costume Designer for her 6th season with Spokane Valley Summer Theatre. Linay began sewing and making costumes at a young age. After a career in International Banking she returned to her first love of art and costume design. Linay began helping with costumes for SVST shows with Always, Patsy Cline and The Secret Garden, then added puppet creation to the costume design for Into the Woods and The Sound of Music. Loving what we do and having fun doing it makes it not seem like work at all.
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 the 2021 season's Under the Stars, and Little House on the Prairie. 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 graduating from Southern Oregon University with a BFA in Lighting Design and BS in Music. In his fourth season with SVST, he designed both The Sound of Music and Mamma Mia!. Past credits include Elektra (SOU); Into the Woods (SVST); The Secret Garden (SVST). He has also designed for the Oregon Fringe Festival and the Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU (Music and Theatre Performances).