Leadership & Staff

Virginia (she/her) brings more than 20 years of experience in accounting and financial management to the role of Director of Finance at The REP. As the grant manager for the UCSD Structural Engineering department, Virginia was responsible for the management of multi-million dollar California Department of Transportation grants. After a short break when her children were born, Virginia entered the non-profit world, managing the accounting, payroll and human resources departments for multiple small entities. Most recently, she worked in the health care arena, navigating complex regulatory issues as well as day-to-day business operations and brings a level of professionalism, accountability and exacting standards to our organization. Virginia is thrilled to be involved in an arts organization, as her degree from the University of Pennsylvania was in Art History.

(he/him) Co-founded San Diego REP with D.W. Jacobs in 1976, and has since worked as a director, producer or actor on more than 280 productions. As an actor, he has performed on The REP stages in The Seafarer, in the title role of King Lear, Proof, Hamletand with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in the title role of Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat. His recent directorial work with The REP includes: Fun Home, Beachtown, Hand to God, EVITA, Manifest Destinitis, The Oldest Boy, Violet, Oedipus El Rey, HONKY, El Henry (with La Jolla Playhouse) Venus in Fur, In the Heights, Federal Jazz Project and In the Next Room or the vibrator play. In 2011 he directed American Night: The Ballad of Juan José for the Denver Center Theatre Company. In 2003, he was awarded the Patté Shiley Award for Lifetime Achievement by KPBS and the prestigious Alonzo Award by the Downtown San Diego Partnership. In, 2006, he and Jacobs were honored with the Craig Noel Award by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle for 30 years of artistic dedication to downtown and diversity.

(he/him) Todd Salovey is in his 29th season at The REP.  He is founding artistic director of the REP’s Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival and last year was honored for its 25th anniversary.  Recent REP directing includes Outside Mullingar, and the world premieres of The Dybbuk for Hannah and Sam’s Wedding which he also wrote and Herbert Siguenza's Steal Heaven.  Other REP work with Siguenza includes the premieres In the Time of the Butterflies and A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, which has also played at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Denver Center, Arizona Theatre Co, San Jose Stage, Los Angeles Theatre Center and Center Arts REP.  Acclaimed REP shows include A Hammer, A Bell and A Song to Sing and The Blessing of a Broken Heart which he authored, The Dybbuk, King Lear, Uncle Vanya, The Illusion, the world premiere of Yehuda Hyman’s The Mad Dancers and Hamlet starring Jefferson Mays. Salovey is on faculty in Theatre and Dance, and the Rady School of University of California, San Diego where he received a 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award.

(she/her) Since 2011, Danielle has lead the selection process for programming San Diego REP seasons. Starting in 2020, she also became the midwife for diverse new work developed through San Diego REP’s Hear U.S. Now commission program. Other REP work includes dramaturgy on world premieres such as Steal Heaven by Herbert Siguenza and Into the Beautiful North by Karen Zacarías and producing shows like Beachtown by Herbert Siguenza with Rachel Grossman and Grounded by George Brandt. She is also the editor for San Diego REP’s Curious REPort, an e-magazine offering in-depth information about season plays. She has served as a judge/curator for San Diego REP’s Latinx New Play Festival and the Black Voices Reading and Discussion Series, Playwrights Center Fellowships, Bay Area Playwright’s Festival, and the National New Play Network. Danielle studied Theater at UC Irvine, with an emphasis on playwriting, and followed up with an MFA in Creative Writing from Eastern Washington University. As a queer woman, a military spouse, and a mother she is dedicated to uplifting all voices and, therefore, is thrilled to take a leading role in San Diego REP’s Vision Council, working towards equity, diversity, and inclusion in this theater and beyond. 

(she/her) Dr. Maria Patrice Amon is an Associate Artistic Director and Latinx Projects Producer at San Diego REP. She launched the Latinx New Play Festival at San Diego Repertory Theatre, produces a staged reading series, offers networking events with the Amigos del Rep general body, and produces special community engagement events that are based on current events and social needs. She is a southern California based director, dramaturg, producer, and scholar. Directing: Mojada (UCSD) A Zoom of One’s Own (CSUSM) Ich Bin Ein Berliner (Florida Studio Theatre) DREAM HOU$E (CSUSM/TuYo Theatre) Fade (Moxie Theatre), The Madres (Moxie Theatre) Lydia (Brown Bag Theatre Company). Assistant Directing: Bad Hombres/Good Wives (San Diego Rep), Sweat (San Diego Rep), Cardboard Piano (Diversionary Theatre), Roz and Ray (San Diego Rep). Dramaturg: Manifest Destinitis (San Diego Rep), Beachtown (San Diego Rep). Patrice is Co-Artistic Director of TuYo Theatre, a 2020 National Directing Fellow, a LTC Steering Committee member, and a board member for NNPN. Patrice is an assistant professor at CSUSM. JD: California Western School of Law. PhD: UC Irvine. www.mariapatriceamon.com 

Julianna Stephanie Ojeda (she/ella) is a Latinx Theatre producer/director/actor born and raised in Los Angeles. Graduate of Rio Hondo College and completed her BA in Drama with Honors in Acting at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Her post undergrad career began at SD REP as a Stage Management fellow and has taken her to regional theatres along the west coast most notably as the Associate Producer of Company of Angels, Los Angeles longest running not for profit theatre, and as the assistant director of UniSon by Universes directed by Robert O’Hara at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. While at OSF she participated in ED&I training as a part of their FAIR program under Dawn Monique Williams and performed in the OSF Latinx Play Project. She serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the Latinx Theatre Commons. In her new role as the Artistic Producer at SD REP she looks forward to being an agent of change in regional theatre.

Herbert Siguenza (he/him) is Playwright-In-Residence at The Rep through a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He is also a founding member of Culture Clash, the most popular and produced Latino ensemble in the nation. For the last thirty years, he has co-written or adapted and performed over fifteen original critically acclaimed award winning plays at prestigious regional theatres around the country. Theatre Communications Group Books has published three compilations of their collective works which includes Radio Mambo, Zorro in Hell! and Chavez Ravine. Siguenza has also written and performed solo works outside the group including Cantinflas! (2003), A Weekend With Pablo Picasso (2010), El Henry (2014), Steal Heaven (2015), Manifest Destinitis (2016) and Beachtown (2018). Additionally, Mr. Siguenza recently directed Jose Rivera's Cloud Tectonics for New Village Arts and his voice is featured in the Oscar nominated animated film Coco.

Rebecca Myers is a San Diego native who has been working with the Rep since childhood. She's been involved in theatre for many years, starting out as an award winning actor and singer. She has been on the producing team for JFest for the past several years, and been working with Todd and Ali her whole life. Rebecca is so thrilled to be the NNPN Producer-in-Residence this year, and is excited about the projects that brings including producing the new play festival "The Whole Megillah". 

Phillip moved to San Diego in 2003 to attend UCSD, graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Management Science, and started working at San Diego Repertory Theatre part-time in 2009. Since then Phillip has moved up the ranks. He was quickly promoted to Lead Operator in 2009, Assistant Manager in 2012, and then Patron Services Manager in 2015. Along with managing the box office, his passion and aptitude for computers and software led to more opportunities with the REP and in 2019 he earned the new title of Patron Services/Information Systems Manager. 

Christa Rew is an African American writer and actor. She graduated from Grossmont College with a degree in theatre emphasis in performing. When she isn’t assisting patrons at the San Diego Rep, she is also the creator of Sidekicks a podcast audio drama. She is very passionate about all of the arts and is looking forward to this upcoming season.

Levani is a traveling actor, dancer, and musician from The Republic of Georgia. He holds degrees in Theatre, Mathematics, and is currently working on a masters in Psychology from UCSD. Between performances he trains Capoeira and spends time with his sphynx kittens, Igor & Dr. Frankenstein.

Carmen Amon is a proud Queer Chicanx Costume Designer in the Greater San Diego area. She has been working professionally as a Freelance Costume Designer since 2016. She graduated the same year with a Bachelor's Degree in Theater with an Emphasis in Costume Design from San Diego State University. Her designs have been featured at La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Repertory Theater, MOXIE Theater, Junior Theater and Pacific Ridge School.

Vaughn was born and raised in Sacramento where he went on to attend California State University, Sacramento studying Communications and Theatre. At the strong suggestion of a college mate who had relocated to San Diego, he also ventured to America's Finest City in the early eighties, fell in love with it and decided to stay! Vaughn spent the first decade in San Diego working in the legal field as Records Manager for Seltzer, Caplan, Wilkins & McMahon Law firm. After which his love of theatre brought him to The Old Globe where he work as Assistant Manager of Direct Sales for the next five years. From there, it was a nine year stint at San Diego Symphony working in the Sales and Marketing Department, and getting some solid experience performing community outreach. Vaughn's career at San Diego Repertory Theatre, which he began in 2015 doing part-time fundraising, has led him to his current position as Community Partnerships Ambassador where he has thoroughly enjoyed reaching out into San Diego's richly diverse communities, making new and lasting friendships, and working on creative partnership collaborations for the past 5 show seasons. Vaughn also works extensively to provide discount group opportunities to many San Diego Organizations, as well as discount and free ticket opportunities to San Diego County middle and high school students to attend our season shows as a part of The REP's Project Discovery Student Matinee Program.

Derek Floyd, M.A. (he/him/his) has over 20 years’ experience in fundraising and grant writing for a wide range of organizations. He holds a B.M. (Oboe) from The Juilliard School and an M.A. (Nonprofit Leadership) from the University of San Diego. He is President & Chief Scribe at Writing for Good, a consulting firm he founded to provide creative and strategic grant writing services for nonprofits.  Areas of expertise include arts and culture; child advocacy; human trafficking; veterans issues; and food insecurity. Current clients include: San Diego Repertory Theatre; Oceanside Museum of Art; Art of Élan; and the Imperial Valley Food Bank.  He is an active member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Ryan Ford (Audio Visual Supervisor) – Ryan (he/him) has been a resident of San Diego since 2004, when he moved here from Ventura County to attend UCSD, where he earned his B.A. in Theatre Arts in 2006. Ryan has worked as a sound engineer, sound designer, stage manager, electrician, and stagehand with several theatre companies, including: San Diego Repertory Theatre, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Coachella Valley Repertory, Cygnet, Diversionary, Moxie, and many others over the years.  From 2012 until 2019, Ryan served as the Associate Production Manager at North Coast Repertory Theatre. Some of his other endeavors into the arts include his punk rock musical, Purgatory Punk, which he produced for the San Diego International Fringe Festival, and most recently, Ryan directed the short film, Heroes on Hold, in the 48 Hour Film Project. Ryan is thrilled to join the staff here at The REP, supervising the Audio Visual department. Much love and thanks to his wife, April, who continues to inspire him everyday.

Ryn Schroeder (she/her) began working as the San Diego REP's Company Manager and Assistant Production Manager in 2021. With a background heavily focused in stage management, she has also branched out into house management, box office, sound design, and tour coordination. In the past, she has worked with The Old Globe, Young Artists' Ensemble, and 5 Star Theatricals (previously known as Cabrillo Music Theatre) as a stage manager. Ryn studied at San Diego State University where she earned her BA in Theatre Design and Technology, along with a minor in Classics and a certificate in Entertainment Management.

Marco Mendizabal is currently the Venue Experience Assistant Manager at San Diego Repertory Theater. He is also the founder of Folk Productions, an binacional company dedicated to producing concerts, festivals and cultural events. Marco is pursuing a B.A. in Music Business from Berklee College of Music and has completed a Professional Certificate in Marketing from SDSU.  He is an animal lover, environmentalist and justice seeker.

 

Christian Garcia (he/him) is an Assistant Vice President for U.S. Bank in the Downtown San Diego area. Christian was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States at an early age. He’s been here ever since and considers himself fortunate to call San Diego his home. He is a graduate from San Diego State University where he earned a degree in Economics while minoring in Communications. Christian has a passion for theatre and literature and is proud to represent U.S. Bank in supporting The REP in their mission to provide an inclusive and interconnected theatre arts community in San Diego.

Suzanne Hess (she, her) is a retired librarian. She earned her Master’s Degree from UCLA and was the Supervising Librarian for many east county libraries during her tenure with San Diego County.  She currently serves on the board of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nutrition organization in Washington D.C.  She is active at the Unitarian Universalist Church in San Diego.  She and her husband moved to San Diego in 1975.  She has been attending plays at San Diego Repertory Theater since 1986.

Since 1985, David Conover and his wife Celia, have owned StudioConover — a Marketing Design and Architectural Consultation studio. David has a Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Graphic Design from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
 
In Februrary of 2017 David became a Board Member of The San Diego Repertory Theatre. 
 
He is a founding member of the San Diego chapter of AIGA.org and has served as President, Education chair, YDesign Conference chair and General Board Member. 
 
David Conover is a past Board Member of the Design Forward Alliance which advocates Human-Centered Design Thinking to improve economic, social and civic life in the southern California / Baja region.

Sandy Young is vice president at J. Walcher Communications, a top national public relations agency based in San Diego. Her areas of expertise include PR/marketing strategy, writing/editing, media relationship building, community partnerships, media training and crisis communications. Prior to JWC, Sandy worked for several of San Diego's leading public relations and marketing communications firms. For the REP, Sandy serves on the board nominating committee and also volunteers as a REP reader to review new plays for consideration. Sandy graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication and a minor in literature/writing from the University of California, San Diego.

(he/him) Co-founded San Diego REP with D.W. Jacobs in 1976, and has since worked as a director, producer or actor on more than 280 productions. As an actor, he has performed on The REP stages in The Seafarer, in the title role of King Lear, Proof, Hamlet and with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in the title role of Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat. His recent directorial work with The REP includes: House of Joy, Bad Hombres/Good Wives, Fun Home, Beachtown, Hand to God, EVITA, Manifest Destinitis, The Oldest Boy, Violet, Oedipus El Rey, HONKY, El Henry (with La Jolla Playhouse) Venus in Fur, In the Heights, Federal Jazz Project and In the Next Room or the vibrator play. In 2011 he directed American Night: The Ballad of Juan José for the Denver Center Theatre Company. In 2003, he was awarded the Patté Shiley Award for Lifetime Achievement by KPBS and the prestigious Alonzo Award by the Downtown San Diego Partnership. In, 2006, he and Jacobs were honored with the Craig Noel Award by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle for 30 years of artistic dedication to downtown and diversity.

(she/her) Dr. Maria Patrice Amon is an Associate Artistic Director and Latinx Projects Producer at San Diego REP. She launched the Latinx New Play Festival at San Diego Repertory Theatre, produces a staged reading series, offers networking events with the Amigos del Rep general body, and produces special community engagement events that are based on current events and social needs. She is a southern California based director, dramaturg, producer, and scholar. Directing: Mojada (UCSD) A Zoom of One’s Own (CSUSM) Ich Bin Ein Berliner (Florida Studio Theatre) DREAM HOU$E (CSUSM/TuYo Theatre) Fade (Moxie Theatre), The Madres (Moxie Theatre) Lydia (Brown Bag Theatre Company). Assistant Directing: Bad Hombres/Good Wives (San Diego Rep), Sweat (San Diego Rep), Cardboard Piano (Diversionary Theatre), Roz and Ray (San Diego Rep). Dramaturg: Manifest Destinitis (San Diego Rep), Beachtown (San Diego Rep). Patrice is Co-Artistic Director of TuYo Theatre, a 2020 National Directing Fellow, a LTC Steering Committee member, and a board member for NNPN. Patrice is an assistant professor at CSUSM. JD: California Western School of Law. PhD: UC Irvine. www.mariapatriceamon.com 

(she/her) Since 2011, Danielle has lead the selection process for programming San Diego REP seasons. Starting in 2020, she also became the midwife for diverse new work developed through San Diego REP’s Hear U.S. Now commission program. Other REP work includes dramaturgy on world premieres such as Steal Heaven by Herbert Siguenza and Into the Beautiful North by Karen Zacarías and producing shows like Beachtown by Herbert Siguenza with Rachel Grossman and Grounded by George Brandt. She is also the editor for San Diego REP’s Curious REPort, an e-magazine offering in-depth information about season plays. She has served as a judge/curator for San Diego REP’s Latinx New Play Festival and the Black Voices Reading and Discussion Series, Playwrights Center Fellowships, Bay Area Playwright’s Festival, and the National New Play Network. Danielle studied Theater at UC Irvine, with an emphasis on playwriting, and followed up with an MFA in Creative Writing from Eastern Washington University. As a queer woman, a military spouse, and a mother she is dedicated to uplifting all voices and, therefore, is thrilled to take a leading role in San Diego REP’s Vision Council, working towards equity, diversity, and inclusion in this theater and beyond. 

(he/him) Co-founded San Diego REP with D.W. Jacobs in 1976, and has since worked as a director, producer or actor on more than 280 productions. As an actor, he has performed on The REP stages in The Seafarer, in the title role of King Lear, Proof, Hamletand with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in the title role of Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat. His recent directorial work with The REP includes: Fun Home, Beachtown, Hand to God, EVITA, Manifest Destinitis, The Oldest Boy, Violet, Oedipus El Rey, HONKY, El Henry (with La Jolla Playhouse) Venus in Fur, In the Heights, Federal Jazz Project and In the Next Room or the vibrator play. In 2011 he directed American Night: The Ballad of Juan José for the Denver Center Theatre Company. In 2003, he was awarded the Patté Shiley Award for Lifetime Achievement by KPBS and the prestigious Alonzo Award by the Downtown San Diego Partnership. In, 2006, he and Jacobs were honored with the Craig Noel Award by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle for 30 years of artistic dedication to downtown and diversity.

Virginia (she/her) brings more than 20 years of experience in accounting and financial management to the role of Director of Finance at The REP. As the grant manager for the UCSD Structural Engineering department, Virginia was responsible for the management of multi-million dollar California Department of Transportation grants. After a short break when her children were born, Virginia entered the non-profit world, managing the accounting, payroll and human resources departments for multiple small entities. Most recently, she worked in the health care arena, navigating complex regulatory issues as well as day-to-day business operations and brings a level of professionalism, accountability and exacting standards to our organization. Virginia is thrilled to be involved in an arts organization, as her degree from the University of Pennsylvania was in Art History.

Abigail Buell has spent the last 16 years as a theatrical leader in New York City. Most recently, she was the Head of Marketing at RWS Entertainment Group, the largest provider of live entertainment for the hospitality, leisure and attractions, municipality, theatrical and corporate industries across North America. Prior to that, she led all marketing for numerous Broadway productions including To Kill A Mockingbird starring Jeff Daniels, King Lear starring Glenda Jackson, Hillary and Clinton, Taylor Mac's Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus starring Nathan Lane, West Side Story, The Lehman Trilogy, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, as well as the upcoming production of The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman. Prior to her Broadway tenure, she held leadership positions at The Joyce Theatre and The Schimmel Center for the Arts. Abigail has both produced and marketed hundreds of theatrical productions, concerts, dance performances and more throughout her career. She is a graduate of the Commercial Theatre Institute and holds a dual degree in Pre-Law and Advertising Management from Drake University. Abigail and her fiancé, Michael are delighted to be living in San Diego with their dog, Lucy.

Julianna Stephanie Ojeda (she/ella) is a Latinx Theatre producer/director/actor born and raised in Los Angeles. Graduate of Rio Hondo College and completed her BA in Drama with Honors in Acting at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Her post undergrad career began at SD REP as a Stage Management fellow and has taken her to regional theatres along the west coast most notably as the Associate Producer of Company of Angels, Los Angeles longest running not for profit theatre, and as the assistant director of UniSon by Universes directed by Robert O’Hara at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. While at OSF she participated in ED&I training as a part of their FAIR program under Dawn Monique Williams and performed in the OSF Latinx Play Project. She serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the Latinx Theatre Commons. In her new role as the Artistic Producer at SD REP she looks forward to being an agent of change in regional theatre.