Our 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!
11/11/21: Alumna Yvonne Johnson ’92 leads plans to build Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center
_JPG.jpg)
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 (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) recently completed an MFA in Theatre Directing at 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 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 & Production Manager for the acclaimed Spokane Valley Summer Theatre (SVST). SVST Directing credits include Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville and the annual SVST Rising Stars. Collin also has extensive stage management experience, with SVST credits including Sister Act, The Bridges of Madison County, 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!
_JPG.jpg)
Susanna Baylon (Media Coordinator) is an Emmy Award winning broadcast journalist with nearly twenty years of experience anchoring, reporting and producing in television markets including Spokane, the Tampa Bay area of Florida, Missouri and Illinois. She stepped away from broadcasting in 2005 to focus her time on raising her daughter. Susanna has also worked as an adjunct professor at Whitworth University, event planned for Bozzi Media, and hosted a weekly local radio commentary “The Anchor”. She now does media consulting for several businesses. Susanna obtained her B.A. in Speech Communications from Kent State University, and holds an M.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University. She's called Spokane home since 2000 and enjoys being involved in the community emceeing and supporting various charitable events. Susanna is a 2001 graduate of Leadership Spokane. She and her husband Dean have been involved with Spokane Valley Summer Theatre since its inaugural season in 2016, thanks to their daughter Noelle Fries, who is no stranger to local theater audiences. Susanna has participated in performing arts since she was a child and is thrilled about her role with the Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center as she helps to shine the spotlight on how the ICSVPAC is going to impact our region for generations to come!
_JPG.jpg)
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. 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.