Patty Thayer joins the Little Theatre staff to lead marketing and development efforts. Welcome, Patty!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 19, 2013

Contact: Kevin Harris, Managing Artistic Director

kevinharris@slolittletheatre.org
Ph. (805) 781-3889 x10

PATTY THAYER JOINS SLO LITTLE THEATRE STAFF
TO LEAD MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS

Longtime SLO Symphony Communications Director 

returns to her roots in move to theatre

San Luis Obispo CA – Patty Thayer, who has served as the Communications Director for the San Luis Obispo Symphony, successfully leading the marketing and communications efforts for that organization for the past 15 years, has accepted the newly created position of Development and Communications Director at the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre, effective in March.

“Patty is a particularly good fit for this new position at SLO Little Theatre and we are thrilled to have her join the staff,” said Kevin Harris, Managing Artistic Director for Little Theatre. “Her experience in non-profit arts administration, marketing and fundraising, and her knowledge of the San Luis Obispo community, will be invaluable to the Theatre as we move forward in our plans for a new space and in growing our educational programs.”

Thayer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Speech Communications from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. She began her professional life as an actress with Lamb’s Players Theatre in the San Diego area, gradually taking over scheduling, house management, box office and other administrative roles within that organization. She worked briefly for the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival (now Festival Mozaic) before joining the staff of the San Luis Obispo Symphony in 1997. At that time, the Symphony operated on a budget of just under $400,000 and had only three administrative staff members. Today, the Symphony has a budget of $1.2 million with seven full-time staff members, boasts a music education program that serves over 16,000 children and adults every year, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  Patty is married to David Thayer, owner/producer at Aspect Studios in San Luis Obispo. They have two grown children, Tom and Alex, and live in San Luis Obispo.

“We’re sorry to see Patty go,” said Symphony Executive Director Jim Black. “She has served as the ‘voice’ of the Symphony for as long as I’ve been aware there was a SLO Symphony. Her talent, communication skills and dedication to her job have played a significant role in our success.  But change, though sometimes difficult, is often the catalyst for new ideas and new vision. We wish her, and our friends at the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre, all the best, and we look forward to what’s next for the Symphony.”

According to Thayer, “The Symphony has been so much more than a job to me and I will miss it in many ways, but my roots run deep in theatre and it remains my first love. I am very much looking forward to my new job, helping to bring insightful, compelling and entertaining live theatre and creative education opportunities to San Luis Obispo through the SLO Little Theatre.”

The San Luis Obispo Little Theatre is currently celebrating 66 years as San Luis Obispo’s community theatre. Recognized locally, regionally, and nationally as an exemplary community organization, the Little Theatre engages all members of the community in developing a deeper awareness, appreciation and understanding of our human spirit and potential through compelling and entertaining live theatre performed by local volunteer talent. The Little Theatre is also home to the Academy of Creative Theatre (ACT,) helping young performers to develop life-long theatrical skills and build self-esteem while having fun.

For more information about the Little Theatre, please visit www.slolittletheatre.org or call (805) 781-3889.  To purchase tickets for “Watergate and Other Solid Gold Hits” currently running Fridays – Sundays at the City Playhouse, 888 Morro Street in San Luis Obispo, please call (805) 786-2440 or order tickets online at slolittletheatre.org.

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