Dear SLO REP Supporters,
BIG NEWS for our campaign! See below for our press release regarding groundbreaking, a new major gift and a change in plans for our oak tree.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 21, 2026
SLO REP Announces October Groundbreaking for New Downtown Theatre
Local philanthropist Joan Gellert Sargen pledges transformative $1.5 million gift; SLO REP decides to keep large oak tree on site.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA — San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre (SLO REP) today announced a string of good news about its new downtown theatre that will be built at Monterey and Nipomo streets:
- Philanthropist Joan Gellert Sargen has pledged an additional $1.5 million to SLO REP’s “A New Stage” capital campaign, which now exceeds $23.8 million.
- Groundbreaking is expected in October, with completion in spring 2028.
- JW Design & Construction has been selected as general contractor.
- The SLO REP Board has voted to preserve the large oak tree on site, rather than trying to move it, after receiving new information about the tree’s health and chances of survival.
“Any one of these headlines would be terrific news. Having them all fall into place over the last few weeks is absolutely thrilling,” said Kevin Harris, SLO REP’s managing artistic director.
Sargen’s $1.5 million gift: An inspiring vote of confidence
“Joan Sargen’s exceptionally generous gift is icing on the cake,” Harris added. “It speaks volumes about our donors’ confidence in SLO REP and the power of live theatre to bring a community together.”
Sargen joins SLO REP’s leadership donors, affectionately dubbed the Million Dollar Quartet after SLO REP’s record-setting musical of the same name. With her gift, the Quartet becomes a Quintet. Catherine and Richard Luckett, Bette Kulp, the Murray Family and The Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust have each contributed more than $1 million to the capital campaign.
“Joan’s philanthropy is so expansive that it is nearly impossible to find a local organization whose work has not been touched, strengthened, or transformed by her generosity,” said Patty Thayer, SLO REP’s director of development. “Over the years, Joan has generously supported SLO REP as a show sponsor and supported our education program, the Academy of Creative Theatre. Last year she made a significant contribution to the capital campaign, and she has now followed that gift with an additional $1.5 million pledge. To say we are grateful does not do justice to her extraordinary generosity.”
Construction expected to begin in October
A rigorous five-month review of construction documents by Arris Studio Architects paid off when project bids came in on budget in August, Harris said. SLO REP has selected renowned local firm JW Design & Construction as general contractor. Final reviews by the City of San Luis Obispo are near completion, with construction slated to begin in the next few weeks.
SLO REP’s new venue will feature two distinct performance spaces: a 215-seat mainstage theatre for fully staged musicals, comedies, and dramas, and a flexible 100-seat black box theatre designed for staged readings, intimate plays, experimental works, comedy nights, and cabaret-style music.
While SLO REP currently attracts nearly 20,000 patrons annually to its home at Morro and Palm streets, Harris projects attendance to reach 50,000 a year in the new facility.
“Our vision is to become a nationally recognized regional theatre, positioning SLO REP as a vital cultural and economic driver for the Central Coast,” Harris said.
Large oak tree to stay in place
SLO REP’s Board of Directors voted last week to keep the large oak tree on site, rather than try to move it. This decision came after receiving updated information on the tree’s health from arborists who are working with SLO REP and the City to try and save the tree.
Keeping the tree in place restores the original plan of featuring it in the new theatre’s outdoor plaza. Earlier this year, that plan was put on hold after reports suggested the tree wouldn’t survive construction and would need to be removed. Efforts began this summer to save the tree and possibly move it to Mission Plaza.
The tree survived initial root pruning in August, which also revealed that the tree’s essential root system is smaller than previously thought and will not be impacted by the new theatre. The tree also survived canopy pruning in September.
“Bringing this new theatre to the community is an incredible legacy and we value SLO REP’s partnership and vision,” said Bob Hill, sustainability and natural resources official for the City of San Luis Obispo. “This summer, we came together with SLO REP and a team of expert volunteers to try and save the large oak tree there, which was slated for removal. The work we’ve done so far has revealed new information about the root system, our efforts have given the tree its best chance of survival, and the tree has responded well. We are delighted that it appears the circumstances and conditions are right for keeping the tree where it stands today.”
Pam Nichter, president of the SLO REP Board of Directors, said: “Our original design always imagined this tree as part of the plaza. Now the experts tell us the tree has a real chance of surviving construction, so there was only one decision to make. Although leaving the tree in place adds an estimated $250,000 to our construction costs, we know our donors and community partners will be right there with us to help us make the budget work.”
Guiding the updated strategy are tree biologist Matt Ritter, a Cal Poly professor and director of the university’s plant conservatory, and Derek Williams, president and CEO of JW Design & Construction. Together they have developed a credible construction plan to protect the tree.
“Good science means changing your mind when the facts change, and both the City and SLO REP deserve real credit for doing exactly that,” Dr. Ritter said. “No preservation effort comes with guarantees, but I like this tree’s odds. Here’s hoping it outlasts SLO REP’s 99-year lease.”
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ABOUT SAN LUIS OBISPO REPERTORY THEATRE
Established in 1947 as SLO Little Theatre, San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre (SLO REP) is one of the country’s oldest regional theatres and San Luis Obispo County’s only nonprofit professional theatre company. In addition to producing year-round professional theatre, SLO REP operates the Academy of Creative Theatre, providing education and performance opportunities for young people ages 3–18. SLO REP is dedicated to connecting people through powerful storytelling that opens the mind, nourishes the soul, and illuminates our shared humanity. For more information, visit www.slorep.org.
