Contact: Kevin
Harris, Managing Artistic Director

[email protected]
Ph. (805) 781-3889 x10

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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