Staff & Board

Erin (she/her), Founder and President, and Gary (he/him), Founder and CFO, have owned and operated a successful Tupperware business for over 41 years and love what they do. After realizing in 2006 that San Diego could benefit from a local, year round, non-profit musical theatre organization, they decided that the time was right to add an exciting new adventure to their life — and San Diego Musical Theatre was born.

San Diego Musical Theatre, is a local, non-profit, professional musical theatre organization, in its fourteenth year of presenting Broadway style musical theatre. SDMT is the only year-round musical theatre organization in San Diego and takes pride in being one of the only theatres in San Diego, to offer live orchestras during each production.  SDMT provides a home for over 400 artists annually such as actors, directors, designers, musicians, and crew! The Horton Grand Theatre in San Diego’s downtown, Gaslamp District is SDMT’s home.

We are proud of our organization and the quality of musical theatre that we provide San Diego audiences. Starting with our first show, the Full Monty in 2007, San Diego Musical Theatre has produced over 50 musical theatre productions – many Regional Premieres and two World Premieres. The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has recognized SDMT’s productions with many awards and award nominations for outstanding musical theatre productions, directors, choreographers, musical director and performers.

Musical theatre is the only truly American art form, other than Jazz. SDMT is driven by a passion for musical theatre, a passion to celebrate this art form with others and a passion to pass the American tradition on to the next generation. We strive to do just that through our SDMT Academy where we offer classes, in a safe and supportive environment, for youth and adults.

SDMT’s You Give. We Give. campaign is our way to give back to our community. SDMT chooses another local nonprofit organization, for each of our productions, and donates to that organization to support the work they do in our community. We are proud that since this campaign started, we have donated over $20,000 to other local non-profits to help with their missions.

SDMT continues to expand their presence in the local theatre community and offer San Diego audiences live entertainment of the highest caliber. San Diego Musical Theatre is your local way to see Broadway.

Jill (she/her) started performing at the age of eleven and after 20 plus years as a professional actor onstage, she loves her role behind the scenes as Artistic and Casting Director at SDMT for the past 13 years. Her experiences of being a swing, assistant director, assistant choreographer and dance captain, while working with some of the top directors and choreographers in the business, helped shape and guide her to becoming an Artistic and Casting Director today! Some of her favorite credits include: Judy Haynes in White Christmas (SDMT), Auntie Who in How The Grinch Stole Christmasand the world premiere of Allegiance (Old Globe), Winnie Tate in Annie Get Your Gun and Patty Simcox in Grease(Sacramento Music Circus), Miss Dorothy in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Eileen in the west coast premiere of I Love A Piano (Musical Theatre West), Laurey in Oklahoma (Welk Resort), Columbia in The Rocky Horror Picture Show(Universal Studios LA) and touring the country in National Tours of A Chorus Line and Camelot. But her greatest role to date is as mother to Chase… SDMT’s Director of Morale!

Ron Christopher Jones (he/him) is pleased to return to SDMT as Production Manager; a role he previously held from 2019 to 2021. Ron has been a professional member of Actors Equity Association for over 25 years. He was born and raised in San Diego and developed his skills in Musical Theatre here. Audiences may remember him as “Horse” in the 2018 SDMT Production of The Full Monty. Later that year, Ron came in and took over as Director of Miracle on 34^th Street, a week into rehearsal. Ron has several San Diego Film awards, including 2018 Best Actor, and Best Fight Choreographer. Over the many years in theatre, Ron has helped in many aspects of production including set builds and strikes, as well as hanging and designing lights. It is this well-rounded experience, that helps him understand the technical, and performance aspects of theatre. Ron looks forward to overseeing all aspects of production, and creating lasting musical memories, for the San Diego community. The last couple of years have been difficult for live theatre, and Ron looks forward to continuing to elevate Musical Theatre, the original American artform, here at San Diego Musical Theatre.

Eli (he/him) started performing at the young age of seven and immediately fell in love with theatre! He grew up performing in a plethora of community and school productions in and around his hometown in Pennsylvania until he graduated from high school. Upon graduation, Eli attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where he received a B.S. in English Literature and, after finishing his degree, commissioned as a Surface Warfare and Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Navy. Eli was stationed all over the world from D.C. to Japan, before ultimately returning to San Diego. After separating from the Navy, Eli made the transition back into the theatre world when he began working for SDMT’s Academy in January of 2022. He has filled several positions with SDMT, but most recently shifted into the role of Marketing and PR Director in February of 2023.

While working at SDMT, Eli is actively pursuing a career in performing with some of his favorite professional credits: The Rocky Horror Show (Cygnet Theatre), Legally Blonde, Fiddler on the Roof, The Addams Family, Anything Goes, Plaid Tidings 2022 & 2023 (SDMT), Jesus Christ Superstar, and Tarzan (Moonlight Amphitheatre).

Rebecca Kemp’s (she/her) first memory of musical theater is watching 42nd Street at 5 years old, mesmerized by the dancers all tapping together in sequins on huge dimes. It was love at first sight! Rebecca is a North County native, having graduated from Fallbrook High School and performed in theaters throughout Southern California. Then, she sailed the seas with Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises as a production singer. Her last performance was with SDMT, in La Cage Aux Folles in 2015. Shortly after, she went back to school and graduated from Florida State University with a Master of Science in Communications. While in Florida she had the opportunity to work for an arts nonprofit called the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA). Through the CAA, Rebecca helped the arts thrive by being an integral part of public sculpture installations, promoting arts education and helping produce the 30A Songwriters Festival. Rebecca is excited to be back in San Diego and working with SDMT because advocating for the arts is her passion.

Xavier (they/he) is thrilled to be joining SDMT as the Academy Director. He is a professional performer, director, and choreographer who is originally from Detroit, MI. Starting theatre at the age of five, he quickly found his passion and hasn’t looked back. He began taking on leadership positions as soon as he got to high school, where he served as dance captain and choir president- two positions that made him fall in love with the educational side of theatre at a very young age. After high school he pursued musical theatre professionally and studied in New York City. At just 20 years old he directed and choreographed his first high school production which had a cast of over 150 students. Seeing the growth that students get from educational theatre is something that makes Xavier honored to be an arts educator. Not only do students learn about performing and theatre, but there are also so many life skills that are taught when talking about theatre.

Van Angelo (they/he) is an Actor, Music Director, Educator, and Southern California native. Van is a proud Westminster Choir College graduate, a teaching artist for New Village Arts and Moonlight Youth Theatre, and is a current MFA in Musical Theatre Candidate at San Diego State University. Holding a Bachelors in Music Education Van has worked at the elementary, middle, and high school levels teaching courses in singing, acting, dance, piano, music theory, and audition techniques. Van continues to music direct and can be seen performing on stages around Southern California. Music Directing Credits: Anything Goes (SDMT), Leonard Bernstein’s New York (NVA), Moana Jr. (MYT), Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical, and The Little Mermaid (VVUSD). Favorite Regional Credits: Something Rotten, Memphis (Moonlight), Catch Me If You Can (SDMT), Seussical (Candlelight Pavilion), West Side Story, Tarzan, Hairspray (Performance Riverside), The View UpStairs (Desert Rose Playhouse). Van has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Zelda Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Van is also featured on the recording of Bernstein’s MASS with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Van is a two-time Inland Theatre League Award winner, and a Desert Theatre League Award winner. In their spare time Van likes Legos, Power Rangers, Bowling, Anime, and Video Games. Their favorite day of the week is Saturday, they’re a Virgo (just like Beyonce), and their favorite color is Green.

ROGELIO ROSALES (he/him) is thrilled to be working with San Diego Musical Theatre, and is proud to be in his 27th year of building shows locally. He would like to express his gratitude to his family for their support and encouragement, especially his mother, Sara. Also, a special thanks to Gary and Erin Lewis for all the exciting opportunities they provide for everyone involved with SDMT. A special message of gratitude to his scenic team, Linda, Cecilia and especially Chiara, the best painter in town.