Staff

Camryn is thrilled to be entering her third season as an Artistic Associate at Sierra Rep. Previous SRT credits include: Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), Sunday in the Park with George (Dot/Marie), Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Cindy Lou), Cinderella (Ella). Camryn has had the pleasure to perform at other regional houses including Casa Mañana and Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. Camryn received her BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Arizona. She would like to thank her friends, family, and SRT for their endless love and support. Enjoy the show!

Kaitlyn has always been interested in art, painting and overall creating. Her parents even recall me making colorful messes using whatever she could get my hands on. She was first drawn to scenic artistry and theater painting after seeing The Wizard of Oz and seeing the different set elements that were constructed, painted and used throughout the production. Seeing the wooden house, the trees and some of the hand painted props used inspired her to investigate how she could get a job doing exactly that. When it comes to creating large scale projects, she is especially proud of the volunteer work that I have been able to do for a local elementary school’s library Book Fair.

Washington native Ariel has lived in Tuolumne County since 2009. Before joining Sierra Repertory Theatre, she spent twelve years working remotely as a creative director and senior graphic designer for a Santa Barbara based PR and marketing firm.

She first connected with Sierra Rep through her daughter’s involvement in SRT Jr. and quickly fell in love with the organization. Ariel is now part of the Sierra Rep team as Development Manager and is excited to help grow support for the theatre.

She looks forward to connecting with donors and inspiring support for Sierra Rep’s programming both on the mainstage and in schools.

Kevin Heath is SRT’s Development Manager and a Resident Acting Company Member. Previous SRT credits include Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (Santa), Into the Woods (Steward), Misery (Buster), Clue (Mr. Green), Elf The Musical (Santa/Greenway), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Grimsby), and Agatha Christie’s Murder on The Orient Express (Michel). His acting career started in New York and Boston before moving to California where he co-founded Limelight Actors Theater. Bay Area production credits include The Velocity of Autumn (Chris), The Outgoing Tide (Jack), and The 39 Steps (Hannay). Kevin is beyond grateful for his rock, Alan.

Janetta is very pleased to be working once again in a loving and professional theatre! She received her MFA from New York University. Coming from a broad base she has managed several costume shops, worked as an assistant for Broadway and numerous regional theaters. Additionally, she was a member of Elsen Associates, the wig and makeup company. Some of her favorite work venue’s include Washington Opera, Sesame Street Live, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Alice Tully Hall, The Denver Center, Philadelphia Street Theater, Jacobs’ Pillow and Central City Opera.  Favorite shows which she has been able to design are: The Comedy of Errors, The Threepenny Opera, Tartuffe, Electra, The Turn of the Screw, Blood Wedding, Noises Off and Ragtime.

Maggie Braun (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back at her theatre home! SRT: Steel Magnolias, Murder on the Orient Express, Route 66, The Wizard of Oz, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, and Million Dollar Quartet. With her associate degree in Theater from Modesto Junior College, she is proud to have her dream job here in Sonora. She would like to thank her family, best friends, and Connor for supporting her in her journey of chasing her dreams. “Look ma, I made it!”

Juli Turell is over the moon to be performing in her first show with SRT! Originally from Florida but now based here in Sonora, she is honored to be joining the SRT family. Juli is a Saint Leo University graduate with a double bachelor’s in Psychology and Theatre, with a specialization in Music. Some of her favorite credits include Shrek The Musical (Dance Captain, Ensemble), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), The Sound of Music (Liesl), and Guys and Dolls (Ensemble). Juli is a multi-hyphenate theatrical artist who loves the work she does, whether it’s onstage or offstage. She is truly in love with the visual and performing arts. Even in her free time, she loves to work on other artistic endeavors, such as crochet, painting, writing, video editing, and much more! Juli would like to thank everyone at SRT for being such a welcoming and kind team, and for accepting her wholeheartedly into the fold! She would also like to thank her partner, Elizabeth, for her unwavering love and support. Love you, Otter!

Brenda O’Brien began her theater career in San Diego, where she was seen as Judas in Godspell, Louise in Gypsy, Nicki in Sweet Charity, and Viola in Twelfth Night (to name a few). She received awards for her roles as Ouisa in Six Degrees of Separation, Joan in Dames at Sea, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, and Electra in Gypsy. Brenda then went on to perform as Svetlana in the 1st National tour of Chess. Soon after she began portraying Carmen San Diego on the PBS television show and video games. In addition to acting, Brenda is an accomplished make-up artist and hairdresser for TV, Film, and Theater. She received her 25 years on Broadway pin in 2019 for her work on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Les Misérables, Jekyll & Hyde, and Disney’s The Lion King. SRT Audiences might remember her as Tanya in Mamma Mia (2018), or as Tootie in Meet Me in St. Louis (2021). So glad to be back!

Jason Wells is absolutely delighted to be making his SRT debut with Million Dollar Quartet Christmas! Some of his recent credits include: Adam (Freaky Friday), Hans (Cabaret), and Drums (Little Shop of Horrors). He’s a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory Theatre Professional Actor Training Program and when he’s not onstage, he’s likely behind the scenes making costumes, building props, or putting sets together. He’d like to thank all his friends and family, specifically his father, for inspiring him to become “The King” he is today.

With 15 years experience and passion for the theatre, Jesse has learned a thing or two about creating stage magic. He recently traded in the city lights for the mountain air of Jamestown. Born and raised in Fremont, Ihe is very proud to be a part of the SRT family.

Camryn is thrilled to be entering her third season as an Artistic Associate at Sierra Rep. Previous SRT credits include: Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), Sunday in the Park with George (Dot/Marie), Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Cindy Lou), Cinderella (Ella). Camryn has had the pleasure to perform at other regional houses including Casa Mañana and Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. Camryn received her BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Arizona. She would like to thank her friends, family, and SRT for their endless love and support. Enjoy the show!

Jerry Lee is Sierra Rep’s Artistic Director. He’s appeared in the SRT productions of Misery, Sunday in the Park with George, Elf The Musical, Shrek The Musical, Camelot, Cabaret, Route 66, Intimate Apparel, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Man of La Mancha, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s State Fair, and The Drowsy Chaperone. As an actor: I Love You…Change, Forbidden Broadway (California Musical Theatre); Life Could Be a Dream, A Christmas Carol (CenterREP); A Little Princess, The Fantasticks (Sacramento Theatre Company); West Side Story (Mountain Play); Orlando, An Iliad, A Tale of Two Cities (SacImpulse Theatre). As a soloist: Rodgers and Hammerstein Celebration (Sacramento Choral Society); Billy Bigelow in Carousel in Concert (Sacramento Philharmonic). As a director: HAIR, Little Shop of Horrors, Mean Girls JR., Sh-Boom! A Christmas Miracle (World Premiere), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Twelfth Night, Jersey Boys, Clue, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS, Elvis The Musical (West Coast Premiere), Dogfight, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Steel Magnolias, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka KIDS, I Love You…Change, The Wizard of Oz, Holiday Jukebox, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, The Robber Bridegroom (SRT); I Love You…Change (STC). Lee began his association with Sierra Rep in 2010 when he stepped in as a replacement in Guys and Dolls.

In 2019, Lee created SRT in Schools, a touring program that brings live professional theatre to Tuolumne County schools at no cost to the schools, students, or their families. In 2023, the program branched out to include Stanislaus and Calaveras counties.

Brenda O’Brien began her theater career in San Diego, where she was seen as Judas in Godspell, Louise in Gypsy, Nicki in Sweet Charity, and Viola in Twelfth Night (to name a few). She received awards for her roles as Ouisa in Six Degrees of Separation, Joan in Dames at Sea, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, and Electra in Gypsy. Brenda then went on to perform as Svetlana in the 1st National tour of Chess. Soon after she began portraying Carmen San Diego on the PBS television show and video games. In addition to acting, Brenda is an accomplished make-up artist and hairdresser for TV, Film, and Theater. She received her 25 years on Broadway pin in 2019 for her work on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Les Misérables, Jekyll & Hyde, and Disney’s The Lion King. SRT Audiences might remember her as Tanya in Mamma Mia (2018), or as Tootie in Meet Me in St. Louis (2021). So glad to be back!

Ty Smith has appeared in 88 roles at Sierra Rep including Rumson in Paint Your Wagon, Governor/C.J. Scruggs in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol and Lear in King Lear. A graduate of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s Professional Actor Training Program, Ty is a veteran of Off-Broadway, regional theaters and Shakespeare festivals across the country. He spent several summers with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival where his roles included Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Antonio in The Merchant of Venice and Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.

As a proud theatrical multi-hyphenate, SRT has continually inspired and challenged Courtney as an artist since her debut here in 2007. More recent SRT credits include The Witch in 2024’s Into the Woods and serving as director for Constellations last season. She was also seen in 2023 just across the county line as Cathy in The Last Five Years at Murphys Creek Theatre. Career highlights beyond the California Foothills include the original Broadway company of The Woman in White, the Australian tour of Sweeney Todd, and the Austral-Asian premiere of Ragtime with The Production Company in Melbourne, Victoria.

Kevin Heath is SRT’s Development Manager and a Resident Acting Company Member. Previous SRT credits include Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (Santa), Into the Woods (Steward), Misery (Buster), Clue (Mr. Green), Elf The Musical (Santa/Greenway), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Grimsby), and Agatha Christie’s Murder on The Orient Express (Michel). His acting career started in New York and Boston before moving to California where he co-founded Limelight Actors Theater. Bay Area production credits include The Velocity of Autumn (Chris), The Outgoing Tide (Jack), and The 39 Steps (Hannay). Kevin is beyond grateful for his rock, Alan.

Lee started his career in the mid-West where he performed as Sweeney Todd and Professor Harold Hill (among many others.)  He came to California with the First National Company of The Phantom of the Opera (LeFevre). Bay Area performances include John Muir’s Mountain Days (Shellie Award – Best Actor in a Musical), Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, Pickering in My Fair Lady, and Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music with Theatre Works, Diablo Theatre Co., AMT, Pocket Opera and 42nd Street Moon. At SRT Lee was last seen as The Wizard of Oz. Before that he performed in SRT’s Into the Woods and The Drowsy Chaperone as well as Man of La Mancha (2000). Lee met his talented wife here at SRT and is delighted to be on stage with her again.

Jason Wells is absolutely delighted to be making his SRT debut with Million Dollar Quartet Christmas! Some of his recent credits include: Adam (Freaky Friday), Hans (Cabaret), and Drums (Little Shop of Horrors). He’s a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory Theatre Professional Actor Training Program and when he’s not onstage, he’s likely behind the scenes making costumes, building props, or putting sets together. He’d like to thank all his friends and family, specifically his father, for inspiring him to become “The King” he is today.

Laurie Strawn is delighted to be a Resident Company member at SRT. Recent SRT roles: Glinda/Aunt Em in The Wizard of Oz, Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods, Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone. Other SRT favorites include: Old Woman/Blair in Sunday in the Park with George, Annie Wilkes in Misery, and Clairee in Steel Magnolias. With love and thanks to all at SRT, and to her Lee and Julia, Laurie says, “Thank you for supporting live theater. Welcome!”

Kaitlyn has always been interested in art, painting and overall creating. Her parents even recall me making colorful messes using whatever she could get my hands on. She was first drawn to scenic artistry and theater painting after seeing The Wizard of Oz and seeing the different set elements that were constructed, painted and used throughout the production. Seeing the wooden house, the trees and some of the hand painted props used inspired her to investigate how she could get a job doing exactly that. When it comes to creating large scale projects, she is especially proud of the volunteer work that I have been able to do for a local elementary school’s library Book Fair.