About APACC

Atascadero Performing Arts
Center Committee APACC

The Vision of APACC to have a performing arts center in Atascadero
began 91 years ago when E.G. Lewis, the founder of Atascadero,
dreamed of having an Opera House in the heart of town. It was his hope
that the Opera House would bring together the citizens of Atascadero to
enjoy the culture and beauty found in music and art. The ARTS, both
performing and visual, have been part of the fabric of our community from
its inception. Today the Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee
shares that dream founded in history.

Atascadero is home to incredible actors, musicians, dancers and visual
artists and it is home to citizens who love to enjoy their talent. We will
attend performances almost anywhere. Currently, performances are held
in churches, barns, homes, parks, restaurants and the National Guard
Armory. In 2003 Atascadero High School presented Fiddler on the Roof
to over 350 people in each of 10 performances at the Armory.    The
following year they performed 42nd Street at the Junior High due to the
earthquake displacing them from the Armory. Additionally, the other
north county facilities used for productions by and for all age groups are
no longer available due to the earthquake. Our community band seldom
performs in the winter due to facility constraints, yet one only has to visit
the Atascadero Lake Park on Tuesday night in the summer to witness the
joy music brings to our citizens.

The arts are for everyone. They inspire, lift up, encourage and motivate
us to be more than we thought we could be. They open our hearts and
souls to express and experience our deepest feelings.

APACC believes that Atascadero needs and will support a performing arts
center. Other communities have made this dream come true. We believe
that a performing arts center will be the perfect compliment to a revitalized
downtown. We already have two “jewels”, the Carlton and The
Administration Building, and there are plans for Colony Square and new
movie theaters. Soon there will be bridges connecting the Colony Square
with the Sunken Gardens, which will encourage strolling the entire
downtown area. A performing arts center can be one more jewel to draw
people to our downtown and encourage them to spend the day,
shopping, eating and enjoying wonderful performances in our beautiful
community.

We envision a theater for all the Arts. We envision Atascadero as “The
Colony of the Arts”

                 Our Mission

APACC is a core group of diverse, dedicated citizens who support and
believe in the importance of the performing arts.

Our mission is to provide a permanent, joint-use facility where the youth
and adults of community may develop, express or experience live
performances.

Our campaign to fund this facility is by harnessing the creative and
traditional generosity of the community and other sources. Through our
vision and commitment, we will plan, build and sustain a center for the
performing arts in Atascadero.

                Our Beliefs

Performing arts express our humanity.

A performing arts facility deserves a place of prominence and
permanence in our community.

A financially sound performing arts facility guarantees its own legacy.

The community’s commitment to a performing arts facility in Atascadero
reflects its soul and character.

             Our Board of Directors
                            (Minutes available upon request)

JoeAnn Bruzzo (Treasurer/Board of Directors)
Joe Ann Bruzzo has worked in the field of education in California for 38
years as a teacher and administrator. During this time she has written
and managed federal and community grants.   JoeAnn came to
Atascadero in 2002 and is currently a member of Quota Club
International and AAUW. She is a supporter of the arts through her work
on the APACC Board of Directors.

Barbie Butz (Chairperson/Board of Directors)
Barbie Butz brings to APACC a rich experience as a leader who has
served as president and board member of numerous businesses,
community, charitable and youth organizations. She is the recipient of
several community and public service awards for her work with
disadvantaged women and youth. In 2002, she was Woman of the Year
from the 33rd Assembly District and was awarded the 1999 Cuesta
College Women of Distinction Community and Public Service Award. She
is also the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Rotary Award and was
the 1993 Kiwanian of the Year. Barbie is a graduate of U.C. Santa
Barbara and has been married for 45 years to John Butz of Butz
Construction.

Marlene Cordero (Vice-Chairperson/Board of Directors)
Dr. Marlene Cordero is a Psychiatrist and serves on many professional
boards and organizations. She is President of the Philippine Medical
Society of Northern California, which provides free surgical, medical, and
dental cards to nearly 10,000 patients annually in the Philippines. She
has served as AHS Choir Boosters President from 2001-2004 and is
currently the Chairperson of the Atascadero Performing Arts Center
Committee

Kathy Hannemann (Secretary/Board of Directors)
Kathy Hannemann is the Assistant Superintendent of Atascadero Schools
and is a supporter of Arts in Education. She founded a booster
association for drama parents to support high school productions and
continues to find new ways to bring arts to students through the
Atascadero Fine Arts Academy, Atascadero Junior High School and
Atascadero High School arts programs. Her work on a community project
will expand her interest in this area.

Brent Keast (Member/Board of Directors)
Brent Keast is an actor, singer, dancer, producer, director and editor. His
credits range from motion picture, radio, television series, commercials
and soaps, to his own cabaret shows and live theatre productions
including the Tony® award winning Broadway production of James
Joyce's The Dead. He has produced and directed hundreds of
commercials and directed plays and television programs. He has taught
theatre arts and television/film/media production at 8 Southern California
colleges and universities. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree
from the world-famous Cinema Department at the University of Southern
California.

Carolyn Mason (Member/Board of Directors)
Carolyn Mason is a 24 year resident of San Luis Obispo County and
resides in Atascadero. She and her husband, David, are Cal Poly grads.
Mason received a degree in Journalism from Cal Poly, and has worked in
various jobs around the county. Most recently, she provided Publicity and
Marketing for three years for Pacific Repertory Opera in SLO (now
renamed Opera San Luis Obispo). She provided Publicity, Marketing and
media relations for the California Mid-State Fair for nine years, ran the
non-farmer side of San Luis Obispo’s Farmers’ Market for a year, and
worked in local radio briefly during college. She was the President of
Atascadero High School’s Drama Boosters group for a year and a half
while her oldest daughter was busy with all things Drama and Choir. She
and her husband have two teenage daughters; one attending Cal Poly
majoring in Political Science, and the other at Atascadero High School.
Her house and pastures are filled with 4 cats, one very large dog, 2
horses, and 2 goats.

E.J. Rossi (Member/Board of Directors)
E.J. Rossi is the Principal of Atascadero High School and is a supporter
of Visual and Performing Arts at all levels. He earned his AA
through Cuesta College, a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from CSU
Fresno, and a Masters in Educational Administration From Cal Poly SLO.
He is a Board Member on the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and is
active in Kiwanis. He and his wife Tracy are involved in the arts through
dance and previously owned The Dance Center of Atascadero.

Dyann Shepard (Member/Board of Directors)
Dyann Shepard is a CPA and has lived on the Central Coast since 1987.
She has served on the Boards of Friends of the Lake Pavilion, ARCC,
Colony Days and Newcomers. She was an active member in both the
AHS Choir and Drama Boosters. Dyann is currently on the Board of
APACC as well as Quota International of Atascadero. She brings to the
Board a love of the arts and a desire to see a permanent facility where
students as well as adults can perform, teach and bring the joy of the arts
to the North County.

Tom Zirk (Member/Board of Directors)
Tom and his wife Linda chose Atascadero for their retirement home in
2001. Tom retired from the International Relocation industry having
provided services for IBM, Chevron, Peace Corps, Bank of America and
many multi-national organizations. He has worked in community service
as a leader in the Rotary, Elks, Jaycees and currently is Chairperson of
the Atascadero Park and Recreations Commission. Tom is a member of
the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival and the Gold Coast
Chorus (Barbershop Harmony) and recently joined the APACC Board.
Tom and Linda enjoy international travelling and coming home to
Atascadero.

                                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Loretta Butts (Advisory Board Member)
Loretta Butts is a Registered Principal and financial advisor. Since
moving to the Central Coast in 1989, she has served as the Chair of the
San Luis Obispo County Commission on the Status of Women, on the
Board of Directors of Life Span Services and Chair of the program
advisory committee for the EOC Adult Day Care program in Templeton.
Loretta joined the Rotary Club of Atascadero in 1994 and since then has
served on several of the club’s boards. In 2001 she was instrumental in
the charter of the Rotary Club of Templeton and served as its Charter
President. After serving a term on the board of the North County Women’
s Shelter, she was one of the founding members of the Friends of the
North County Women’s Shelter Committee. Through her work with
Rotary International, Loretta has traveled to Nigeria to assist in the
international organization’s goal of eradicating polio while identifying the
need for other Rotary sponsored programs and services during her visit.

Katrin Colamarino (Honorary Board Member)
Katrin Colamarino, a retired corporate lawyer from New York City, moved
to the Central Coast in 2005. She served for four years on the Board of
Directors of the Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College, and headed a
key subcommittee on nonprofits for the JP Morgan Chase Bank Women’s
Network. Active in community as board member of the Cuesta Master
Chorale and President of the Templeton Rotary Club, Katrin also
operates her own consulting business providing counsel in the areas of
strategic planning, event planning and development to several local non-
profits. Her experience of leadership in the non-profit area and her legal
skills are useful to the APACC Board.

Stu Stoddard (Advisory Board Member)
Stu Stoddard is Director of Facilities and Construction at Atascadero
Schools with a strong avocation in music and drama through his past
involvement in Pioneer Players, North County Baroque Ensemble and the
Camarada Singers. He brings to the Board of Directors an invaluable
understanding of building and construction as well as practical experience
in working with contractors and trade workers.

Richard Summers (Honorary Board Member)
Richard Summers is a renowned performer, businessman, and arts
activist. Richard began his international musical career in 1953
appearing on CBS television, and in recent years has presented
numerous concerts benefiting a wide variety of non-profit organizations in
the north county. Richard recognizes the value of the arts in the lives of
our children and in 2001 he established The Richard Summers
Foundation for the Arts, a non-profit organization founded to raise money
to support the performing arts in the Atascadero community.

Mike Zappas (Honorary Board Member)
Michael Zappas has a bachelor’s degree in biology from UCSC. After
completing his education, Mike spent three years traveling, working his
way around the world.   He currently oversees six businesses and has
started five businesses from the ground up. He and his wife are the
proud parents of four children who have been active in band and choral
music. Mike has completed numerous marathons and triathlons,
including the Hawaiian Ironman. He brings experience in construction
and contracting to the APACC Board.

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Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee
PO Box 690 Atascadero, CA 93423
805.423.0329
admin@atascaderopac.org