TPP Team

Oliver Mayes

Executive Artistic Director

The Position:
The Position: In his position, Oliver is responsible for providing overall management of all functional areas of the organization in accordance with TPP’s Mission and Values. He supervises all of the staff and volunteers, and oversees all operational areas including production (artistic/education & design/technical), finance/administration, marketing/outreach, and fundraising/development. In his role, he collaborates deeply with the board of directors on a monthly basis to ensure the continued success of our organization.

The Person:
Oliver joined the Sioux Falls and TPP community in Season 19 when he served as guest director for the season finale Cabaret. He then assumed the role of Managing Artistic Director at the beginning of Season 20. He is a performing arts professional whose work has been seen in several states throughout the U.S. such as Arkansas, California, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, and Virginia. With a background in acting, directing, producing, movement choreography, writing, and teaching, his credits span various mediums including plays, musical theatre, new play development, cabaret, dinner theatre, new media, and print/video for theatrical marketing. A committed arts education advocate, he spent 5+ years working in non-profit performing arts education recruitment, enrollment, advising and retention. Oliver holds several honors in directing, including the Kennedy Center’s 2020 Stage Directors & Choreographers Society Fellowship. He is a scholarship alumnus of the Kennedy Center Directing Intensive and an associate member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the national union for professional stage directors and choreographers. Oliver holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from University of South Dakota and a BFA in Music Theatre from AMDA College of the Performing Arts. He lives in Sioux Falls with his dog, Sully, also known as TPP’s Manager of Morale. No, Oliver has never done a production of Oliver! but he definitely isn’t opposed to it.

Amber Sumner

Finance & Membership Manager

The Position:
In her position, Amber is responsible for all items relating to administrative oversight, financial bookkeeping, office management, mass digital communications, advertising sales, donor database management, and executive assistance.

The Person:
Amber has a B.S. in Interior Design making her a true problem solver with a creative eye. With more than 5 years of business ownership in retail sales, and bookkeeping services she effortlessly handles the office, administrative and executive assistant tasks that pop up in her everyday work. She also loves meeting new people and sharing our nonprofit vision by heading the Production Collectibles table at each show.

Abby Kustak

Artist Services Coordinator

The Position:
In her position, Abby is responsible for supporting the coordination and execution of our mainstage productions, with a focus on leading stage properties and scenic painting efforts, as well as maintaining our educational programs, including our all abilities program, camps, classes, festivals, and events. In her role, she focuses on the student and volunteer experience, increasing TPP’s recruitment and retention efforts for all of our programming.

The Person:
Abby is a dedicated professional with over a decade of experience working with individuals of all ages and abilities. With a background in education, Abby has made a significant impact in the lives of countless children and adults through their expertise and passion for inclusive learning. Abby enjoys sharing her love of theatre with her husband (Casey) and two kids (Beckett and Penny).

Samanda Nunnery

Development + Marketing Coordinator, Executive Assistant

Emma Madeja

Education + Engagement Coordinator, Artistic Associate

Dominic Doty

Facilities & Scene Shop Foreman

Jill Clark

Scenic & Technical Supervisor

The Position: In her position, Jill is responsible for the design, execution and supervision of all scenic and technical elements for all of our programming. She manages the scene shop operations as it relates to organization, maintenance, builds, rentals, guest artists, volunteers, and students. In her role, she works with our lighting and sound designers and engineers to successfully execute their visions within the confines of our organization’s available resources while working directly with our internal scenery staff, and skilled volunteers, to build and maintain the scenery for our productions.

Chris Berke

Web & Playbill Developer

The Position:
In his position, Chris is responsible for the development and implementation of TPP’s website design and online presence, which encompasses branding and merchandise execution, graphic design, digital marketing implementation, program creation, maintaining and organizing office systems and photography/video production.

The Person:
Chris is a web developer, graphic designer, and author in Sioux Falls, SD. When he isn’t working he likes to read, write, play soccer, travel with his wife, Abby, and hang out with his two cats, Henry & Winston.