Cabrillo Music Theatre Announces Staff & Board Additions for 2016/17
By: Rebecca Russo Jul. 25, 2016
After a relaunch of the company, Cabrillo Music Theatre's Board of Directors proudly announces new staff and board leadership, and a relaunched 2016-2017 season of shows. The new season features three Cabrillo shows, all in the 1800-seat Kavli Theatre, with two Cabrillo debuts and one classic favorite not seen in nearly 15 years. All of Cabrillo's productions are locally produced, auditioned and rehearsed in Southern California, and performed exclusively at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.
Taking the helm as Managing Director is Will North, a veteran Actor-Director with experience in all aspects of theatre production, and a long-time member of the Cabrillo Family. North takes the job with plenty of support from Cabrillo Music Theatre's newly-expanded Board of Directors. New Board Members include Iona Blackwell, James Engel, Courtney Herring, Paige Loter, Alexis Peraino, and Neil Ticktin. They join existing Board Chair Bart Leininger, Vice-Chair Ray Mastrovito, Secretary Cindy Murray, and Treasurer Peter Tompkins, as well as Peter Mogg and Paul Panico. Artistic Director Lewis Wilkenfeld steps down after ten years in the position, and takes a role on the Executive Advisory Board.
"I am very excited about Cabrillo's future prospects," says Bart Leininger, Chairman of Cabrillo Music Theatre's Board of Directors. "Over the last few months, we have created new energy within Cabrillo. We have doubled the size of our Board with individuals with new ideas and perspective, and have hired Will North, our new Managing Director, who shares our core beliefs within Cabrillo." Adds Leininger, "Cabrillo Music Theatre will continue to produce top quality shows, and expand its community outreach program, which I believe is second to none."
Managing Director Will North shares Leininger's enthusiasm. "Potential. This is the first word that comes to mind when I survey the talented artists and technicians, the hard-working, committed board members and staff, the supportive and enthusiastic community, and the beautiful Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza." Adds North, "We begin this journey with a spectacular '16-'17 season-starting with the winner of 7 Tony awards, EVITA, which Cabrillo has never produced-continuing with SISTER ACT based on the hilarious 1992 comedy-and concluding with the favorite of kids and adults everywhere, we will fly off to Neverland next summer in PETER PAN."
With a new Managing Director and surging Board strength, Cabrillo Music Theatre's future looks brighter than ever!
ABOUT THE BOARD CHAIR AND NEW BOARD MEMBERS
BART LEININGER (Board Chair) is the Chief Financial Officer, Founder, and Principal Engineer of Ashworth Leininger Group (ALG), an environmental engineering and consulting firm located in Camarillo, California. Bart has been an enthusiastic supporter of the arts all of his life as a performer, a backstage hand, and cheerleader for his family in their own artistic endeavors. Bart combines his love of the arts and his experience in business to further the mission of Cabrillo Music Theatre - to "Bring Broadway to your Backyard" and to support the wonderful outreach programs provided by the many talented people associated with Cabrillo.
IONA BLACKWELL is a longtime (29 years) resident of Malibu and a supporter of Live Theatre in the Los Angeles area. Along with her husband, she has attended performances at the Ahmanson and the Pantages and then, about six years ago saw an ad for a Cabrillo show. She fell in love with not only the quality of the performance, but also attitude and excitement emanating from the performers and staff, and has been a season member and donor ever since!! Iona is a retired computer programmer: she met her husband when they were both computer programmers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory nearly 40 years ago. She left that field about 20 years ago to devote her time to actively managing her rental real estate portfolio, and is currently
retired.
retired.
JAMES ENGEL is a Realtor and Property Management company owner from Arleta, Los Angeles. Grew up overseas with an appreciation for theater and arts, and remembers his last play being "Noises Off". Father of 4 kids , James wants to make sure today's youth get a chance to engage in arts and theater in a world full of tech and pokemons. He is honored to join Cabrillo Music Theatre and be a part of its outreach efforts to youth, Thousand Oaks and surrounding communities and our military families.
COURTNEY HERRING is a Voice Teacher And Audition Coach of 8 years and the mother of 2 young boys. She grew up performing in numerous theatres around Southern California, as well as professionally nationwide. Having previously worked for Cabrillo, Courtney is honored to be a new member of the Board of Directors. The past 3 years she and her family lived in Minnesota where she continued her voice business and learned from various theatre companies. She hopes to bring her knowledge from a lifetime of theatre to this wonderful company.
PAIGE LOTER is a freelance artist and toy designer with a life long passion for theatre and education through the arts. She holds a leadership position in Conejo Valley Homeschoolers, a local non-profit organization, where she works to create educational opportunities and social activities for homeschooling children. Paige spent her childhood very active in community theatre and holds a BA in Theatre from the University of California San Diego and you can frequently find her volunteering as part of the backstage crew for theatrical productions around the Conejo Valley.
ALEXIS PERAINO, MD is a physician in Internal Medicine with a practice located in Westlake Village. She grew up in the Conejo Valley, and returned 10 years ago with her husband to raise their family. Alexis has been dedicated to the arts and dance since her youth, and now she enjoys watching her children grow and explore their passion for the arts. The arts are an important component of our community and she is honored to join The Board of Directors as they work to strengthen and enhance Cabrillo Music Theatre and it's impact on our Thousand Oaks Community.
NEIL TICKTIN is a serial entrepreneur with 30+ years' experience in publishing, events and strategic consulting. Ticktin has been a consummate volunteer for Cabrillo Music Theatre for years. He's the founder of "Westlake Revelations" (an award-winning blog), and a visible community leader for decades having led LVUSD's technology strategy, conducted election candidate forums, a Boy Scout leader, Soap Box Derby founder, and YMCA lead volunteer. Named one of the "Top 25 Local People" by both the Agoura and Thousand Oaks Acorn, and Westlake Village's "Citizen of the Year," Neil is well known in our community at large.
CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE'S 2016-2017 Season includes EVITA (Fall 2016), SISTER ACT (Spring 2017) and PETER PAN (Summer 2017). This season all three high-Flying Musicals will be produced in the 1,800 seat Kavli Theatre. For membership and ticket information, call 805-497-8613 X 6 or visit www.cabrillomusictheatre.com.
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