Cabrillo Playhouse has announced its Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 season, with new leadership roles and the addition of two new members as the historic San Clemente theater begins its new season.
The new slate was approved at the Board’s August 18 meeting. Asta Gersovitz, who previously served as Secretary, has been named President, succeeding outgoing President Hillary Pearson.
Gersovitz thanked Pearson for her nearly five years of service on the Board, describing her as a “force of nature” whose leadership consistently pushed Cabrillo toward best practices and helped make the organization stronger and more open to change.
Gersovitz has served on the Cabrillo Playhouse Board for five years after first becoming involved with the theater as a volunteer. She brings extensive professional and nonprofit board experience to her new role as President.
Other leadership changes include Holly Jones, previously Vice President, moving into the role of Secretary, and Carissa Mace becoming Vice President while continuing to serve as Volunteer Coordinator. Kathi Koehler returns as Treasurer.
Jones is entering her fourth year on the Board and also serves as Cabrillo’s Office Manager. A longtime performer, director and vocal instructor, she brings decades of professional and community theater experience to the organization.
Mace, a San Clemente resident and graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, has extensive theater experience throughout Orange County and serves professionally as Executive Director of the San Diego Chapter of the Community Associations Institute.
Koehler brings both financial expertise and a lifelong connection to community theater, having previously served on the boards of several Southern California theater organizations.
Returning to the Board are Will Minton, Advancement, and Aaron Carlow, Technology. Minton brings three decades of marketing experience and supports Cabrillo’s marketing, communications, fundraising and community outreach efforts. Carlow, an information technology professional and military veteran, continues to oversee technology initiatives for the Playhouse.
Cabrillo also welcomes two new members to the Board: Ella Wyatt, Community Relations, and Brian Vidales, Technical Theatre Advisor.
Wyatt has been directing, acting and teaching theater in Orange County for more than 20 years and is the drama teacher at San Clemente High School. She also hosts KXFM’s weekly theater program, “All the World’s a Stage,” and brings deep connections to the local arts and education communities.
Vidales has been part of the Cabrillo family for the past two years as a scenic carpenter and brings more than two decades of theatrical experience to the Board. His scenic work has included productions at Chapman University, Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre and Laguna Beach’s Pageant of the Masters.
Together, the 2026–2027 Board will support Cabrillo Playhouse’s continued growth while advancing its mission to enrich, educate and entertain audiences through the performing arts.