CLIPPINGS By John Castelluccio Staff Writer New executive BEVERLY — A new executive director has been named for The Cabot. Effective Oct. 1, J. Casey Soward will take over director named at leadership of the downtown performing arts center. The Cabot's board of directors made the announcement Monday afternoon. They said Soward will lead the 850-seat The Cabot historic theater and its nonprofit organization in the final phases of restoration as well as launching original programming. Soward, who lives in Swampscott, will be leaving his current job as an assistant director for production and performance at Boston University's School of Music. He had also served as executive director for New England Philharmonic. He has produced and directed numerous concerts at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall and The Kennedy Center, and also has a background in public relations, marketing and fundraising. “With the recent launch of The Cabot as a performing arts presenting organization, we have the opportunity to do incredible work together as a community," said Soward in a statement. "I look forward to working with the board and the local community to take this treasured resource to new heights,” he said. Soward holds a masters degree in arts administration from BU and a bachelor's degree in music production and engineering from Berklee College. “Casey’s hiring culminates from a search that attracted almost 100 resumes by individuals with a wide range of skills and relevant experience," said board member Steve Dodge. "We were drawn to Casey early in the process not just by his excellent track record in concerts and the performing arts, but by his human qualities." Dodge described Soward as someone who stood out for being open, honest, a good listener, promoting staff development and relating easily with people from wide- ! ranging backgrounds. Courtesy photo J Casey Soward Soward replaces Paul Van Ness who has served as the interim general manager for the theater in its first year of J. Casey Soward, of Swampscott, is the new executive operations under new ownership. Van Ness will continue to director at The Cabot in Beverly. remain on the board. Posted: Monday, September 21, 2015 1:45 pm lead the beautiful 850-seat historic Cabot theatre and its recently-established non-profit organization in its final phases of restoration along with the launch of exciting and original programming. ! His work will enrich the cultural landscape of the North Shore with a full and diverse calendar of quality live music, dance, film, theater, comedy and more. Soward, a resident of Swampscott, is a seasoned arts executive who departs his current post as assistant director for production and performance of Boston University's esteemed School of Music, a position he was promoted to in 2011 after holding the position of manager of production and performance since 2007. In this role, Soward has produced and directed numerous concerts at prestigious venues such as Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Boston University Theatre, Marsh Chapel and others. He also developed public relations, marketing and fund-raising strategies for the school and designed and implemented the School of Music's Virtual Concert Hall featuring live high definition video webcasts from Symphony Hall in Boston. “The Cabot is the cultural center of the City of Beverly. With the recent launch of The Cabot as a performing arts presenting organization, we have the opportunity to do incredible work ! together as a community," said Soward. "The economic, cultural and social impact of this The Board of Directors of the Cabot Performing organization’s work will enhance the reputation Arts Center has named J. Casey Soward as of this great city and will be a great source of executive director. Soward will lead the theater pride for its residents. I look forward to in its final phases of restoration and the launch working with the board and the local of original programming. Soward will begin his community to take this treasured resource to role Oct. 1. COURTESY PHOTO new heights.” Soward was also executive director for Posted Sep. 22, 2015 at 7:02 AM conductor Richard Pittman's highly-regarded New England Philharmonic for four years, BEVERLY The Board of Directors of the Cabot handled production and tour management for Performing Arts Center, also known Bill Kenney Productions in Boston--as affectionately as simply "The Cabot" is pleased production crew chief for the Agganis Arena to announce that J. Casey Soward has been from 2005-2007, production crew chief for named executive director. Jimmy Buffett (2004), The Rolling Stones Soward will begin his role Oct. 1. Soward will (2005) and Dave Matthews Band (2006) passion for The Cabot shows through in concerts at Fenway Park. everything he does.” Soward was also production coordinator for the Van Ness will remain on the board. Chevalier Theater in Medford and production coordinator for the annual Collegefest event at “I look forward to working with Casey during the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. He [the] transition and in the years ahead and holds a Masters of Science degree in arts believe he will fit really well into the role as it is administration from Boston University and a now evolving," Van Ness said. "We are Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College fortunate to have been able to attract him." of Music in production and engineering. “Casey’s hiring culminates from a search that attracted almost 100 resumes by individuals with a wide range of skills and relevant experience," said board member Steve Dodge. "We were drawn to Casey early in the process, not just by his excellent track record in concerts and the performing arts, but by his human qualities. He is an individual who stands out among his peers as open and honest, as a good listener who picks people well and supports their development, as someone who relates comfortably and easily with a wide range of constituents and enjoys doing so. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with him and look forward to the revitalization of the iconic Cabot under his leadership." Cabot board member Henry Bertolon also commented on the hire. "When we purchased the theater 10 months ago, what we got was a magnificent historical building that had been fundamentally pretty well preserved, but that was all," he said. "Currently, it is a vibrant venue providing a rich mix of entertainment for the whole northshore community. But we are a still a start up, and as a result, were seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial individual who could take the momentum we had created and take it to the next level. Casey is that person and we are thrilled to have him on board.” Soward replaces Paul Van Ness, who has served as interim general manager to guide the first year of start-up operations. “The Cabot could not have been in the position to make this most significant hire were it not for the experience, hard work and dedication provided by Paul from day one," said founding Cabot board member Thad Siemasko. "His Soward said Paul Van Ness, interim general manager, “has done a fabulous job in this first year getting the building blocks in place, so someone like me can take North it to the next level.” He said the building has a new digital marquee and new sound and lighting systems, and the 460 Taking the Cabot to orchestra-level seats are being replaced. Soward’s goal is to develop original programming that people “wouldn’t be able to see anywhere else,” the next level including a mix of jazz, classical, and pop music, as well as comedy and cinema. By Wendy Killeen GLOBE CORRESPONDENT He also wants to introduce programming that appeals OCTOBER 01, 2015 to families, do educational outreach, and host visual arts exhibits. “I want to respond to what the community wants and J. Casey Soward calls the new Cabot Performing Arts also introduce them to things they don’t know they Center in Beverly “a vision in progress.” like,” Soward said. “I’ll be relying on people’s feedback.” And now, he is part of the picture. The biggest challenge, he said, is “keeping everyone Soward became executive director of the Cabot, as it is focused on the long game. Even though it’s a 100- generally known, last week. year-old building, we are a startup.” “This is a great match for me at this time in my career,” said Soward, 35, of Swampscott. “I’m excited and fortunate they invited me to be part of this family.” Soward has a degree in production and engineering from Berklee College of Music and a master’s in arts administration from Boston University. He most recently was director for production and performance at the BU School of Music. “I heard about this opportunity, and as a North Shore resident it was a way for me to engage in my community and do something great for the area,” said Soward, who was chosen from a field of about 100 applicants. He also was impressed with how “the Cabot is so special to people in Beverly.” ‘I want to respond to what the community wants . ’ ! Opened in 1920, the Cabot was active in different capacities until it closed in early 2014. It was purchased by a group of local business people, registered as a nonprofit, and reopened as a performing arts center last November. Maybe Boston-born James Taylor said it best: “New York had Dylan, but we had Tom Rush.” A Harvard graduate who For Tom Rush, almost didn’t, thanks to the amount of time he spent at folk mecca Club 47, Rush cut his teeth in the coffeehouses of the thriving Cambridge folk scene in the early 1960s: higher education on a perfect storm of musical renaissance and youthful revolution.