The purpose of the Board of Governors is to facilitate the mission of Surfside Playhouse. Learn more about the purpose and responsibilities of the board.
STEVEN MOGELL
President
Steve Mogell began life as a showman, appearing 13 years after his older sister. He charmed his mother (and anyone who would watch) with antics, jokes, and magic tricks, which he still does today! His initial career, that spanned over 20 years, was in purchasing for large corporations like Perry, Sirius XM, and Eyeglass World. After a downturn in the economy, he shifted gears into sales. He now sells the best-tasting frozen drink in Florida, which he provides to restaurants, bars, and convenience stores along the Florida coast from Boynton Beach to St. Augustine. In 2015, he landed the role of “Harry the Horse” in Surfside’s production of Guys and Dolls. Stepping onto the stage brought him into the arms of the Surfside family. Steve brings his passion for theatre, his natural showmanship, and his love of “making-a-deal” business acumen, and strong relationships with local businesses to the board.
TBD
Vice-President
Fritz Kraemer
Treasurer
I grew up on Long Island NY, graduated from High School in 1971 and obtained a B.A. in math, graduating college in 1975. I started learning and playing music at an early age (10) and played my first paying gig in 1969.
After college I began my career in international trade, becoming a licensed Customs Broker in 1980. I married Leslie Roth in 1979, as we were living in Massachusetts at the time, and my parents wanted me to move to New York to help with the family business. That business was sold in 1989, and I then worked for the purchasing company until 1995. In that year Leslie took a job opportunity in South Florida, and so we moved there from Brooklyn, where we had been living at that time.
I was able to work remotely from 2015 on, and so joined Leslie in Cocoa Beach, living in the home inherited from my parents. Leslie retired that year, and I kept working until the end of 2019. I now have a post-retirement job playing mandolin for the Penny Creek Band, and am enjoying retirement immensely.
Our interest in community theater began during our years in South Florida, and continues today, as we try to take in every production at several of the local theaters in the area. While my musical gigs prevent me from committing to the rehearsal and performance schedule of a stage production, I greatly support the theater community, both financially and by volunteering. I do enjoy all of the fine performances in the Brevard County area, and now open a new chapter, doing my best to further the success of Surfside Playhouse. Thank you very much for reading this, and for allowing me to join you on the Board.
CHERYL NAVO
Secretary
Cheryl spent most of her adult life in Germany working for the Army, first as a Soldier, then as a Department of the Army Civilian.
She was involved in several military community theaters, first as an actor, then branching out into costume design, stage design, directing, sound and light design, and playwriting. She is a two-time Best Director winner in the annual Army Europe Tournament of Plays (TOPPERs) and has received numerous awards in Set Design, Costume Design, Scenic painting, and Stage Properties.
She began writing plays in 2013, and several of her plays have been produced all over the United States and Europe. Her one-act play HOTLINE is available through Dramatic Publishing Company, and her one-act play PARADE OF QUEENS is available through Rebel Belle Publishing. Cheryl and her husband, Tom, now live at Indian River Colony Club (IRCC), where she directs plays and facilitates a playwriting group. Cheryl is excited to contribute to the Surfside Playhouse as a member of the board.
David Greenwell
Board Member
Dave Greenwell is a second generation Brevardian with an abiding adoration for the theater and his community. He is the father of 3, wild effervescent humans and partners with his wife of 10 years, Alexia, in the ownership of the WE Construction Group, a local construction and inspection firm. He is a local EFSC graduate, with a BAS in Organizational Management. Having had the opportunity to work at Surfside playhouse early in his formative years, provided him with the skills that would serve through his early adulthood working in performing arts venues and small stage spaces across the country. While he no longer runs sound in clubs in the desert or stage manages sketch comedy in Tallahassee, Dave is proud of the opportunity to share his love of the theater with his family, serve the arts in his community, and Surfside specifically
Dawn Kelley
Board Member
Dawn Kelley was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and has loved musical theater her entire life. She has lived in Brevard County for 40 years, the past 20 of which have been in Cocoa Beach. Dawn has two grown sons and an 11-year-old daughter, Lily, who is an active performer with Surfside Youth Players and has appeared in several mainstage productions, including Seussical the Musical and last season’s Fractured show.
A creative spirit, Dawn enjoys arts and crafts and feels right at home backstage helping with costumes and props. After several years of volunteering, Surfside began to feel like home—and the people, like family—which inspired her to join the Board of Governors.
Professionally, Dawn is an 18-year Human Resources professional in the hospitality industry and currently serves as Regional Director with Driftwood Hospitality. She previously served on the Governing Board of Directors for First United Methodist Church, where she was active in annual budgeting and provided HR support for the church’s preschool.
Dawn looks forward to helping Surfside Playhouse continue to thrive in the years ahead with the support of its wonderful community.
Greg McMinn
Board Member
Greg was born in Washington, DC, and fell in love with the theater early on. As a youth, he was bitten by the acting bug, playing Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol. At the College of William and Mary, he majored in English and studied Direction and Technical Theater.
After teaching English and Drama, Greg changed course, settling in a 30+ year career in defense, including serving as a Program Manager, Proposal Manager, and Business Unit Director, where he led multi-million dollar efforts for several large, small and mid-sized firms.
He and his wife, Kate moved from Maryland to the Space Coast in 2017, where he has been active in the local theater community. At Surfside, he has played in Young Frankenstein, Inherit the Wind, Once Upon a Mattress, and three “Fractured” shows.
Additionally, Greg has played in Leading Ladies at Melbourne Civic Theater and in Into the Woods with HNJ Players.
Since retiring in 2025, he has been volunteering at Surfside to help with set construction and painting. What Greg finds most endearing about Surfside is a true sense of community: everyone brings a How-Can-We-Help spirit in every effort, pulling together to make the Playhouse better, warmer and brighter.
Adam Poston
Board Member
JEANNE PRICHARD
Board Member
Jeanne has been on the board at Surfside for over fifteen years. During that time, she has had the privilege of serving on many committees; everything from the nominating committee to the volunteer committee. Her primary focus has always been the box office which she has managed since she first became a board member and currently still manages. She loves the box office because of the very close contact it allows her to have with the wonderful Surfside patrons. Jeanne’s last job in the private sector before retiring to Cocoa Beach was as a senior analyst with WebMd.
LINDA SHOFNER
Board Member
Linda has worked at Surfside for the past several years assisting with props, costuming, and set building. She has assisted with the “Gotta Dance” program and the Arlan Ropp Playwriting Competition. Along with her husband, Linda also enjoys activities associated with the Model A Club, and has won awards for authentic costuming. She also enjoys painting. When not in Florida, she can be found at her farm in Kentucky. As a board member, Linda has helped to write grants for the needs of the theatre. She has also served as Surfside’s representative on a panel of performance judges for a community theatre in a neighboring county.
