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.
NANCY MATICAN-BOCK
Vice-President
Nancy Matican-Bock, Vice President; lives life within two passions. The first is for the arts. Nancy started performing at a young age and continues to do so. Since moving to Brevard County, she has spent the past 20 years performing and directing within the community. Nancy was the drama director for Shekinah Productions Community Theater in Indialantic, for many years. Currently, Nancy is the next generation Executive Director for Playwright’s Workshop and has directed many of the original works for the group. Nancy is also an in house resident director at Surfside playhouse where she has directed several Arlan Ropp Playwright’s winning plays as well as written and directed Home for the Holidays. Nancy has also appeared in leading roles for award winning Indie Films in different festivals throughout the country and is a past Board Member of Brevard Film and Talent were she also created and wrote a monthly column called “Scene and Be Seen, #Theaterlife”. Nancy also created, curates and directs the newly added “Readers’ Theater; From the Script to the Stand” program at Surfside. In addition to attending Michigan State University and getting her BA in Communications with a minor emphasis in Theater, Nancy also did post-graduate work at an acting conservatory where she earned her accreditation in the Master Meisner Program along with other areas of study including Chekhov and the like. At MSU, Nancy also studied her second passion of Physical Education and Coaching and went on to work in the fitness industry for different equipment manufacturers in executive positions in sales and marketing. She currently owns a private personal training studio where she works with many of Brevard’s talent. Nancy truly believes that fitness and wellness create a more confident performer and will continue to live a life that marries the two.
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.
JEANNE PRICHARD
Board Member
Jeanne has been on the board at Surfside for about 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.
TANYA HUDSON
Board Member
Tanya has 25 years of experience in the corporate world, holding varying senior and executive leadership positions in both the natural gas/energy sector, as well as one of the top three largest financial institutions in the world. She has been dedicated for the last 15 years as a senior executive-level leader responsible for customer service teams of 3,500+ members at any given time and the delivery of excellent service to hundreds of thousands of customers. Her passion is creating and driving an engaging and fun culture within her organization and allowing that positive culture to drive an excellent customer experience.
Tanya is now an entrepreneur and small business owner in Brevard County. She returned to her home city and state of Titusville, Florida with her husband, Jim, in 2022. They launched Paradise Signs and Graphics in Titusville in February of 2023. Paradise Signs and Graphics provides a plethora of sign services in Brevard County, Orlando and beyond. From illuminated 3D signs to vehicle wraps and large format printing, there is nothing their sign makers cannot do to strengthen any local business’ marketing efforts.
Tanya and her husband, Jim, are also involved in many philanthropic efforts and they support several non-profit organizations in the local area. Tanya serves on the Board of Governors for the Surfside Playhouse, and she also is involved in many local networking organizations such as BNI, Rotary, Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce, Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, and a National Women’s Professional Organization CHIEF.
In her personal life, Tanya is very passionate about spending time with her family, including her two grandchildren who have recently relocated from Virginia to Florida to be close to their Yaya and Granddad. She also enjoys outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, camping, and yoga. She and her husband love to listen to live music and attend concerts across the country. She also loves to create amazing meals for friends and family and her ultimate dream is to open a healing center and retreat locale in Brevard County for people grappling with past trauma.
CINDY THEILACKER
Board Member
Cindy was born in 1962 and has been a Brevard County resident since 1964. After attending and graduating from Cocoa High school in 1980, she continued onto what was then called BCC.
From 1989 to 1998 she worked and managed a freestanding Birthing Center in Merritt Island for Dr. El Tobqui. She then had 2 antique shops in Cocoa Village, and for seven years and was the president of HCVA. She currently owns a company called A to Z Liquidators and does Estate Sales on a regular basis.
Cindy looks forward to offering any kind of help that she can offer to the Surfside Playhouse, as she has enjoyed being a patron for many years.
Alethea Ally Zuniga
Board Member
Ally is a native of Merritt Island, Florida. Her first audition was here at Surfside Playhouse at the age of seven. Her childhood is filled with wonderful memories of performing both in the youth players and in main stage productions. Ally toured with Looking Glass Productions regionally through the US in various children theatre productions including Anne Frank where Ally held the title role.
Ally then attended the University of Central Florida earning a Bachelor’s of Interdisciplinary Studies in Arts and Business with a minor in Humanities. During this time Ally joined the workforce at 16 and used her retail experience to develop into management. This led her to optical retail where she has continued to learn and grow into regional management and serves the community as a Licensed Optician.
Ally’s most fulfilling work is serving others through her work with foster children, the Boys and Girls Club, public school children and underserved communities for eye care. Ally was honored to be a team member of the first charitable clinic in the Middle East. She traveled to the largest Syrian refugee camp in Jordan to give eye exams and glasses to thousands of people in 2019.
Ally is very grateful to be able to use her knowledge of business, art, and philanthropy to here at Surfside Playhouse to enrich the community here that she loves so much!
Thank you for your contributions large and small from volunteering, donating, or just taking the time to read more about us!
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
