Historic Beverly Cabot Theater Names New Executive Director

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly's historic Cabot Theater has a new executive director after the Board of Directors on Thursday named Brian Ridolfo to replace Casey Soward, who stepped down in October after 10 years guiding the theater's resurgence.

"I am deeply honored and grateful to the Board for the opportunity to lead this incredible organization and become part of this vibrant community," Ridolfo said. "The Cabot's remarkable journey of growth over the past decade is a testament to the region's vitality.

"As Executive Director, I look forward to building on this momentum as we develop new strategies that bring top-tier arts and entertainment to the North Shore. Together with the exceptional management team in place, we will further The Cabot's mission of preserving this historic theater while enriching the community with programming that entertains, educates, and inspires."

Ridolfo comes to Beverly after serving as Vice President of Programming at the Peace
Center in Greenville, S.C., where he developed community-driven initiatives, secured sponsorships, and continuously improved financial viability across multiple venues.

He has excelled in leveraging data to guide programming and marketing decisions. By analyzing
demographic insights, sales trends, and audience engagement he aims to attract new audiences, unlock new revenue streams and create programming that truly reflects the community’s interests.

Prior to the Peace Center, Ridolfo managed programming at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, FL, implementing dynamic strategies for orchestrating large-scale events.

His tenure at Old School Square Cultural Arts Center in Delray Beach, FL saw him launch a successful concert and film series while overseeing production operations. With a technical production background and a track record of strategic innovation and audience-focused programming, Ridolfo's new position is poised to make a lasting impact on The Cabot and surrounding community.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree from Florida Atlantic University. He plans to relocate from Greenville, South Carolina to the North Shore with his wife and daughter.

"The Executive Committee conducted an extensive search for a visionary and dynamic leader to guide The Cabot into its next chapter," said Mark Jaffe, Board Chair. "With Brian's extensive production experience and proven ability to curate outstanding arts programming, we are confident he is the right person to lead us forward.

"We are excited for the future and all that lies ahead under his leadership."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)