EL SEGUNDO HERALD July 29, 2021 Page 3
El Segundo’s Jeff Cason
Champions the Arts and Culture
By Duane Plank
People settle into cities for varying reasons.
Some are looking for a strong school district
to teach their children. And then there are
folks who want to live in communities close
to their job sites and avoid the miserable
So Cal commute, which has again ramped
up as some workers are tasked to return to
the brick-and-mortar office after more than
a year of working from home. Other folks
investigate moving to a city that, if you buy
a house, will garner you a handsome profit,
should you desire to sell the property.
But, mixed in with the above-noted checklist
to move to a new town, there are always
people like Jeff Cason, a third-generation El
Segundoian who moved back to town after
his collegiate days, post-graduation from the
University of Redlands, where he received
his Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing
Arts Administration in 2006.
Among his work experience, postgraduation,
Cason served as the director of
marketing for Concept Design Productions;
executive producer for the El Segundo Broadway
in the Park extravaganza for six years;
managing creative director for The Bridge, a
faith-based organization based in the South
Bay, creating “brand strategy, content, and
live event production and design,” as well
as being the CEO and creative producer of
Sound Stage Live from 2017 to 2019, which
was an interactive entertainment venture that
sought to “gamify the live theatre experience.”
Why the focus on the arts, Cason was
asked, and then return to his hometown of
El Segundo? He is currently serving on the
Arts and Culture Advisory Committee.
“I wanted to be a part of the arts and culture
and shape the town,” he said. “So, I came right
back” after his graduation from the University
of Redlands. Cason has amassed numerous
credits over the past 15 years, working as
a theatrical producer, director, and creative
executive, including creative producing for
Sound Stage Live, spearheading the city
of El Segundo’s fireworks spectacular, and
toiling as the director and producer for the
Broadway in the Park shows El Segundo’s
first family theatre festival.
As an accomplished freelance lighting,
scenic and production designer for theatre
and events, Cason has worked on more than
60 shows throughout the Southern California
environs. Cason continues to support arts
and culture initiatives in El Segundo, having
served as a past president of the Arts and
Cultural Advisory Committee, member of
the town’s Centennial Committee, and creating
and producing “Celebrate! A Fireworks
Spectacular” that honored El Segundo’s
100-year anniversary.
Cason relishes his El Segundo roots. “I
am extremely fortunate that we are all here
in El Segundo,” he said, speaking of his
family, noting that “we have all been in
different places, at different times,” but “we
have all converged at the same time, which
is wonderful.”
Cason said that while he was growing up
in El Segundo in the vicinity of Candy Cane
Lane, he was able to develop a love of the
arts, participating in many of the different
programs offered by the Recreation and
Parks Department.
“El Segundo is a great family (town),”
he said, “the perfect place to grow up as
a kid.” He said that he was always “interested
in creative pursuits,” which nurtured
his performance instincts, noting that he
was seeking to “help young people have an
‘arts presence,’ and to help them grow and
develop in a way that will impact them for
the rest of their lives.
“Arts make a community fun,” he said,
noting the renowned Fourth of July fireworks
extravaganza that resumed in 2021 and street
festivals that have been a major part of our
community for decades.
“Arts enhance the quality of life in a vibrant
community,” Cason said while noting
that “funding for arts programs has always
been a challenge.” When local economies
and school districts hit a downward funding
curve, it is standard for arts programs to be
one of the first to see a proposed slashing of
funding. But Cason said that the El Segundo
Education Foundation has stepped up to the
plate to “elevate school arts programs.”
Jeff Cason. Provided by Jeff Cason.
According to many locals, Cason has made
a substantial impact in the El Segundo arts
community.
Natalie Strong, the vice-chairperson of
the El Segundo Arts and Culture committee,
emailed that “Jeff provides an impressive
See Jeff Cason, page 8
Love Thy Neighbor
Dear El Segundoans,
The Herald staff and I only know so many El Segundoans,
but we want to learn about more of you. With 8,000
residents, we’re sure there are some gems we may have
overlooked or not been aware of them. Do you have
an interesting friend, neighbor or student? With most of
El Segundo sports and events on hold, we are looking
to do more El Segundo residents’ profiles. All you have
to do is ask their permission and send us their contact
information. Of course, if you find yourself fascinating,
send us your information too.
– Best to you all. HM.
Send your suggestions in to
letters@heraldpublications.com
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