From the South Orange Performing Arts Center:
As the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) continues its 21st season with strong momentum and kicks off a new lineup of fall programming, the organization welcomes two new members and three returning members to its board. Michael Karu, a Certified Public Accountant, and Jonathan Light, a writer, director, and producer, join with experience that immediately add to the SOPAC team. Returning are three longtime members eager to get back to work in the community: Larry Brodey, Keesha Chavis, and Maureen Gammon, who previously chaired the facilities committee, the board & staff relations committee, and the development committee, respectively.
“Larry, Keesha, and Maureen know this organization from the inside, and that matters heading into a new season. Michael and Jonathan add real depth in finance and production — two areas where we needed more expertise. I’m glad all five said yes,” said Marc Chalom, SOPAC Board Chair.
Miriam Vales has served as SOPAC’s Interim Executive Director since April 2026 and will continue in the role. Vales expressed, “Stepping into this role in April, I found a board that showed up every time I needed them. With Larry, Keesha, and Maureen back at the table, and Michael and Jonathan joining us, SOPAC has exactly the support it needs heading into the fall.”
New Board Members
Michael Karu
Michael H. Karu, CPA/CFF, is a Certified Public Accountant and Senior Member of Ott, Shore & Company in Parsippany, where he leads the firm’s Business Valuation and Litigation Support Group. He’s been qualified as an expert witness in business valuations by the Superior Court of New Jersey, is a Certified Divorce Mediator, and has co-authored articles on business valuation for the New Jersey Law Journal and New Jersey Lawyer.
Outside the office, Michael is President of the Rotary Club of West Orange, where he’s hosted three long-term exchange students and led a cultural trip to Japan. He also serves as Treasurer for Help the Children Hear and spent thirteen years coaching Girls’ Varsity Volleyball at Golda Och Academy. A graduate of The Ohio State University, he lives in West Orange with his wife, Marlene. They have two daughters, Hallie and Lauren, and a grandson Austin. He is working his way through a goal of visiting all 50 states and 50 countries.
Jonathan Light
Jonathan Light is a writer, director, and producer with 20 years in film, TV, and corporate media. He started out as an opera singer before moving into writing and directing, and today serves as Director of Production for TeamPeople, a national creative-services company, where he oversees corporate projects for multinational clients.
He spent years directing and acting in plays across New York and London, often in basement theaters without air conditioning, and has worked as a script and story consultant for companies in the U.S., U.K., and China. His TV projects in development include NANDA DEVI, with Tarsem Singh attached to direct; CADENCE, a thriller set in the world of classical music; THE DRESSMAKER, a biopic of Beatles manager Brian Epstein; and THE BREATH, an adaptation of Margaret Weis and Robert Krammes’ Dragon Corsairs trilogy.
Returning Board Members
Larry Brodey
Larry Brodey has worked in the plumbing specialty industry since 1973, starting at DURST, the family business his great-great-grandfather founded in 1901. He later reacquired DURST after it was sold, then went on to acquire JACLO, where his design instincts and willingness to challenge convention made him a pioneer in decorative plumbing, work that’s earned him multiple design patents and recognition from the Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association.
Larry spent more than 15 years with JVS and has held several leadership roles at SOPAC, including officer and Executive Committee positions, before a two-year leave from the board. He holds a degree in Economics and Finance and has lived in South Orange for more than two decades. He and his wife, Carol, have been married 45 years and have a daughter, Morgan.
Keesha Chavis
Keesha Chavis works across Human Resources, Real Estate, and Organizational Consulting. Her HR background covers workplace culture, employee relations, and helping businesses build teams that stick around, and as a Real Estate professional she guides clients through buying, selling, and investing decisions.
She now works as an HR Consultant, helping organizations tighten up their HR practices and develop their people. Across all three, Keesha brings the same thing: she likes helping people and businesses make good decisions and find their next opportunity.
Maureen Gammon
A South Orange resident for over 30 years, Maureen served as President of the Montrose Park Historic District Association. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, she moved to London for graduate work in microbiology and became a recognized expert in lab design, working at Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway, NJ. She has authored or coauthored 22 scientific publications.
She later moved into business operations at Merck, managing budgets, space planning, and infrastructure for the research organization, and led the installation of a $16.8 million automated system for Merck’s Sample Repository Building in Rahway.
Maureen has served on the boards of the Shandelee Music Festival, the Mental Health Association of Essex County, and South Orange’s Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committee. Since retiring from Merck, she’s kept busy with home renovation, gardening, and travel.
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About SOPAC
The South Orange Performing Arts Center curates a distinctive lineup of exhilarating and expansive performances, bringing exceptional artists and unforgettable experiences to audiences in the greater South Orange/Maplewood region and contributing to the economic and social vibrancy of its highly diverse community.
SOPAC is an accessible cultural destination that presents world-class artists in an intimate and welcoming setting. The Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall is a 439-seat mainstage theatre with superb acoustics, sight lines, and seating. SOPAC offers a rare connection between artists and audiences—where every seat feels close to the stage and every performance feels personal. Guests experience the excitement of seeing world-class performers in a space that creates the feeling of exclusive access, where artists share their work, stories, and passion in a way that larger venues simply cannot replicate. Artists acknowledge that the atmosphere encourages conversations with audiences. The Loft at SOPAC is a 2,185 square-foot multi-purpose space used for performances, rehearsals, classes, and special events.
The unique architecture of SOPAC’s building, which includes a stunning 3-story glass-enclosed atrium, is also home to the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery, where exhibitions showcase the work of local, regional, and nationally recognized visual artists, providing free access to the visual arts for residents and visitors throughout the year. Beyond the building, SOPAC co-produces local events such as South Orange Summer Nights and serves students and schools through its arts education residencies.
SOPAC is invested in arts education and creating meaningful opportunities for students of all ages to experience, participate in, and connect with the arts. SOPAC serves students and schools in our region through a School Performance Series, performing Arts Residencies, and an annual juried art exhibit entitled INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition. SOPAC also collaborates with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts each year to host the Region 5 Poetry Out Loud competitions. With its artistic partnership with SOPAC, the Seton Hall University Arts Council presents a diverse range of events at SOPAC with seasoned professionals, students, and faculty. Through these collaborations, SOPAC continues to expand access to the arts and create opportunities for learning, connection, and discovery across generations.
SOPAC opened its doors in 2006, born from a shared vision of the South Orange Village Trustees and Seton Hall University to create the artistic destination of the community and the centerpiece of an ambitious redevelopment plan. More than 2 decades later, SOPAC continues to serve as a cultural cornerstone for the region, an economic driver for the community, and a catalyst for artistic opportunity.
