Casey Soward: Setting the Stage for Boston’s Theatre District

In this episode of Learning to Fly, host Bruce Mittman sits down with Casey Soward, President & CEO of the Boch Center—home to the historic Wang and Shubert Theatres. Casey shares his journey from a music-obsessed kid on Cape Cod to leading one of Boston’s most influential performing arts institutions, detailing the unconventional path that led him from performing on stage to running it.

They discuss Casey’s early career as a musician and audio engineer, his pivotal role revitalizing the century-old Cabot Theatre, and how those experiences prepared him to balance the preservation of historic venues with their operational demands. The conversation explores the challenges of maintaining cultural landmarks while keeping them financially viable in an ever-changing arts landscape.

Beyond performances, Casey highlights the Boch Center’s deeper mission in arts education and youth development, emphasizing the power of the arts to create opportunity and lasting impact. He also speaks about the organization's investment in the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame and its goal of elevating Boston’s status as a music capital. Together, they discuss the importance of leadership, resilience, and authenticity in Casey’s current role—and what it takes to succeed under the weight of both history and expectation.