Faculty
Whether students are testing the Drama/Tech waters, or preparing for a future in entertainment,
these program advisors bring extensive real-world experience and teaching expertise to inspire and connect.
Jonathan Westerberg
Drama Teacher and Program Director
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After graduating with Bachelor degrees in Dramatic Arts and Literature from UCSB, Jonathan Westerberg served as literary director, and then later as co-producing artistic director, for LA-based Circle X Theater Company. With Circle X, he produced, designed, and directed dozens of shows while maintaining day-to-day operations among a group of over 80 actors and artists.
Mr. Westerberg was hired by Mira Costa in 1999, as an English
teacher before becoming Mira Costa's Drama/Tech Program
Director in 2018. He is dedicated to providing a challenging
curriculum and maintaining artistic excellence in production.
Mr. Westerberg strives to create an environment of growth and inclusivity, and he challenges students to achieve high standards. He takes great pride in the culture he builds with
Drama/Tech staff, the industry professionals he works with,
and his students.
​“The best part about teaching tech has been guiding young artists towards finding this medium as a place to communicate and connect. Creating theater requires so much heart and soul along with technical expertise. When both are done effectively, it’s transformative for all involved.”
Cary Jordahl
Technical Theater Teacher
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Former theater actor turned technician; Cary Jordahl’s college degree is in Film Production where he focused on directing. His respect and admiration for both the performance and design sides of theater making led to lots of work as an actor, director, designer and technician for many southern California theater companies.
Since 1999, Mr Jordahl, along with his wife Gia, have been consistently producing six shows per year for the Torrance Theater Company. In 2010, he established a 501 c(3) in Torrance to raise money and awareness for the theater in the South Bay.
Mr. Jordahl was initially hired in the Manhattan Beach school district in 2010 to manage the performance venues and consult on all things theater related district-wide.
After one year, Mr Jordahl was asked to teach technical theater for Mira Costa. He quickly got his CTE credential and Mira Costa Tech classes have been full since 2011.
When Mira Costa Drama found themselves in need of help with their extra-curricular productions, Mr. Jordahl selflessly jumped in for over 10 years, directing and designing show after show for Mira Costa Drama/Tech.
Mr. Jordahl was thrilled when Mr. Westerberg came on board to lead the program enabling him to focus on the Tech program.
Today Mr. Jordahl’s mission is to continuously elevate the technical theater program. He gets joy out of seeing how passionate the tech students are, and in helping them make the most out of their experience.
Maddie Hutchinson
Comedy Sportz HSL Teacher Advisor
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As a Mira Costa High School alumnus, the Comedy Sportz HSL program was important to Maddie Hutchinson when she was a student. It provided her with a creative outlet, taught her the art of good storytelling, developed close friendships that she still maintains today, and created a safe space to be outrageous and wacky creating stories on the fly.
Returning to MCHS as an English teacher, Ms. Hutchinson believes that her love of English came from really understanding how important character relationships are, and how you need to establish a conflict and a resolution. The core components of improv are the same core components of writing a story, and she attributes much of this to her time spent in Comedy Sportz HSL.
In addition to teaching English, Ms. Hutchinson also runs the LINC Crew leadership program where upperclassmen help freshman during their first year. She assists and co-directs for the drama tech program and participates on multiple committees. However, serving as the teacher advisor for Comedy Sportz HSL, giving students today opportunities like she had, is truly a labor of love.
“I take pride in advising the Mira Costa Comedy Sportz HSL team. As a former Comedy Sportz HSL player and MCHS drama kid, I understand the importance of humor and storytelling. I adore witnessing students harness the power of laughter to create joy onstage.”