Join President Eric W. Kaler and Mrs. Karen F. Kaler for a CWRU Destination Weekend celebrating the entertainment industry.
Los Angeles
May 1-4, 2025
Register for Destination Weekend
Embark on a weekend of inspiring conversations, exciting tours and memorable experiences at the heart of the entertainment industry. Immerse yourself in exclusive gatherings, industry insights and a unique blend of tours and leisure.
There is a $150 registration fee to participate in this unforgettable experience. This fee covers access to all scheduled events, tours and exclusive gatherings throughout the weekend. All other costs including travel, accommodations and food outside of scheduled programming is at the cost of the attendee.
Enhance your stay and book your hotel room at a reduced rate as a part of The Alumni Association hotel block at W Los Angeles - West Beverly Hills. There will be a booking link in your confirmation note once you register.
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with alumni and industry leaders in a weekend full of inspiration, adventure and fun!
Space is limited, so kindly register before April 1, 2025.
Contact Katie O’Malley, director of events, programs and reunions, with any questions or updates to your reservation. Katie can be reached at alumnirelations@case.edu or 216.368.6280.
Overview of the Weekend
Please note that all speakers are subject to change.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Welcome Reception at The W Hotel - Beverly Hills
Kick off the weekend as CWRU President Eric W. Kaler facilitates a conversation with Barry Meyer (LAW ’67), former Chairman of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and founder of North Ten Mile Associates, and Rebecca Weisberg (LAW ’12), senior vice president of business affairs at Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Meyer and Weisberg will talk about the education they received at CWRU, their respective careers and the role Meyer played in Weisberg’s career trajectory.
Rebecca Weisberg (LAW ’12) is senior vice president of business affairs for the Warner Bros. Television Group, where she specializes in negotiating complex scripted television deals, including actor, writer, and director agreements, as well as licensing deals across multiple platforms. She also manages key exclusive producer relationships, notably with producers Chuck Lorre and John Wells. In addition to her business acumen, Rebecca is passionate about mentoring and supervising junior members of the WBTVG Business Affairs team, helping to develop the next generation of negotiators in the industry
Friday, May 2, 2025
Breakfast at The W Hotel - Beverly Hills
Enjoy breakfast and hear from David Shall (WRC ’80, LAW ’83), COO and general counsel of Tornate Television, and Michael Eisner, former CEO of The Walt Disney Company and founder of Tornate Television. CWRU President Eric W. Kaler will facilitate a discussion with Eisner and Shall detailing Eisner’s career and his association with Shall and Tornate Television.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
After breakfast, hop on the bus and step behind the scenes with a guided tour of the iconic Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank!
The guided tour will last one hour, and attendees will have additional time for shopping and exploring!
Late Lunch and Discussion
After Warner Bros., savor a delicious meal as Donald Carrier provides an overview of the MFA program at Case Western Reserve. Karen F. Kaler will then facilitate a discussion with actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Alan Rosenberg (ADL ’72), Rich Sommer (GRS ’04, theater), Paul Bugallo (GRS ’18, theater) and Abdul Seidu (GRS ’20, theater). They will discuss Rosenberg's leadership of SAG, and the careers of all four panelists.
Alan Rosenberg (ADL ’72) studied political science and dramatic arts at Case Western Reserve. From CWRU, he attended Yale School of Drama where he was a classmate of the great Meryl Streep. Rosenberg's theater credits include A Prayer For My Daughter at New York's Public Theater and Lost in Yonkers and What's Wrong With This Picture on Broadway. Rosenberg's television credits include regular roles on Civil Wars, LA Law and Cybil and recurring roles on Shameless and Bosch.
Paul Bugallo (GRS ’18, theater) is a Spanish/Italian-American actor who was born in Miami but raised in Seattle. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatrical Performance at Central Washington University and went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Acting through Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Play House’s Master of Fine Arts in Acting program. Bugallo has performed in venues across the country, including the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Play House, The Center House and improv theaters such as Second City Hollywood, Unexpected Productions and Upright Citizen’s Brigade.
Abdul Seidu (GRS ’20, theater) was born in Cleveland and is a first-generation Ghanaian-American. He first found his love for acting in seventh grade watching his brother perform in plays. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from Kent State University where he also competed in track and field.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Breakfast at The W Hotel - Beverly Hills
Start your day with breakfast as Karen F. Kaler facilitates a discussion with agent and manager Norman Aladjem (WRC ’78), CEO of Mainstay Entertainment. Aladjem will discuss his time at Case Western Reserve and the highs and lows he has experienced in his profession.
Norman Aladjem (WRC ’78) is the Founder and CEO of Mainstay Entertainment, a premium talent management and Emmy-nominated film and television production company. Current clients include Katherine Heigl, Trevor Noah, Laura Prepon, Jennette McCurdy, Hayden Panettiere, Roy Wood, Jr. and a number of other actors and creators. Aladjem has produced a number of feature films, including Before I Go, starring Annabella Sciorra and Robert Klein; A Simple Wedding, a multi-cultural romantic comedy starring Rita Wilson and Academy Award® nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo; Jimmy Vestvood, starring Maz Jobrani and John Heard, and Firewalker, starring Academy Award® winner Louis Gossett, Jr. and Chuck Norris.