08/03/2026
Please join us in welcoming our newest board member, Isabel Dondero!
Isabel Dondero is a producer, director, music director, production designer, voice teacher, and real estate appraiser living in the Jacksonville area. She discovered a passion for the arts at a young age, beginning singing lessons at age 11 and performing in her first musical at age 12. Her love of singing led her to earn a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Mobile.
While in school, she performed with the Mississippi Opera and Natchez Light Opera, as well as in productions at the University of Southern Mississippi. After graduating, she returned to Jacksonville, where she began working in children’s theatre. At Apex Theatre Studios, Isabel taught acting, singing, dance, and improv while also directing and music directing a number of productions for children ages 6–18. During this time, she also worked as a music director and mentor with the Penguin Project, an organization that pairs young artists with disabilities with peer mentors to produce a musical.
Since returning to Jacksonville, Isabel has also been fortunate to become friends and collaborate with many talented local filmmakers. Her film credits include Never to Return (Short, 2026), where she served as an art assistant, and The Artifice Girl (2022), where she served as first assistant director. Isabel recently collaborated with local writers/filmmakers Jesse Reed and Franklin Ritch to found Exhibit Jax, a showcase of short plays written by local playwrights and performed by Jacksonville actors. Isabel produced the first performances of Exhibit Jax in spring 2026 and looks forward to future performances that feature new talent.
Most recently, Isabel served as a director for The Sound of Music at Limelight Theatre and as music director for The Fantasticks at ABET. She is thrilled to be returning to ABET as a board member and looks forward to learning and growing alongside her favorite theatre in Jacksonville.
