Director Tony Taccone, Boston College Grad, to Receive Alumni Award

Boston College alumnus and accomplished theater director Tony Taccone-artistic director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California, one of the most prominent regional theaters in the country-returns to campus this month as the special guest and alumni honoree at the University's 14^th  annual Arts Festival, which will be held April 26-28, 2012. Taccone will make a number of public appearances while on campus.

Of this year's alumni honoree, BC Theatre Department Associate Professor and Chair of the University's Arts Council (which organizes the festival) Crystal Tiala said: "We are looking forward to Tony's appearances at Boston College this spring, and hope that our students will be inspired by his accomplishments."

Arts Festival Events with Arts Council Award Recipient, Alumnus Tony Taccone (free and open to the public): 

Thursday, April 26: Panel Discussion on Theater Direction: 3-4:30  p.m.

Taccone will participate in a panel discussion, joined by BC alumni Paul Daigneault (Class of 1987), founder and producing artistic director of  SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston, and Kate Maguire (Class of 1978), executive director of the Berkshire Theatre Festival, to discuss their professional experiences. The event will be held on April 26 from 3-4:30 p.m. in Gasson Hall, Room 305. 

Friday, April 27: "Inside the BC Studio" Career-Related Interview: 2-3 p.m.       

Taccone will participate in a career-related interview program-"Inside the BC Studio," modeled after Bravo TV's Inside the Actor's Studio-which spotlights the annual Arts Council alumni award recipient. It will offer an intimate portrait of Taccone and his craft.  The event will be held on Friday, April 27 from 2 to 3 p.m. in Gasson Hall, room 305. 

Arts Awards Celebration and Public Reception: 4-6:30 p.m.

Boston College President William P. Leahy, S.J. will present Taccone with the annual Boston College Arts Council Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement at an arts awards celebration and public reception on April 27 from 4-6:30 p.m. on O'Neill Plaza. The artistic accomplishments of BC students and faculty also will be recognized with awards. Registration is required. Call 617-552-4757 or visit www.bc.edu/artsawards to register for this free event. 

These free, public events featuring Taccone take place on BC's Chestnut Hill campus, located at 140 Commonwealth Avenue. For more details on these-and other Arts Festival events-visit www.bc.edu/artsfestival or call (617) 552-ARTS (2787).

Taccone  has staged more than 35 shows at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, including world premieres by Culture Clash, Rinde Eckert, David Edgar, Danny Hoch, Geoff Hoyle, Quincy Long, Itamar Moses, and Lemony Snicket.

BC Theatre Department Chair Scott Cummings describes him as "one of the most important theater directors and artistic directors working in the United States today."

Taccone took two shows from Berkeley Rep to Broadway: Sarah Jones's Tony Award-winning Bridge & Tunnel and Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking. He commissioned Tony Kushner's Angels in America, co-directed its world premiere, and has collaborated with Kushner on seven projects including Brundibar and Tiny Kushner. Two of Taccone's recent shows transferred to London, and two scripts that he penned are having their premieres this year. 

He graduated from Boston College in 1972 with a degree in English. He described his experience at Boston College as "fantastic," and says he "has fond memories" and is "really looking forward to coming back to the campus." 

Past Alumni Award Recipients

Taccone is the tenth recipient of the BC Arts Council Alumni Award. Previous awards were given to the following Boston College alumni: actor and producer Chris O'Donnell '92 in 2003; singer/songwriter Ellis Paul '87 (Paul Plissey) in 2004; photographer James Balog '74 in 2005; comedian/actress Amy Poehler '93 in 2006; Boston's SpeakEasy Stage Company founder Paul Daigneault '87 in 2007; filmmaker and actor Tom McCarthy '88 in 2008; distinguished poet Brendan J. Galvin '60 in 2009; playwright and screenwriter Bill Cain, S.J. '70 in 2010, and award-winning author Chuck Hogan '89 in 2011.

Boston College Arts Festival: April 26-28, 2012

A popular annual rite of spring, the Arts Festival includes a full slate of performing, visual and literary arts events and celebrates the rich tradition of the arts on campus. Featuring more than 80 events, most of which are free, it showcases artists with a diverse range of talents and interest. Venues are handicapped accessible. 

For more information: For a complete schedule of events during the three-day Boston College Arts Festival-including locations and updates-the public may visit the Arts Festival web site at www.bc.edu/artsfestival or call the Hotline at (617) 552-ARTS (2787). [Please note: Schedule is subject to change. Events with admission fees are indicated. Rain or shine.]

 

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