Thomas A. Cervone Named Managing Director of The Clarence Brown Theatre

The Clarence Brown Theatre, a LORT Theatre in residence at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, has named Thomas A. Cervone as Managing Director.

Cervone will partner with the Artistic Director and UT Theatre Department Head, Calvin MacLean, in the organizational and strategic oversight of a production program which includes a mix of professional and academic offerings. Additionally he will participate in the planning and implementation of all theatre productions; supervise the box office, promotions, marketing, front of house, and production budgets; work with the Advisory board; develop support and recognition for the Department of Theatre's programs through the generation of grants and other fund-raising; and serve as a liaison with local, regional and national organizations.

Over the past five years, Cervone has served as Executive Director of the Dogwood Arts, Managing Director of the University of Tennessee professional MBA program, and Executive Director of the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation. Prior to that, Tom spent 23 years working with the Clarence Brown Theatre, 17 of which as managing director from 1995-2012. Throughout that time, he was very active within the UTK community, having served as Exempt Staff Council chair for many years, co-chair of the LGBT Commission, a member of the Diversity Council as well as many other UTK student, staff and faculty organizations. He also received the Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Service to the University in 2010.

"We are delighted to welcome Tom back to the Clarence Brown Theatre family. Tom's deep experience not only with the CBT but with the League of Resident Theatres, the arts organizations in the Knoxville community, and his long-time relationship with the University of Tennessee makes him an outstanding choice," said MacLean.

Cervone spent many years on the board of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Greater Knoxville, and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the College of Business at Maryville College, the Board of the WordPlayers as well as the inaugural Board of River and Rail Theatre Companies. He also has served as chair of the curriculum committee for Leadership Knoxville and has been a member of their Board as well. Recently, Cervone was appointed to the Foundation Board of West Liberty University, his alma mater. He is a proud and longtime member of the Actors' Equity Association.

Cervone holds his undergraduate degree in Speech and English Education with an emphasis in Theatre from West Liberty University in West Virginia and a Master of Fine Arts and Master of Business Administration from UTK. He is a graduate of and was selected as the Class Representative of the Leadership Knoxville class of 2011. Most recently, he was inducted into West Liberty University's Class of 2015 Wall of Honor.

"Dorothy said it best: 'There's no place like home.' Although my time away was productive, challenging, and valuable, and many lessons learned have certainly allowed me to grow professionally, the CBT is my artistic home, and I'm thrilled and honored to be back in and among the CBT family."

With a dual mission to train the next generation of theatre artists and to provide top quality professional theatre, the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is one of only 12 academic LORT (League of Resident Theatre) institutions in the nation. The CBT Season runs from September through May and features eight productions ranging from musicals to drama.

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