Tony Taccone, Artistic Director of Berkeley Rep, Set For SDCF Conversation Series, 1/17

Tony Taccone, Artistic Director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, will discuss Artistic Leadership on Monday, January 17, at 10:15am at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 W 42nd Street), as part of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation's (SDCF) ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION series on the topic of Artistic Leadership.

This year's ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONs examine aspects of Artistic Leadership, delving into subjects such as balancing an artistic career while leading an organization, influencing leadership within the field outside of the institutional setting, developing supportive relationships among artists to further the industry, and finding opportunity for practicing artists to shape the arts landscape and maintain the artists' presence.

Tony Taccone is enjoying his 14th year as artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where he has staged more than 35 shows-including world premieres by Culture Clash, Rinde Eckert, David
Edgar, Danny Hoch, Geoff Hoyle, Quincy Long and Itamar Moses. Taccone made his Broadway debut with Bridge & Tunnel, which was universally lauded by the critics and won a Tony Award for its star, Sarah Jones. In 2009, he returned to Broadway to direct Carrie Fisher's WISHFUL DRINKING, which set box-office records at Berkeley Rep before enjoying a six-city national tour. Taccone commissioned Tony Kushner's legendary ANGELS IN AMERICA, co-directed its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum and has collaborated with Kushner on seven projects.
Their production of BRUNDIBAR featured designs by beloved children's author Maurice Sendak; it debuted at Berkeley Rep and then traveled to Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven and the New Victory Theatre in New York, where it sold out its run and was nominated for two Drama Desk
Awards. Two of Taccone's recent shows transferred to London: CONTINENTAL DIVIDE played the Barbican in 2004, and TINY KUSHNER will play the Tricycle Theatre this fall. His other regional credits include Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage, Arizona Repertory Theatre, Center Theatre Group, the Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, the Huntington Theatre Company, The Public Theater, San Jose Repertory Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre, as well as San Francisco's
Eureka Theatre where he served six years as artistic director before coming to Berkeley Rep. Taccone has served on the faculty at UC Berkeley and the board of Theatre Communications Group, and acted as a regional representative for the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. In 2011, two scripts penned by Taccone will have their premieres: GHOST LIGHT at OSF and Rita Moreno: LIFE WITHOUT MAKEUP at Berkeley Rep.

SDCF Programming, including the One-on-One Conversation Series, is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Each ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION is audiotaped for future podcast in "SDCF's Masters of the Stage," a collaboration with AmericanTheatreWing.org. Future conversations will feature Tony
Taccone, Artistic Director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, among others.

Founded in 1965 by Members of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) is the nation's premier organization that exists to foster, train, support and promote the craft of theatre Directors and Choreographers. SDFC aims to provide opportunities to practice the crafts of direction and choreography; promote emerging talent; grant access to career paths for emerging artists and young professionals; gather and disseminate craft and career information; provide forums for exchange of knowledge; and increase the awareness of the value of Directors' and Choreographers' work.

Tickets for the ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION with Tony Taccone on Monday, January 17 at 10:15am at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 W 42nd Street) are $10 cash only at the door ($5 with SDC Membership). Seating is limited. To reserve tickets, please RSVP to Foundation@SDCweb.org.

For additional information, visit SDC online at SDCweb.org.

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