Ron Tassone To Receive Pittsburgh New Works Festival's 'Lifetime Achievement' Award

The Pittsburgh New Works Festival has named its 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, local choreographer and dancer Ron Tassone.

Originally from Fairbanks, PA in Fayette County, Ron was accepted into the Julliard School of Performing Arts in New York City at age 16. After receiving his BFA from Julliard, he went on to appear in nine original Broadway shows including Gypsy; Subways Are For Sleeping; No Strings; Here’s Love; Fade Out-Fade In; Funny Girl; George M; Billy; and Jimmy. He also danced on many TV shows for major networks and was a Peter Gennaro dancer on the Ed Sullivan Show. He appeared in industrial shows, stock seasons and movies including West Side Story. Ron has also choreographed productions for Kenley Players; Music Fairs, Inc.; and summer theaters in New England Pennsylvania.

Currently, he is a resident choreographer and professor at Point Park University. He established the jazz major within the Point Park dance program and has taken on the role of Director of Dance for 10 years. Ron has choreographed 25 jazz dance works at Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse.

He will join other Lifetime Achievement Award winners such as Barbara Russell, Chris Rawson, Richard Rauh, Marc Masterson and Ted Hoover.

Tassone will be feted during the Pittsburgh New Works Gala on October 7 at 6pm at Rockefeller’s Grille in Kennedy Township. The evening will also include the presentation of the Donna Awards for outstanding work in the twenty-second Pittsburgh New Works Festival.

Reservations for the Gala can be made at www.pittsburghnewworks.org.