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2010 Heart of the Arts Awards Celebration
Friday, October 8, 2010 6:30 p.m.
The Forum Theatre Recital Hall, Binghamton
HEART OF THE ARTS RECIPIENTS
The Heart of the Arts Award recognizes an individual’s contributions to the arts in Broome County during the past year. There are four stellar recipients this year for three awards, sponsored by IBM Corporation, Frederick R. Xlander Law Offices, Coughlin & Gerhart LLP, and Jennings Environmental Management, Inc. The awards were presented during the 7th Annual Heart of the Arts Awards Celebration on October 8, 2010 at the Forum Theatre in downtown Binghamton. And the recipients are:
Margaret S. "Pokey" Crocker,
Executive Director, The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier
Margaret "Pokey" Crocker held a slew of
arts positions and appointments prior to becoming Executive Director of the
Discovery Center of the Southern Tier in 1989. She was Executive Director of
Tioga County Council on the Arts. She was volunteer coordinator, docent, and Assistant Director of Education
at what was then called Roberson Center for Arts and Sciences.
She served on the boards of Roberson, Tri-Cities Opera,
Southern Tier Institute for Arts in Education, Cider Mill Playhouse.
A Binghamton native, who earned her B.A. and M.A. in art history from Binghamton
University, Pokey told BU’s Alumni Journal in 2004 that all of her previous positions helped her build not only
credentials and background, but also "spirit for the arts in the community".
With that spirit, she transformed a framework for an organizational plan into a thriving Discovery Center, the only general children’s museum within an 80 mile radius of Greater Binghamton. Under Pokey’s leadership since it opened in 1990, the Discovery Center has grown into a 23,000 square foot facility, where hundreds of elementary age school children every week are entertained and educated through artful play and programs. The Center offers an accredited pre-K and afterschool program, summer camp programming, in-service training sessions for teachers and weekend workshops for families. The Center provides ‘real-world’ opportunities for observation and community involvement for education majors from Broome Community College and Binghamton University. The place is charged with the love that Pokey brings to her role as mission architect, arts and child advocate, chief fundraiser, and determined visionary for a better future for her hometown.
Pokey is an award-winning member of the Junior League of Binghamton and a recipient of numerous honors, including the 2009 Woman of Distinction Award. She currently serves on the boards of Broome County United Way, Chenango River Theatre, Binghamton City Schools Foundation, Building Better Future Broome, and recently completed board service with Rafael Grigorian Ballet Theater. Pokey actively pursues her interest in painting, dance, theater, music, literature, interior decorating, historical research, cooking, travel, sailing and people… in her spare time.
William "Billy" Carroll,
IATSE Local #54 Business Agent and Crew Chief
More widely known to the Greater Binghamton arts community as "Droop", William Carroll has been a part of the arts
scene here for quite some time. Since 1980 as a stagehand, and currently business agent / crew chief for Local 54 of
the International Alliance of Theatre Stage Employees (IATSE) his primary function is to manage and arrange
technical support for all productions at the Forum Theatre
and the Broome County Veteran’s Memorial Arena. He has been an integral part of each and every arts
organization that presents at these locations including Tri-Cities
Opera, The Broadway Theatre League, and
The Binghamton Philharmonic, and countless
concerts, dance performances, graduation ceremonies and community functions. He is always willing to "go the extra
mile" by helping many groups who may not have expertise in lighting design or production management make certain
their show is a success. You may also see Droop outside of the Arena and the Forum as he is responsible for technical
crew support at events such as The Spiedie Fest, The Dicks Open,
and can also be found "barking orders" at Binghamton University’s Event Center and Anderson Center.
A 1976 graduate of Binghamton High School, although never "formally" schooled in technical theatre, he has a broad and diverse knowledge of his craft. He is most willing to share his abilities with all who need his help. William Carroll is by nature, more comfortable "behind the scenes" but his friends know that he is at times more than willing to steal the spotlight with an occasional dance on top of a speaker cluster (check it out on Youtube)!
He is honored to be among this distinguished list of arts advocates and wishes to congratulate his fellow recipients and thank the Broome County Arts Council for this very special recognition.
Lou Ligouri
Executive Director, Endicott Performing Arts Center
Lou Ligouri
is a lifelong resident of Broome County. Born and raised in Endicott, NY, Lou graduated from SUNY Binghamton with a Masters Degree in Management Science and worked for The Prudential Insurance
Company for 25 years as a representative, Sales Manager, and General Manager. Lou also worked for BSB Bank & Trust
as representative and sales manager in its financial services department for 5 years before becoming the Executive
Director of the Endicott Performing Arts Center.
Lou has been involved in the performing arts as a performer and producer for many years. He has appeared with many local theater companies including The St. Anthony Players, SRO Productions, Ballet Arts Theater, and of course the EPAC Repertory Company. Some of Lou’s performance credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye), Tommy (Uncle Ernie), Jesus Christ Superstar (Ciaphas), Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Senex). Together with Patrick Foti, Lou has helped produce hundreds of shows at EPAC since its inception in 1998. He and Pat were the original founders of one of the first children’s theater workshops in the area in 1996—The St. Anthony Players Youth Troupe. The EPAC Kids Theater Workshop and School for the Performing Arts today provides theater and music education to hundreds of children annually. A number of EPAC Kids Theater alumni have gone on to careers in the performing arts and many participate in local productions with many community theater groups.
In 1998 Lou and his partner Pat Foti took on the challenge of the renovation and restoration of the historic Lyric Theater in Endicott. They formed The Endicott Performing Arts Center, Lou obtained 501(c)3 status for the organization, and EPAC has operated as a full time presenting venue ever since.
Throughout the years, Lou has handled all administrative, marketing, and financial affairs of EPAC. In addition, he is involved in the production of all EPAC shows in terms of obtaining rights for shows, technical requirements, personnel requirements, and many other aspects of the theater production. You might find Lou changing the marquee for each event, shoveling the sidewalks in winter, selling tickets, taking photos of events, writing grants, filing reports, ministering to EPAC’s "IT" requirements, and much more.
Lou has many varied interests in the arts. He is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, woodcarver, photographer, copy writer, and also handles many of the graphic needs for EPAC including scenic projections, poster design, prop and set construction. Lou also handles audio editing and sound effects for many of EPAC’s productions.
Pam Ondrusek
President, SRO Productions III
Pam is currently
the President of the Board of SRO Productions III.
SRO Productions is a not for profit community theatre company that has been part of the Broome County Arts scene for
over 25 years. SRO’s mission is to entertain, educate & enrich the Greater Binghamton Area through community
involvement in the performing arts. She is a native of Binghamton and has been part of SRO Productions since
the early 80’s. Pam’s involvement in theatre started when she was asked to make a costume by Michele Tully,
(founding member of SRO productions & the ME theatre program) for Maine Endwell High School’s first theatrical
production, Godspell. She was immediately hooked when attending her first rehearsal. She volunteered for
SRO shortly there after and became involved in many different aspects. In the early 90’s she was asked to join
the board. She has held the position of treasurer and was then elected President. Pam is a behind the scenes
person who has been producer, fund raiser, set painter, house & box office manager for most of SRO’s shows.
When asked about her role in the company, she calls herself an organizer and general encourager of all the
talented performers within SRO. In addition to SRO she has helped other companies in the area including Jan
DeAngelo & Company, The Dance Connection, Know Theatre
and several area high schools. Her selfless commitment and numerous hours of involvement have been an integral
part of providing people in this area with the opportunity to perform in and see high quality entertainment.
Pam also runs the volunteer usher program for the Broadway
Theatre League at the Forum which affords high school students the opportunity to see Broadway quality
productions. Pam’s full time day job is in Human Resources and Administration at JCPenney in the Oakdale Mall.
She is honored to receive this recognition and wishes to thank Michele Tully for involving her in the joy of theatre so many years ago.
