Solo or part of a troupe, onstage or behind the scenes, paid or volunteer, each of the five 2010 Heart of the Arts Award nominees gives 100 percent to the bright and varied world of arts and entertainment in Broome County. All this week BAMirror will be providing biographical background about the nominees. We’re also offering you an opportunity to congratulate the nominees and to share a story or two. Today we feature Lou Ligouri, executive director of the Endicott Performing Arts Center.
NOTE TO BCAC MEMBERS: Your HOTA Ballot must be in by 5 p.m. Sept. 7. The three HOTA award recipients and this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award honoree will be announced on Oct. 1. They will receive their awards during the Heart of the Arts Awards Celebration Oct. 8 in the Recital Hall of The Forum in Binghamton.
Lou Ligouri, Executive Director, Endicott Performing Arts Center
Lou Ligouri is a lifelong resident of Broome County. Born and raised in Endicott, Ligouri graduated from SUNY-Binghamton (now Binghamton University) 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. He also worked in the financial services department of BSB Bank & Trust for five years before becoming the executive director of the Endicott Performing Arts Center.
Ligouri has been involved in the performing arts as a performer and producer for many years, appearing with many local theater companies including the St. Anthony Players, SRO Productions, Ballet Arts Theatre and, of course, the EPAC Repertory Company. Some of his performance credits include “Fiddler on the Roof” (Tevye), “Tommy” (Uncle Ernie), “Jesus Christ Superstar” (Ciaphas) and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Senex).
Together with Artistic Director Patrick Foti, Ligouri has helped produce hundreds of shows at EPAC since its inception in 1998. He and Foti also founded 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 various community theater groups.
In 1998 Ligouri and Foti, a 2006 HOTA recipient, took on the challenge of renovating and restoring the historic Lyric Theater in Endicott. They formed the Endicott Performing Arts Center, obtained 501 (c)3 status for the organization and have operated the theater as a full-time presenting venue ever since.
Throughout the years, Ligouri has handled all administrative, marketing, and financial affairs of EPAC. In addition, he is involved in the production of all EPAC shows: obtaining rights, meeting technical and personnel requirements, constructing props and sets, designing posters and scenic projections, editing audio and creating sound effects. You also might find him changing the marquee, shoveling the sidewalks in winter, selling tickets, taking photos of events, writing grants, filing reports, ministering to EPAC’s “IT” requirements and much more.
He is honored to have been nominated for this award. If you wish to offer your congratulations or tell your best Lou Ligouri story, please comment here.
