Improvising Every Second

The secret history of Austin Circle of Theaters director Latifah Taormina, from Second City to the Committee and beyond

"...Case in point: Latifah Taormina, the tall yet sprightly white-haired woman who keeps..."

March 10, 2006 Arts Feature by Lowell Bartholomee

Austin Creative Alliance

After a decade of leading the arts service organization, Latifah Taormina retires

"...Latifah Taormina answered the ad thinking the post she was..."

April 29, 2011 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Articulations

Real drama bled into the staged kind when actress Latifah Taormina cut herself during a performance of Adam Sobsey's Hang Town Fry, and Salvage Vanguard releases The Cry Pitch Carrolls on CD.

"...Town Fry at the Central Market Cooking School. Actress Latifah Taormina, in character as a chef preparing the title..."

April 13, 2001 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Free Night of Theater 2006: Encore run, still no charge

After a smash debut in 2005, the Free Night of Theater goes nationwide, with 300 performances across the country – including 21 in Austin – being offered at no charge

"...of the Association of Performing Arts Service Organizations," says Latifah Taormina, ACoT's managing director. "We have an annual conference..."

Oct. 6, 2006 Arts Feature by Barry Pineo

Articulations

People and organizations on the move: KMFA and the Austin Circle of Theatres look for new homes, and Austin Theatre Alliance CEO Dan Fallon and KMFA Director of Broadcast Operations Randy Harriman leave their respective companies.

"...the former Baird's Bakery at 701 Tillery. Executive Director Latifah Taormina says the new location will offer the organization..."

June 28, 2002 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Little Big Plan

The Austin Creative Alliance proves it can think big by thinking small

"...the board to the staff following the retirement of Latifah Taormina in April. He said she brought to the..."

Aug. 12, 2011 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Plan, Be

The citizens who spent years dreaming up CreateAustin are now working to make it real

"...of the Long Center for the Performing Arts; and Latifah Taormina, executive director of the Austin Circle of Theaters...."

Sept. 25, 2009 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Two Into War

Different Stages' pairing of Naomi Wallace's 'The Retreating World' and Fraser Grace's 'Gifts of War' offers solo portraits of two victims of war, staged with sensitive simplicity

"...powerless, while the other hides a terrible secret. Director Latifah Taormina stages the plays with sensitive simplicity, and while..."

Feb. 3, 2006 Arts Review by Barry Pineo

Articulations

Playwright Adam Sobsey cooks up some drama at Central Market, the UT Department of Theatre & Dance serves up six weeks of new works, and UT student Kristi McGarity snags the 2001 SEAMUS / ASCAP prize.

"...stars executive director of the Austin Circle of Theaters, Latifah Taormina, who in her pre-ACoT life was a founding..."

March 30, 2001 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Articulations

Austin won't be a capital of culture in 2004, Martha Norkunas won't be the director of Texas Folklife Resources, and Lana Dieterich won't be opening 'Always … Patsy Cline' this week

"...auditions and cast Austin Circle of Theaters Executive Director Latifah Taormina. Break a leg, Latifah, and get well soon,..."

Jan. 16, 2004 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Crisis & Opportunity: An Open, Structured Dialogue

A conversation about the state of the arts turned out to be open and frank

"...to bring on more business-savvy board members and supporters. Latifah Taormina, ACA's former executive director, suggested that they may..."

June 17, 2011 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

New Works Theater Community

Austin theatre groups band together and land $90,000 to support making new work

"...the process, and Greater Austin Creative Alliance Executive Director Latifah Taormina arranged for the alliance to serve as the..."

Oct. 29, 2010 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Shannon Sedwick

The once and future queen of Esther's Follies receives a special B. Iden Payne award

"...she especially liked getting the word from Executive Director Latifah Taormina, who has a notable background in comedy herself,..."

Oct. 16, 2009 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Free Night of Theater 2007: See a bit of drama, on the house

Time again for your annual chance to sample what area thespians do, at no cost

"...those kinds of numbers, is it any wonder that Latifah Taormina, executive director of local sponsoring organization the Austin..."

Oct. 5, 2007 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

The Play About the Baby

Though the baby in Edward Albee's 'The Play About the Baby' may or may not exist, the play is funny and, in its evocation of a traumatic dream state, terribly, horribly frightening

"...for a venue for The House of Yes, and Latifah Taormina at ACoT pointed us to play!," says Coda..."

July 14, 2006 Arts Feature by Barry Pineo

Payne Pleasures 2004

Sam Bass Theatre's Forever Plaid took top honors at the 30th anniversary B. Iden Payne Awards

"...Latifah Taormina (Always ... Patsy Cline)..."

Oct. 8, 2004 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

New Leader for the Long

Dallas area arts administrator Cliff Redd named executive director of the Long Center for the Performing Arts

"...of Comstock Connections and chair of the Sana Group; Latifah Taormina, executive director of the Austin Circle of Theaters;..."

June 25, 2004 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Do Kill the Messenger

Guest performers bring cameo cutups to Tongue and Groove Theatre's production of The Comedy of Errors

"...June 24: Latifah Taormina, executive director of Austin Circle of Theaters..."

June 11, 2004 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Arts Folks Nix Tex Tix Tax

When the Texas Legislature sought to pay for a property tax cut with a tax on performing arts events, local arts groups mobilized and made their opposition heard

"...of Theatres Board President Bruce McCann and Executive Director Latifah Taormina were among those on the front lines, contacting..."

May 21, 2004 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Always … Patsy Cline

The Zachary Scott Theatre Center production of 'Always … Patsy Cline' radiates a warmth that draws the audience in close, to share a cozy moment with a star

"...production cuts through the mawkishness and Lone Star hokum. Latifah Taormina's Louise effuses such a genuine enthusiasm for Cline,..."

Feb. 13, 2004 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Articulations

Oklahoma!, A Macbeth, and Art were the big winners at the 27th Annual B. Iden Payne Awards.

"...is where he met and befriended ACoT Executive Director Latifah Taormina. As special guest emcee, Hesseman acquitted himself well,..."

Sept. 28, 2001 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Articulations

The winners of the 26th annual B. Iden Payne awards for local theatre..

"...new executive director for ACoT (Second City founding member Latifah Taormina, making a stylish and spirited debut). The three-and-a-half..."

Sept. 22, 2000 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Articulations

Another Austin theatre company suffers a mid-performance disaster and responds to it with resourcefulness and pluck, and the Austin Community College Drama Department marks Shakespeare's 437th birth with an all-star "Billy Bash."

"...reported on the onstage drama that took place when Latifah Taormina cut herself during a performance of Hang Town..."

April 20, 2001 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Guide to Austin Improv

The venues, events, troupes, and individuals who have transformed Austin into a "Yes, and" boomtown

"...theatre ensemble, as determined by the improv community itself. Latifah Taormina, ACoT's executive director at the time and an..."

Aug. 26, 2016 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Shaken, Not Deterred

Despite the many upheavals in 2011, Austin's arts scene perseveres

"...Blanton Museum of Art; Ken Stein, Austin Theatre Alliance; Latifah Taormina, Austin Creative Alliance; Kevin Patterson, Austin Lyric Opera;..."

Jan. 6, 2012 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Control Shift

Thoughts on adjusting to hard times from former opera director Kevin Patterson

"...the Blanton, Ken Stein leaving the Austin Theatre Alliance, Latifah Taormina leaving the Austin Creative Alliance, Vincent Kitch leaving..."

May 13, 2011 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

2009 B. Iden Payne Awards

The crowd came to honor local theatre but left impressed by Austin's strong comedy scene

"...Sixties. And a new award established by Executive Director Latifah Taormina harkened back to the early Payne Awards, when..."

Oct. 23, 2009 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Payne Pleasures 2004

Latest ACoT theatre-award nominations favor two Austin musicals

"...Latifah Taormina, Always ... Patsy Cline..."

Aug. 20, 2004 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Applause! Applause!

The full list of winners for the 2003-2004 Austin Critics Table Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in local theatre, dance, classical music, and visual art

"...Latifah Taormina, Always ... Patsy Cline..."

June 11, 2004 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Austin Critics Table Nominations, 2003-2004

The full list of nominations for the 2003-2004 Austin Critics Table Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in local theatre, dance, classical music, and visual art

"...Latifah Taormina, Always ... Patsy Cline..."

May 14, 2004 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

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