Tom Cervone and his wife, Susan Creswell
“I feel like I’ve jumped from AAA baseball into the major leagues,” said an ecstatic Tom Cervone Thursday night at a reception celebrating his new position as executive director of the Historic Tennessee Theatre. Cervone, the former managing director of the University of Tennessee’s Clarence Brown Theatre Company, said he is “committed to expanding progress and opening the doors more often and to more people.”
More than 100 folks filled the Tennessee’s beautiful lobby to visit with one another and with Tom and his wife, Susan Creswell. In addition to Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, many of the guests were members of the Tennessee and Clarence Brown theater communities.
Mark Mamantov, chairman of the board of the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, described Cervone as “the absolutely perfect person for managing the theater” because of his experience, technical knowledge and people skills. He said Cervone was selected from among over 100 applicants for the position.
County Commissioner Ed Shouse, left, with Mark Mamantov, chairman of the board of the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation
As managing director of Clarence Brown Theatre, Cervone was the principal administrator of the academic and production aspects of the theater and kept the theater moving towards its operational, fiscal, artistic and philosophical goals. “This is what I’ve been working for all my life, to lead an organization with the kind of history the Tennessee Theatre has and the passion this community has for that theater,” Cervone said at the time his selection was announced.
On Thursday, Mayor Rogero made reference to the feeling the Tennessee Theatre generates in the community. “You could probably sell tickets for people to just sit in the auditorium!” she laughed.
Cervone got the theater bug at an early age. His interest in theater first manifested itself in elementary school and fully developed through his involvement with high school productions. At West Liberty University in West Virginia, he focused his studies on the performing arts, developing his skills and gaining experience. Upon graduation, he spent 11 years in the corporate world honing his business skills, but he found he missed the performing arts.
In 1989, Cervone moved to Knoxville to complete a master’s of fine arts degree in performance at the University of Tennessee. Even before he graduated in 1993, the University of Tennessee had offered him a job at Clarence Brown, assisting the managing director. He was promoted to replace the managing director upon her departure in 1995. He received his masters in business administration degree from UT in 2010. It proved to be a perfect combination of experience and training for Cervone’s important new job.
“I want to celebrate what we have in Knoxville, this palpable, forward-thinking arts movement, and take it one step further, allowing the Tennessee Theatre to be a performing arts mecca in Knoxville,” Cervone said.
We at Moxley Carmichael are proud to have worked with both the Tennessee Theatre and the Clarence Brown Theatre often throughout the years. We congratulate Tom and wish him all the success in the world as he and the board work to make the theater even more sustainable in the future.
From left, Tennessee Theatre Foundation board chair Mark Mamantov, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Tom Cervone
From left, Knoxville Convention Center executive director Mary Bogert, County Commissioner Dave Wright, state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey and Pat Wright
Crowd gathered in lobby to listen to brief remarks
The Johnson Swingtet, one of our favorite local bands, provided mellow music.
Knoxville Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis and City Councilman Daniel Brown
From left, Dorothy Stair, City Councilman Mark Campen, Gay Lyons and Caesar Stair
From left, Terry Gillingham, Bob Petrone, Bruce Hartmann, Mayor Rogero, Mary Bogert and Tom Cervone
Greg Dunn, left, with Mayor Burchett and Doris Sharp
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee, left, with state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey
From left, Bill Regas, Jimmy Buckner, Janet Crossley and Alan Carmichael
Monique Anderson, left, with Betsey Creekmore and Thomas "Tank" Strickland
From left, Tom Bugg, Judith Foltz, Gay Lyons and Jimmy Buckner
Municipal Judge John Rosson and Mintha Roach
Mary Bogert, left, with Angela Howard and Rick Stone
Mayor Rogero, left, with Ruth Atkinson and Larry Aldridge, both of the Daily Times
Tom Cervone, left, and his good Clarence Brown Theatre buddy, Jimmy Brimer
Gideon Fryer and Georgiana Vines
Dr. Bill Snyder, right, with Dr. Robert and Edwina Harvey
Chris and Amy Stokes, representing U.S. Cellular
Jean Creswell and Sharon Ward
Pam Fansler, left, and Mintha Roach
From left, Kim Bumpas, Mary Bogert, Leanna Belew and Kim Davis
Kim Trent with her daughter, Kate
Tom Jester and Jenny Hines
David and Lorie Matthews
Tank Strickland, right, with Doris and Jack Sharp
Eric Schwarzentraub, left, with Tom Cervone, Mayor Rogero and Mayor Burchett
Tammy White, left, with Jimmy Brimer and Nancy Young
Tom and Melanie Wood
Jed Dance, right, with Bill and Rhonda Rice
Bruce Anderson, left, and Alan Carmichael
Great pictures. Fay Bailey
That was a great gathering of people who truly care about the Tennessee Theatre and the arts in Knoxville!