There's a changing of the guard taking place at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. George Cuttingham has served as the institution's leader since 1977, but he's about to retire, to be replaced by Gene Terruso, the eighth President in the school's 114-year history. Cuttingham will stay on as a Trustee and Executive Committee member.
Terruso, who received a masters in directing from Rutgers University, has staged plays at Playwrights Horizons and the Provincetown Playhouse, both in New York. He has served as chair of the School of Theatre Arts at Northern Illinois University.
Cuttingham oversaw the Academy's gala centennial and helped bring the institution accreditation as a two-year college.
The oldest school for professional actor training in the English-speaking world, the Academy has trained such alumni as Robert Redford, Jason Robards and Colleen Dewhurst.
Announcing the change, Apr. 9, AADA Chairman of the Board Robert E. Wankel praised Cuttingham's "22 years of dedicated and extraordinary service." -- By David Lefkowitz