Grand Opening of the
John E. Palmer Cultural Center May 8, 2010
The American School in Switzerland
Dedicated in gratitude to
J o h n E . Pa l m e r 1946 — 2007 TASIS Class of 1964
for his generosity in giving this Cultural Center to the students and teachers of TASIS, in the hope that they would have the ennobling educational experience that he received at this school
18:00 The John E. Palmer Cultural Center Opening
g Backstage to Center Stage, video montage by Michele Josue ’97
g Selections from South Pacific by TASIS students Musical Director, Jonathan Morris
g Recognition of Donors
g Premier of Raise the Gate, a new composition by Todd Fletcher Performed by the Palmer Ensemble & Singers, TASIS students, teachers, alumni, and Coro Lauretano 19:00 Cocktail Hour
g Serving Mrs. Fleming’s signature drink, the Bourbon Old Fashioned
20:00 Black and White Gala Dinner
g The Prayer, sung by Seniors Elisa Lim and Richard Parsons, accompanied by Jonathan Morris
g Presentation to our Honoree Alumni & Performing Arts Faculty
g Dancing
g TASIS photo booth
Faculty Honorees Todd first joined the TASIS family as a CDE counselor in 1988. He impressed everyone by writing five musicals for the program between 1988 and 1991. In 1999, Lynn Fleming Aeschliman commissioned him to write an original musical about Mrs. Fleming for her 90th birthday celebration. Todd primarily works in Berlin, where he runs a series of programs for disadvantaged youth through his nonprofit organization PluralArts International. He also created a music and theater workshop for Israeli and Palestinian teenagers, which brings them to a castle in Germany for two weeks of discussions and creativity, culminating in an original musical performed by the teens. In addition to writing and composing musicals and his charitable work, Todd is also a screenwriter and has several projects currently in development. Todd Fletcher Kay came to TASIS in 1996 after years of teaching in the US, Aruba, Egypt, and Tanzania. Irreverent and fun, Kay is adored by her students, and she gets exceptional performances from her actors. Kay has inspired countless students throughout the years. She encourages those not keen on the spotlight to get involved in set or production design. Highlights of her 14-year TASIS career include Arsenic and Old Lace, The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, A Comedy of Errors, The Tempest, The Bald Soprano, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Musical productions include MCF: What a Life!, Oliver!, South Pacific, Oklahoma!, and Bye Bye Birdie. Kay is retiring this year to be near her family in California. Chris spent five years (1987 to 1992) as Music Director at TASIS. An accomplished pianist, conductor, musicologist, and music historian, Chris was known as a strict taskmaster but a motivating and positive teacher. His faculty choir was a highlight of the work week for many colleagues. Chris returned to TASIS in 1994 to perform the challenging Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2 at the Arts Festival. Educated at Yale, Oberlin College, and Harvard, Chris has taught at the New England Conservatory of Music, Marymount International Schools in Rome and Paris, St. Mark’s School in Massachusetts, and Harare International School in Zimbabwe. He is currently Headmaster of Florence International School. Gary came to TASIS as Music Director in 1992. During his eight years of service, he led the choirs in a set of ambitious performances, including Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, and Fauré’s Requiem. He also served as vocal coach for Godspell, Guys and Dolls, Grease, and Oliver! Educated at Kingston University, London, and Homerton College, Cambridge, he also holds a Licentiate Diploma in trumpet playing from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. In the summer of 1998 Gary was also appointed Musical Director of the SGIS Choir in Montreux. Gary currently lives in the UK with his wife Kim and works as a music teacher in a large comprehensive school in Brighton.
Kay Hamblin
Chris Maggio
Gary Malins
Candace taught English and Drama at TASIS from 1991 to 1996. Students were encouraged by her enthusiasm and approachability, and many tried acting for the first time under her guidance. She encouraged the most able students to explore their creativity, writing their own script, casting, and directing. Plays she directed at TASIS included Dancing in Lughnasa, Lady Precious Stream, Stepping Out, and The Crucible. After leaving TASIS Candace and husband Simon moved to the US, first to upstate New York and then to Virginia, where she has continued to teach English where she continues to teach music and stage ambitious, high-quality plays and musicals at the Carlisle School.’ Candace OwenWilliams
Alumni Honorees “I consider my time at TASIS as being the first major step of
my musical career. TASIS opened my eyes to the possibilities of following one’s dreams, and boy am I ever grateful!” - Jeanie Cunningham ‘75
Ken Biller ’82
Writer, Producer, and Director Ken has written, produced, and/or directed over 300 hours of television for most of the major networks and studios. His many credits include serving as Executive Producer and head writer for E-Ring, starring Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper on NBC, Six Degrees, starring Hope Davis and Campbell Scott on ABC, and StarTrek:Voyager on UPN. He also served as Co-Executive Producer of the series North Shore, Smallville, and Dark Angel, starring Jessica Alba. He has most recently served as Executive Producer and head writer for the action-fantasy series Legend of the Seeker which he developed for television and is currently broadcast in more than 120 countries around the world. He also has future projects in development at both ABC and TNT. Prior to working in television, Ken co-produced the theatrical productions Nunsense in Boston and Chicago, and Mail on Broadway.
Jeanie Cunningham ’75
www.thecomposerscorner.com Writer, Singer, and Composer Jeanie wrote her first song at the tender age of 8. While at TASIS her senior year (1974-1975), she attended a Tina Turner concert in Zurich and was so moved by the performance that she went backstage after the show. Jeanie played a song on guitar for Tina and ended up on their European tour for four days. The winner of the Excellence in Music Award, Jeanie returned to LA after TASIS and reconnected with Ike and Tina Turner, which began her career as a songwriter and performer. Jeanie has also performed with David Crosby and Lionel Ritchie, and has written music for Mitsubishi, Chevron, Epson, Toshiba, Yamaha, and Tupperware. Her discography includes seven albums and two DVDs (as JaeCie) and music for the new musical Dula. She also is producer and star of The Composer’s Corner, a TV show exploring the art of songwriting and music technology. www.bradfordfarwell.com Actor and Writer Brad attended TASIS as a PG from 1983-1984, performing in theater under Larry Lowe. He went on to attend the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where he developed a love for the classics of theater. He won the award for Most Promising Newcomer at the Stratford Festival in Ontario in 1998. He has performed at many respected venues throughout America, including the Seattle Rep, Nebraska Shakespeare, Tacoma Actor’s Guild, Madison Rep, American Players Theatre, and the Stratford Festival. He has also worked in film and television and has done extensive voiceover work. He is also a playwright.
Brad Farwell PG ’84
TV Actor and Director Darby was already a child star when he came to TASIS in 1974. He was cast in TV commercials at six months old and spent his childhood acting. Darby is best known for his role as Israel Boone in the popular television show Daniel Boone. After graduating from TASIS, he stayed on to teach an acting class in the TASIS Summer Program. He continued to make TV appearances while in college at Pepperdine University. Other TV credits include Hawaii Five-0, Magnum P.I., The Fall Guy, Days of Our Lives, Knot’s Landing, and Beverly Hills 90210. He has established a second career in life coaching for children and adults in the film and television business. He is married and has four children. Darby Hinton ’75
Actor and Director www.teatrodelledue.com Ollie attended TASIS for six years as a day student and performed in many TASIS drama productions throughout the years. She graduated in 1999 as Salutatorian and won the H. Miller Crist Award. Ollie has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Brown University and has studied at New York’s HB Studios and at the UCB Theater. In 2006, Ollie co-founded Teatro delle Due, a not-for-profit cultural association based in Reggio Emilia, to bring engaging, professional Shakespeare productions to Italians in the original language, and to provide American and British theater professionals with an opportunity to live and work in close contact with Italian culture. Ollie Rasini ’99
Singer and Composer www.jacksavoretti.com Jack attended TASIS for six years as a day student, and made a name for himself by reciting his poetry during Parents Weekend as a seventh grader. Jack loved poetry, and with the gift of a guitar at age 16, he discovered songwriting. He spent the summer of 1999 at TASIS England, where his music teacher called him “the most versatile young musician I have ever worked with...he can play the keyboard, guitar, bass, and drums very well. He also has shown a gift for song composition.” After graduation, Jack moved to London and thanks to an offhand comment to his hairdresser, soon found himself at the De Angelis management offices, where they signed him on the spot. Jack has released two albums and his music has been used in the US television shows Grey’s Anatomy and One Tree Hill, and the film Post Grad.
Jack Savoretti ’01
Actor, Director, and Producer Billy spent his sophomore year at TASIS, in 1981-1982, where he acted in The Fantasticks and made his directorial debut (and earned extra credit) with a promotional video during Ski Term. A native of Chicago, Billy graduated from the Francis W. Parker School and went on to a successful Hollywood career that has spanned 25 years. Billy’s television credits include 21 Jump Street, Murder She Wrote, Twin Peaks, and Charmed. He has appeared in dozens of films, including major roles in Memphis Belle, Dead Calm, The Phantom, The Believer (winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001) and Titanic. He also starred on the London stage in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2006). In 2009, he was a member of the jury at the Beverly Hills Film Festival. Billy Zane ’84
The John E. Palmer Cultural Center In Gratitude to the Benefactors Theater Entry Foyer Upper Lobby Stage Gallery Terrace Bridge Piazza Portico Balcony Technical Booth Lights Dressing Room Set & Prop Room Director´s Office Catwalks
Mr. John E. Palmer ´64 (1946-2007) The Honorable Holland H. Coors & Family Mr. Curtis McGraw Webster ´75 Mr. Robert Perkin PG ´66 VF International Mr. & Mrs. Richard PG ´65 & Paulise Bell II Mr. & Mrs. Steve PG ´61 & Yvonne Maloney Mr. Donald MacDermid PG ´62 Mr. & Mrs. John ´60 & Amy Gage Ms. Jane Goldman ´74 Mr. Curtis McGraw Webster ´75 Curtis W. McGraw Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Roberto & Claude Vaglietti, Parents Mr. & Mrs. Richard & Anne Mastain, Parents Gov. Bola & Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, Parents Mr. & Mrs. Jan ´68 & Birgitta Opsahl Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd & Annegret De Vos, Parents
Donors $2,000,000+ Mr. John E. Palmer ´64 (1946-2007) $250,000-1,000,000 Mr. Curtis McGraw Webster ´75 & the Curtis W. McGraw Foundation $100,000 - 250,000 Mr. & Mrs. Richard PG ´65 & Paulise Bell II The Honorable Holland H. Coors & Family Mr. Donald MacDermid ´62 Mr. & Mrs. Steven PG ´61 & Yvonne Maloney Mr. Robert Perkin PG ´66 VF International $50,000-99,999 Mr. & Mrs. John ´60 & Amy Gage Mr. & Mrs. Richard & Anne Mastain Gov. Bola & Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu Mr. & Mrs. Roberto & Claude Vaglietti $25,000-49,999 Mr. & Mrs. Menno & Helga De Kant Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd & Annegret De Vos Ms. Jane Goldman ´74 Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Jane Grindfors Mrs. Alexandra Heumann Wicki ´80 Mr. & Mrs. Jan ´68 & Birgitta Opsahl $15,000-24,999 Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Petra Appels Mrs. Sebnem Berker Mr. & Mrs. Stuart & Joanna Brown Mrs. M. Crist Fleming, Founder (1910-2009)
Mr. & Mrs. David & June Mair Ms. Babs Mumma ´67 Mr. & Mrs. Hans-Joachim & Doris Schmidt $10,000-14,999 - Theater-Angel Seats Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Petra Appels Mr. Harry Belin in memory of Peter Graham Belin ´69 (1950-1990) Mr. & Mrs. Richard PG ´65 & Paulise Bell II Mr. Feyyaz Berker Mrs. Sebnem Berker Mr. & Mrs. Riccardo & Giusi Braglia Mr. & Mrs. Stuart & Joanna Brown Mr. & Mrs. Menno & Helga De Kant Mr. & Mrs. William & Pam Doyle Mrs. M. Crist Fleming, Founder (1910-2009) Mr. Todd Fletcher Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Jane Grindfors Mrs. Alexandra Heumann Wicki ´80 Mr. & Mrs. Stanislav & Natalia Laborinskis Mr. & Mrs. David & June Mair Ms. Babs Mumma ´67 PG Class of 1966 Mr. & Mrs. Hans-Joachim & Doris Schmidt Ms. Theresa Thompson PG ´65 $7,500-9,999 - Premier Seats Mr. & Mrs. Richard PG ´65 & Paulise Bell II Mrs. Sebnem Berker Mr. Fernando Gonzalez Mr. & Mrs. David & June Mair Ms. Babs Mumma ´67 Mrs. Kathryn Pitner ´62 $5,000-7,499 – Theater-Lover Seats Dr. & Mrs. Michael & Lynn Fleming ´63 Aeschliman Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Petra Appels Mr. & Mrs. Stuart & Joanna Brown Bulgari Lugano Mr. & Mrs. Massimo & Marta Catemario di Quadri Mr. Christian Draz ´70 in memory of Leslie Houssels ´70 (1953-1980) Mr. & Mrs. Massimo & Jhu Lee Fantechi Mr. William T. Fleming III ´61 Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Jane Grindfors Mr. & Mrs. Bill SH ´63 & Jackie Gage Mrs. Alexandra Heumann´80 & Andreas Wicki Mr. & Mrs. Stanislav & Natalia Laborinskis Mr. Ned Lynch PG ´66 Mr. Robert Perkin PG ´66 Mr. & Mrs. Ettore & Adriana Petrini Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas & Shelley Schorsch Gov. Bola & Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu Mr. & Mrs. Hans & Martha Wiedemann
$2,500-4,999 – Theater-Fan Seats Mr. Sergey Atanasov Mr. Ernest C. “Ford” Barrett III ´59 in memory of Diana Barrett (1949-2005) Mr. & Mrs. Stefano & Carol Borghi Mrs. Judy Callaway Brand ´63 Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Anna Bright Mrs. Kathleen Budge Mr. Rocco Cambria & Mrs. Anna Corso Mazzo Mrs. Viviana Camponovo Mr. Yau-Loi Charles Chan Mr. & Mrs. Eric & Sylvie Chassagnade Mr. Chihming Chu Mrs. Marina Clerici Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey & Paula Danoff Mr. & Mrs. Andrew & Jeanne Doremus Ms. Kimberly Edwards ´98 Mr. & Mrs. Jeff & Gail Elberson Mr. & Mrs. Sergio & Tina Ermotti Mr. Ronald Farley PG ´66 Mr. & Mrs. Claudio & Tiziana Fiorentino Mr. and Mrs. Albi & Elize Geldenhuys Mr. & Mrs. Tom & Peggy Glaser Mrs. Kristin Jensen in memory of Richard Jensen ´73 (1955-2005) Ms. Nyawira Kariuki Dr. & Mrs. Berkley & Peggy Latimer Mr. & Mrs. Tun-Jen & Su-o Lai Lin Mr. & Mrs. Dominic ´85 & Diane Herman ´84 Mauriello Mr. Dieter Metzger ´74 Mrs. Betsy Bacon Newell SH ´62 Mr. Demir Pekin PG Class of 1966 Mrs. Mary Dell Pritzlaff Mr. & Mrs. Scott & Dianne Roe Ms. Daniela Rondina Mrs. Sara Rosso & Mr. Carlo Cipolini Mr. & Mrs. Jeff & Gail Sanditen Mr. & Mrs. Marco & Lesli Seta Mr. Cemil Sonmez ´01 TASIS Parents Association 2004 TASIS Parents Association 2005 Mrs. Gayle Tilles Turbomach – A Caterpillar Company Mr. & Mrs. Roberto & Claude Vaglietti Mr. & Mrs. Stephen & Christine Waterman Mr. & Mrs. Hans & Martha Wiedemann $1,000-2,499 Mr. Scott Alexander PG ´66 Mr. & Mrs. Yves Bollag Mrs. Gail Breton Mr. & Mrs. Vinicio & Elena Cellerini Mrs. Martha Cone ´68 Mr. Todd Fletcher Mr. Young Joon Ham Mr. Chuck Howell Mr. & Mrs. Christoph & Ina Kronwitter Nassa Donna
Mrs. Betsy Newell SH ´62 Mr. Francesco Padovani Mr. & Mrs. Gianni & Beatrice Patuzzo Mr. & Mrs. Mattia & Helen Penza Mr. & Mrs. Andre & Gabriella Pesaresi Mrs. Sarah Phelps Smith Mr. and Mrs. Lyle & Sharon Rigg Ms. Ruth Russell PG ´67 Mr. John Schemmer Mr. & Mrs. Bradley & Carol Solheim Ms. Leslie Sosnowski ´74 Mr. Guy Tolman SH ´59 Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Beril Ulku-Steiner Ms. Deborah Webster ´66 Ms. Cynthia Whisenant Mr. Scott H. Whittle ´71 Mrs. Valerie Youmans $500-999 Mr. & Mrs. Rolf & Kerstin Aeberli Mr. John Allen Mr. Tony Angelini Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey & Kathryn Bradley Banca BSI Mr. Franco Campomori Prof. Jack L. Cook Mr. Joseph Cook ´64 Mr. & Mrs. Tom & Linda Cross Mr. & Mrs. Matthew & Kimberly De Morgan Mr. & Mrs. Hans ´75 & Sharon Figi Mr. Michael Filser PG ´05 Mrs. Georgia Garuti Hermes Mr. & Mrs. W.J.K. Herwegh Vonk Mr. Timothy P. Horne Mr. Aaron Kaupp ´93 King Boutique Dr. & Mrs. Frank & Mei-Ling Klein Mr. Sang Do Lee Mr. & Mrs. Dario & Nilda Lucchini Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Moloney Ms. Carolyn Mowers PG ´66 Mrs. Kim Nelson Palazzo Sasso Hotel Ravello Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl. Inc. Foundation Mrs. Kathy Redmond & Dr. Alberto Costa Ms. Nadia Zoller $250-499 Mr. Darren Brooks Mrs. Jessica Bunford Mr. & Mrs. Albert & Celia Cambata Mr. Gregory Cook ´90 Rev. Cynthia Crabtree PG ´66 Mr. Simon David ´08 Ms. Mary Dean PG ´66 Mrs. Sarah Di Lenardo Mr. Cornelius Fischer-Zernin Hestra Gloves Mr. Resat Onur Imamoglu ´99
Interni Arredamenti Mr. & Mrs. Salvatore & Jackie Manganaro Mr. Roberto Marziale Mr. Ewan Mirylees Mr. Andriy Novak Mrs. Barbara Pritzlaff Pierce ´74 Mr. Maurizio Romano Mrs. Christiane Rump-Van De Velde Shuga SA Sir Peter Smithers Mr. Yury Ushenin Versace Dr. Todor Vlajcic Winteler & Co SA Ermenegildo Zegna Up to $250 Abercrombie & Fitch Mr. Kerim Kaya Aksoy ´09 Alter Ego Estetica Mr. Eric Amundson ´90 Atel Impianti Mr. Boris Bakovic ´85 Mr. William A. Benish Dr. Amilcare Berra Mr. Mahmoud Binzagr ´07 Body Look Sagl Ms. Loring Bolger PG ´66 Mrs. Christina Bonilla Gardner Mr. & Mrs. Theo & Vivienne Brenner Ms. Laura Bubani TSLP ´84 Dr. Candia Camaggi CDE ´98 Mr. Giancarlo Carducci Mrs. Gai Fleming Case ´59 Lugano Cashmere Centro Estetico Anna Ms. Alanna Cherry ´05 Class of 2008 Farmacia Collina D´Oro Mr. Craig Comstock PG ´66 Mr. Edward Cross Mr. Frederick Crumrine Ms. Stephanie De Vos ´03 Ms. Sara Dozio (Sara Li) Mrs. Laurie Ehrich ´73 Free Time Club Fumagalli Moda SA Ms. Cristina Gatti Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Ornella Gebhardt
Mr. Norman Goldbach Mr. & Mrs. Tom & Julie Goodwin III Mrs. Elizabeth Grajeda PG ´66 Ms. Jennifer Greene ´75 Mr. Marco Haefliger Ms. Kay Hamblin Ms. Cambron Henderson ´82 Mr. Mario Jung Louis Vuitton Mr. Howard Lovett Mr. John Luttrell ´75 Mrs. Diana Madsen PG ´66 Ms. Carolina Maertens ´07 Mrs. Staci Mantegazza Mr. Luca Marziale ´08 Mrs. Lyn McKeaney ´05 Mrs. Madelyn Messner PG ´66 Dr. Claudio Migliore Ms. Cheryl Miller ´90 Missoni Ms. Jane Nagashima ´07 Mr. & Mrs. Patrick T. O´Brien Mrs. Polly Oliver PG ´66 Mr. Simon Owen Williams Mrs. Patricia Hedlund Oxman ´63 Ms. Wendy Palmer PG ´66 Mr. Charles E. Pannaci PG ´66 Ms. Andrea Perfetti Ms. Paula Peterson PG ´66 Mrs. Dany Piantedosi Gehri Piastrelle SA Mr. Manuel Rodriguez Mr. Fausto Rusca Salvioni Interiors Mr. Rodrigo Santos ´02 Ms. Nola Seta ´07 Ms. Mary Seyfarth PG ´66 Mr. Howard Stickley Mr. Kneeland L. Taylor PG ´66 Mr. Ken Tobe ´90 Ms. Madison Truesdell ´08 Mr. Berke Ustenci ´07 Mr. Todd Van Amburgh Dr. & Mrs. Louis Vogel Mr. Henrik Wallberg ´90 Mr. Jonathan Walton Ms. Stephanie Whitman ´09 Mr. Milo Zanecchia ´08
In Gratitude to the sponsors La Cucina Italiana VF Interantional
Facade frescoes painted pro bono by architect and painter David Mayernik