Lou Ursone: A life in the theater
Lifelong thespian, Lou Ursone has a rich history with theater in Connecticut, having worked as an actor, creating programs and serving as the executive artistic director at Curtain Call in Stamford for decades.
Born and raised in Stamford, Ursone started getting involved in theater during high school, though he’s been performing since elementary school.
“Acting was always a part of who I am,” he said. “My dad always had music on in the house and enjoying all types—Broadway, Big Band, the Beatles—I just loved music and musical theater was where I headed.”
In high school, Ursone’s favorite role was playing Vernon Hines in “The Pajama Game,” with another memorable part being Harold Hill in “The Music Man.”
He graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Connecticut in 1981, but continued to study theater as well, and went right into performing upon completing school. Over his storied career, Ursone was named Connecticut’s Arts Administrator of the Year in 2008 when he received the Elizabeth Mahaffey Fellowship. Curtain Call was awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Culture and Tourism in 2011 and the ACE Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2016 from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.
As an actor, Ursone spent a yearand-a-half on the soap opera “Loving,” and appeared on the TV shows, “Unsolved Mysteries” and “Rescue 911.” He’s also appeared in numerous films, commercials and industrial film programs, winning a Bronze Telly for his work in a children’s video.
On stage, he has performed at Connecticut theaters such as Goodspeed Opera House, Summer Theatre of New Canaan, Music Theatre of CT and of course Curtain Call.
“I’ve been in this world for a long time, and spending 23 seasons at Curtain Call was never part of my life plan by any stretch,” Ursone said. “I still continued to act here and some other theaters, and spent a lot of time on the road touring in musicals.”
In the late ’90s, Ursone got his first taste of producing with a production of Neil Simon’s “Chapter Two,” in a New Hampshire theater. It was while touring in that show that he found himself at Curtain Call in 2000, and taking the job with the theater that he still holds today.
Over his time at the Stamford theater, it’s gone through several multi-million-dollar renovations and has grown in sheer volume.
“When I started, Curtain Call was producing three full productions a season and a summer youth production, and we’ve grown to 12 a year,” Ursone said. “Certainly, the physical changes have been enormous as well. Our first huge addition in 2010 allowed us to have two shows happening at the same time, and allowed us to do counter programming.”
For instance, that year, it had the family musical “Hello Dolly!” playing at the same time as the play, “The Graduate.”
Choosing a favorite show is akin to picking a favorite child for most involved in the theater, but Ursone said playing Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof ” was probably his most memorable part.
“It’s just a monumental role; the scope of the role, the history and the truth behind the character—he represents everyone living in that time going through the pogroms of Europe and what was happening,” Ursone said. “It’s the role that’s affected me the most and the one I enjoy performing the most.”
Another favorite is “1776,” because it was the first Broadway show Ursone ever saw, and he feels he relates to John Addams and his unwillingness to give up. That’s a trait that he had when things were looking bleak for Curtain Call decades ago.
“Because I had grown up on this physical property and the thought of it not sustaining and not continuing was just not going to happen for me,” he said. “Whatever it was going to take, I was going to put everything into it, and that’s what I’ve done. I’m not like any other nonprofit administrator…I’m here seven days a week and I love it.”
Working with hundreds of creative artists and technicians is what drives Ursone, and he is inspired each and every day by directors, actors, designers and everyone else he works with.
When he does get time away, he and his wife, Janet, love to travel, though he more than likely will get his theater fix on any vacation. But he’s also interested in history and architecture.
Ursone also loves gardening and spending time with his family—both his huge Italian family he grew up with (his mom is 101 and still comes to see shows!) and the Curtain Call family he has made over the last two decades.
“That family environment is what makes being here so special to me,” Ursone said. “Being around really dedicated, passionate people—I couldn’t ask for anything more.”