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WHEREAS, as Director of Production and Resident Scenic Designer for City Theatre at 1300 Bingham Street on the South Side, Brookline resident Tony Ferrieri exemplifies impressive talent and dedication to craft; and
WHEREAS, Tony Ferrieri was born on August 4, 1956 and as a child attended Resurrection School and South Hills Catholic High School; and
WHEREAS, while studying to be a math and science teacher at the Community College of Allegheny College South Campus, an elective chorus class led to his being cast in the role of a juror in the college's production of Trial by Jury; and
WHEREAS, soon Tony found himself absorbed in the world of stagecraft, translating skills he picked up on a college side job at Casper Colisimo & Son Construction into reliable expertise in technical and set element construction within the theater department; and
WHEREAS, enrolling at the University of Pittsburgh, Tony continued in the theater, picking up other elements of drama and stagecraft-like acting, directing, and performing arts criticism-that inform how he approaches set design; and
WHEREAS, with a position as technical director at the City Theatre in place, Tony graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980 and set off on a career of commitment and passion; and
WHEREAS, Tony's attention to detail when staging a performance is notable, with every detail critically considered, evidenced not only by his library of props at City Theatre, but also his personal collection at his home in Brookline which he shares with his wife of 31 years Annette; and
WHEREAS, as a member of the Brookline community, Tony also found time to share his wonderful baritone voice as a cantor at Resurrection Church and, in the past, as a Christmas soloist at Seton Center Christmas concerts; and
WHEREAS, over a 35 year career with the City Theatre, Tony has also designed sets for Quantum Theatre, barebones productions, CLO Cabaret, Carnivale Theatrics, Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre, the Unseam'd Shakespeare Company, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, Pittsburgh International Children's Festival, and more; and
WHEREAS, opening on January 24, 2014 at City Theatre, The Mountaintop, a play by Katori Hall about Martin Luther King, Jr., marks Tony's 500th production as a professional scenic designer.
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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather Tony Ferrieri of Brookline is treasured as a skilled designer and a director of stagecraft and recognized for his long career supporting and enriching the dramatic arts within the City; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, January 28, 2014 to be Tony Ferrieri Day in the City of Pittsburgh.