Tribute from Donald R Seawell

Donald R. Seawell, Chairman Emerutis, Denver Center for the Performing Arts

I first met Tony in 1964 when I had the honor of bringing to America two Royal Shakespeare Company plays to celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th birthday. The plays were King Lear and The Comedy of Errors. Tony had a leading role in each. Recently that production of King Lear was overwhelmingly voted by members of the RSC as the finest production in the history of the RSC.

Subsequently, I was asked by the National Endowment for Education to bring to America an RSC play which they would finance provided the stars taught at a college or university in the city where the play ran. The RSC agreed and Tony was one of the stars. He taught at Denver University when the play was in Denver. The heads of the University were so delighted with his work that they asked him to stay on and gave him an honorary doctorate.

When I created The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Tony was a natural—both as a leading actor and as Dean of our National Theatre Conservatory. He remained a vital part of our theatre company until his retirement. His skill, his vivacity, his knowledge and his dedication have meant so much in the growth of the Denver Center Theatre Company and the DCPA.

Tony was also a good friend, and I shall miss him very much. His death occurred only a few days after that of the great Paul Scofield, who played Lear in the RSC production. They may already be working on a new production in an even greater theatre.