Caso Named New Klein Leader

News release from The Klein Memorial Auditorium:

Bridgeport resident Laurence A. Caso, an Emmy-Award-winning television producer, theater manager and network program development executive, has been named executive director of The Klein Memorial Auditorium. Caso is responsible for programming, fundraising activities, and overall operations.

“Being part of a performing arts center with such historic importance to the City of Bridgeport is an exciting opportunity,” said Caso. “We’re about to celebrate our 75th anniversary in 2015. Having served on the board of directors of the Klein’s Foundation these past three years, I’ve enjoyed working with the group that put together our multi-faceted strategic plan, and I now look forward to implementing that with them in an even more hands-on way in this new position.”

Laurence A. Caso began his career as the company manager of the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, MA and has since completed hundreds of successful projects, holding positions as a primetime series development executive, VP of Daytime and Director of Specials at CBS, as well as being VP of Programs for the start-up of the Disney Channel. As Executive Producer of “As the World Turns,” he produced over 1,700 episodes and received numerous awards, including the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, and the Editors Award for Lifetime Achievement from “Soap Opera Digest.”

In addition, he wrote and produced shows for the Jim Henson Company, History Channel and the Food Network. Caso’s Bridgeport-based company, Shoot the Catfish Productions, is currently in pre-production on two programs for public television: “Challenge U.S.A.,” a 13-part series, and “The Other Side of War,” a documentary revealing little-known humanitarian deeds performed by American service members both during and after the Vietnam War.

He also served as past president of the non-profit Stough Institute of Breathing Coordination as well as consulting producer for the National Foundation of Patriotism in Atlanta.

Caso won an award of excellence for a video he produced for Surgeons of Hope and he produced videos for The American Dietetic Association, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and American Society of Hypertension. Caso earned his Bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University and a Master’s degree at Indiana University. An active member of the Producers Guild of America, he served terms as a governor and trustee of the National Television Academy. the National Foundation of Patriotism in Atlanta.

About the Klein
The Klein is a 1,400-seat historic American theater and part of the Klein Foundation, was built in the 1930s with funds willed to the City of Bridgeport by native Jacob Klein. The auditorium was designed by local architect Leonard Asheim, was built in the Art Deco style and features bronze doors, a marble lobby, inlaid wood and geometric motifs.

After opening its doors for performances in 1940–75 years ago–the Klein has played host to programs ranging in scope to symphonies, operas, theater, local dance recitals and political debates. It also operates ASK, a tuition-free after school program where up to 100 Bridgeport students receive instruction in music, dance and drama. The Klein has been the home of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra for nearly 70 years.

In earlier years, the Klein has hosted such luminaries as Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Fiedler, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jr., Paul Robeson, Milton Berle and Victor Borge. More recently such diverse acts as Alice Cooper, B.B. King, Disco Biscuits, Dweezil Zappa, Herbie Hancock, George Carlin, Buddy Guy, Boz Scaggs, Pat Benetar, Peter Frampton, Boyz II Men and the B-52s have appeared on the Klein stage.