A.J. Antoon(1944-1992)

A graduate of Boston College (Class of 1968), Massachussettes native A.J. Antoon attended the prestigious Yale School of Drama before dropping out to pursue a professional theatrical career as a director. He directed his first production, Story Theatre at New York's 151-seat St. Clement's Church in 1971. Later that year he was introduced to the founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival, Joseph Papp, who would be influential in his later success on Broadway. Antoon would enjoy a 20-year career there, directing the Broadway debuts of notables such as Meryl Streep and Mandy Patinkin in the 1975 revival of Trelawny of the 'Wells'. During his directorial career, he'd win both the 1973 Tony Award and the 1972 NY Drama Critic's Circle Award (That Championship Season) and be nominated for a Tony that same year for an Americanized Broadway revival of the Much Ado About Nothing, an Obie Award (1979's The Art of Dining written by Tina Howe) and be nominated for the 1984 Drama Desk Award for The Rink, starring Liza Minnelli. His alma mater, Boston College awarded him an honorary doctorate. An innovative director, Antoon often shook off traditional settings, such as re-setting The Taming of the Shrew in the Wild West. His final productions were produced New York Shakespeare Festival in New York's Central Park in 1990 and 1991. Antoon died of AIDS-related lymphoma on January 22, 1992 at age 47. When he died, he had several projects in the works, including his screenplay of "Snow White." He was survived by a brother, Michael J. Antoon, and two sisters, Jessica M. Leavitt and Marsha A. Roy, all of Methuen, along with his partner, Peter Perez.