FULL BIOS

Laurence A. Caso joined the Klein Memorial Auditorium, a 1,450-seat performing arts center in Bridgeport, CT, in late 2014 as Executive Director after having served on the KMAF board of directors for 5 years.  He is an Emmy-award winning producer, theater manager and program development executive.

Mr. Caso began his career as a cameraman at WCNY-TV in Syracuse, NY.  Then, after 3 seasons as company manager at the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, MA, he joined CBS in Los Angeles to work on the development of comedy and drama series (WKRP in Cincinnati, Alice, Dallas, White Shadow).  In New York he held positions as VP of Daytime Programs and Director of Specials, where he developed: animation (Peanuts, Garfield), documentaries (The Body Human), variety (Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, Lily Tomlin, Crystal Gayle, etc.) award shows (Grammys, Tonys, Country Music Association Awards, Kennedy Center Honors), parades (CBS All-American Thanksgiving, Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl), movies (Playing For Time starring Vanessa Redgrave, Bil featuring Mickey Rooney and Dennis Quaid), and mini-series (Guyana Tragedy).  He was also 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 as Outstanding Drama Series, and the Editors Award for Lifetime Achievement from “Soap Opera Digest”.  Subsequently he produced two seasons of Donna’s Day for the Jim Henson Company.  The Associated Press honored that series on its annual “Ten Best Shows on Television” list. Other shows he wrote and produced include: Inside Baghdad (History Channel), Secrets of Country Music Stars (Food Network), Rockin’ Road Grill (Comcast Sports), and Surgeons of Hope, which received the Video Excellence Award from the healthcare marketing group, the RX Club.  For public television his Bridgeport-based company, Shoot the Catfish Productions, is currently in production with The Other Side of War, a 2-hour documentary revealing little-known humanitarian deeds performed by American service members both during and after the Vietnam War.

Mr. Caso earned his Bachelor degree at Syracuse University and a Master degree at Indiana University.  A member of the Producers Guild of America, he also served terms as a governor and trustee of the National Television Academy.  He is additionally a past president of the non-profit Stough Institute of Breathing Coordination and consulting producer for the National Foundation of Patriotism in Atlanta.