AUBURN, NY, July 08, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Edward Thomas Sayles with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Sayles celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ed Sayles has enjoyed an eventful career in the arts and entertainment industry for more than 45 years. Mr. Sayles worked throughout New York and Ohio as a theatrical producer and director his entire career. During the early stages of his career, he gained expertise as a producing director at Uptown Stage in Cortland, New York, Trotwood Circle Theater and First Street Theater in Ohio during the 1970s, and later at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, New York. In 1980 he was hired by the Playhouse to succeed retiring founder, Susan Riford. Mr. Sayles served as Producing Director from 1981 to 2014.
Over the course of Mr. Sayles' career at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, which spanned more than three decades, he directed over 125 plays and musicals, successfully grew the operating budget from under $200,000 to approximately $5 million and attendance went from under 10,000 to approximately 50,000. He oversaw $3 million in renovations which completed the transformation of a 60 year old carousel building into a modern 500 seat theatre. During his tenure he expanded the Merry-Go-Round Youth Theatre from a small local touring group into one of the largest Youth Theatres in the U.S. performing for over 100,000 students each year. In 2012 he created The Pitch which annually presents new musicals in their first stages of development.
In 2014 he retired from the Playhouse to start his own consulting firm, Creative Communications & Development. Among his clients is Mozaic, Inc. As Development Consultant for Mozaic he has raised over $2 million including funds for a major renovation of Mozaic's, Finger Lakes Textiles which employs an inclusive workforce of over 80 disabled and non-disabled workers. Since 2015 he has also consulted at Spot Light Studio in Auburn where he directs a company of 40 performers with developmental disabilities. Mr. Sayles was responsible for creating and coordinating Art in Public Places, a digital arts program for people with developmental disabilities.
Mr. Sayles has taught communication courses and guest directed three productions at his alma mater, State University of New York, in Cortland and served as a guest professor at Wells College in Aurora, New York. He has also been a guest lecturer at Ithaca College, Syracuse University and RIT. He also served two terms on the Theatre panel of the New York State Council on the Arts As a community and civic leader, Mr. Sayles was active on the board of the Cayuga County United Way in Auburn and served in the same capacity for the Tomato Festival, the Cayuga County Arts Council and the Cayuga Museum. Moreover, he was a founding board member of the Cayuga County Tourism Office.
In recognition of his many contributions to his community and the theatre industry Mr. Sayles has received commendations from the U.S. House of Representatives, the New York State Senate, the New York State Assembly and the Cayuga County Legislature declared May 5, 2006, Ed Sayles day in honor of his achievements. Mr. Sayles received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & History from SUNY College at Cortland in 1974 and a Master of Arts in Directing & Rhetoric from Bowling Green State University in 1980. Ed currently resides in Auburn with his wife Kathleen. They have three children and two grandchildren.
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