1996 Hall of Fame inductee - Michael A. Romano

“CCRI has given me the opportunity to work in a healthy, caring educational community with students of every conceivable background and experience, each one with talents waiting to be discovered and developed. Being able to be a part of this learning process has made every day of a long career worthwhile.”

Michael A. Romano came to CCRI in 1967 and founded the college’s Department of Theater, Speech and Dance. He served as a chair of the theater program and advisor to the CCRI Players Club for 29 years, until his retirement in 1995. Under his direction, CCRI’s theater troupe received national and regional recognition, including being the only two-year college invited to perform at the prestigious American College Theater Festival Division One on several occasions.

Romano was active in community theater and received numerous achievement awards. Prior to coming to CCRI, he was a teacher and director of theater at East Greenwich High School from 1958-1967. During that period his students performed at the New York World’s Fair. He also worked as an actor and technician for off-Broadway theater in New York and served in the M.A.S.H. unit of the Army Medical Corps in Germany.

Romano earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University, a master’s degree from Columbia University, a certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and took courses at Harvard, Brown, Boston University, the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and Providence College.