John Sullivan Named Honorary Chair of 26th Annual TD Bank Pops by the Sea

Barnstable High School teacher and drama director Mr. John Sullivan will be the Honorary Chair of the 26th Annual TD Pops by the Sea concert.

The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod and the Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce announced his chair Monday evening in a press release.

"Mr. Sullivan has volunteered countless hours to encouraging young people to experience the Arts, to believe in themselves and to follow their dream whether in the Arts or any other discipline," said President & CEO of the Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce Jessica Sylver in the release. "His dedication to the Arts has been a special gift to our community."

Sullivan, well known as the long-time director of the Barnstable High School Drama Club, is retiring from drama after 34 years and as a teacher after next year. Sullivan founded Drama Club and the Barnstable Summer Family Theater.

"John has dedicated his life to inspiring and educating through the arts," said Executive Director Kevin Howard in the release. "We are very pleased to join with the Hyannis Chamber in recognizing his contributions."

A quick synopsis of Sullivan's work according to the release, "As assistant drama coach in 1977, Sullivan founded the Drama Club's Annual Haunted House fundraiser. He stepped in as Drama Club Director in 1979 and, in addition to the Club's famously big and bold productions, has since collaborated with the town on countless cultural events that have enriched and improved our community. With his students, Sullivan worked with the Barnstable Selectmen several years to produce a Main Street Halloween Parade, constructed a show-stopping dragon as part of the Cape's First Night Celebration, designed the popular Dinosaurs Alive! exhibits that were visited by over 100 thousand people at the Cape Cod Mall, and produced the popular outdoor theater series at Aselton Park on the waterfront. Sullivan's trademark style has taught thousands of students the value of hard work, pride, and versatility. 

Over the years, many alumni of Sullivan's classes and theatrical productions have gone on to earn great success in the entertainment field. Former members have been seen on popular television shows such as American Idol and NYPD Blue, written and illustrated children's books, directed and starred in plays on and off Broadway, played leads in major motion pictures, designed the Nickelodeon logo, worked at Dreamworks, Imax, and Warner Brothers Studios, produced the opening ceremonies for the Olympics, worked backstage at the Oscars, and even won Emmys. 

In addition to his work as the Drama Club Director, John Sullivan has also been an art and animation teacher at BHS for decades, with the exception of a brief sabbatical while he took a position in Hollywood working on the animated film The Pagemaster. In the BHS art department, he has taught Ceramics, Arts & Crafts, Sculpture, Drawing and Illustration, Fine Arts 1, and Stagecraft. Sullivan helped design two of the three auditoriums in the Barnstable system, the Tynan Auditorium and the 1440-seat Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center, the largest high school auditorium in New England.

In 2004, Sullivan was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kansas. That honor led to three meetings in Washington with the Department of Education to discuss the "No Child Left Behind" Act. Sullivan has always been an advocate of education and of improvements in the facilities in which they learn. In 2009, Sullivan was honored by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod with the Community Leadership in Support of the Arts award at the Creative Collaborative Conference."

Cole Porter Tribute Program performed by three-time Tony-nominated Broadway star Kelli O'Hara, Broadway star Jason Danieley, and screenwriter and director duo Peter and Bobby Farrelly will be featured at the Pops by the Sea.

The TD Bank Pops by the Sea concert is scheduled for August 7, 2011, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Hyannis Village Green.

Many levels of seating are available starting with General Admission Lawn Tickets at $15. Tickets may be purchased online at www.artsfoundation.org and the proceeds support the work of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, including its bi-annual grants programs to support arts-driven projects and individuals.

For further information about the AFCC or to order Pops tickets, please visit www.artsfoundation.org, call 508-362-0066, or email pops2011@artsfoundation.org.