Rick Pagano's Professional Journey
Rick Pagano started his career in the Pittsburgh Public Theater, where he held various positions, including Casting Director, Literary Manager, and Producer of New Plays. This experience laid the foundation for his future endeavors. In 1984, he relocated to Los Angeles to take on a new challenge as a casting director for the Mark Taper Forum and Center Theater Group. After gaining valuable experience in this role, he decided to venture out on his own and start his own casting company.
Throughout his illustrious career, Rick Pagano has worked on numerous feature films, casting over 80 projects. His company has also had the privilege of working on several notable television shows, including "Altered Carbon," "The Blacklist," "24," "Picket Fences," and "Chicago Hope." These efforts have earned his company two Emmy Awards for outstanding casting. Moreover, Rick Pagano has had the opportunity to work on over 100 productions for theater companies across the United States, including the Mark Taper Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, Lincoln Center, and Broadway. His crowning achievement was casting the original Tony-Award-winning production of "Big River."
Rick Pagano is a multifaceted individual with a passion for writing and directing. He has penned and directed ten of his own plays, and has even ventured into filmmaking, directing a movie version of one of his plays, "Ten Tricks." Currently, he is working on a film script for another play, "Hanging Alice," as well as a novelized version of the story.
Rick Pagano's educational background is impressive, having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College and completing his doctoral studies in dramatic literature at Columbia University. Throughout his career, he has shared his knowledge and expertise by teaching at various institutions, including UCLA, NYU, Columbia University, and the National Theater Conservatory in Lodz, Poland.
As of February 2019, Rick Pagano continues to be an influential figure in the entertainment industry, leaving a lasting impact on the world of casting, directing, and writing.
