"Let's make some magic, people."

Frank S. Torok

1934 - 2019

A Life in the Theatre

1934  Frank enters the world on July 2nd in Mentor Ohio, born to the late Joseph and Clara Stimic Torok. He is one of four boys and three girls in the Torok family.

1948 -1952  Frank attends Cathedral Latin School near Cleveland, OH. Frank was a member of the Cathedral‘s Membership Honor Roll.

1952-56  Frank studies at Kent State University in Ohio and receives a B.S. in Education (Speech/Theater). He both directs and acts, with his efforts duly noted in the Daily Kent Stater: “Frank Torok as Cornwall gives a strong, believable performance," (King Lear); "The outstanding performance of the evening is that of Frank Torok as the poet." (The Cradle Song). 

1956-58   Frank stays on at Kent State as a Graduate Assistant. He directs three plays for the American Theatre Wing series. Among many accomplishments, he has his own play, Once a Man, produced. Holds the position of Director of Dramatic Activities in the Summer Institute at Kent State. 

1957-1958  Dir. of Children's Theatre at the Black River Playhouse, Elyria, Ohio

1959-1961  Assistant to director, Dorothy Chernuck, at the Corning Summer Theatre. The company presents eleven different works in ten weeks, including five plays, three musicals, two "packages," with appearances by the Royal Danish Ballet company. 

1960  Stage Manager for the season at The Starlight Theatre,  Pawling, N.Y.

1961-1967  Frank is hired by St. Benedict's Prep, when he responds to a listing for the Drama Director position. Approaching the theatre, he sees the height of the fly space above the stage and notes to himself, “If this goes well, I’m taking this job.”

1961 In February, the first production of the St. Benedict's Drama Guild, Parade at Devil's Bridge, is performed for a student assembly. Three months later, No Time For Sergeants receives two evening performances. Throughout his time with the Drama Guild and Summer Theatre, Frank collaborated with Fr. Eugene Schwarz O.S.B. on over twenty productions in seven years.

1961 Frank returns to the Corning Summer Theater for the season. He arranges for internships at the theatre for three St. Benedict's students.

1963  St. Benedict's Summer Theatre is established and receives national coverage in Seventeen magazine. The Summer Scholarship program is also created.

1966  Frank directs an all African-American production of Guys and Dolls at Queen of Angels parish in Newark, NJ.  Joe McCabe, Class of 1966, serves as music director.

1967  By the time he completes his last year directing the Saint Benedict’s Drama Guild and Summer Theatre, Frank will have produced and directed thirty-nine productions, along with five Variety Night shows in seven years.

1969-2000  Frank becomes the Production Stage Manager for the Yale Repertory Theater and teaches directing and stage management at the Yale Drama School. He helps establish the Summer Theatre Program which continues to this day. The Frank Torok Scholarship was established at Yale in 2011.

1974 -2005  In his “spare” time, Frank creates The City Gardener, a garden shop behind his home on Howe St, in New Haven, CT. 

2019  On November 21st, Frank “shuffles off this mortal coil” while residing at the Mary Wade Home in New Haven, CT.