The Wisconsin Union Theater regrets to announce the passing of its former director, Annie Turnbull Taylor, better known as Fan Taylor, on April 18, 2008. She was 94 years old.

Born in Kansas City, MO, Taylor lived in Madison since the 1930s. She served as the Wisconsin Union Theater's director from 1946-1966, as the first music program director for the National Endowment for the Arts, and as an officer or member of many local and national arts boards. Taylor founded the international Association of Performing Arts Presenters and was instrumental in establishing the Arts Administration program at the UW Graduate School of Business - the first in the nation.

The recipient of many awards, Taylor was lauded in 1999 in Madison Magazine's salute to 50 people who shaped Madison in the 20th century. "No one did more for the performing arts in this century than Fan Taylor. . . ." the magazine declared.

Says Ralph Russo, the theater's current director, "Fan believed in presenting only the highest quality. She set the bar very high for the Union Theater and thanks to her, that quality endures today. The University of Wisconsin and the Madison community benefited tremendously from her efforts to bring the greatest artists of the 20th century to our community."

Taylor is survived by her daughters, Anne Taylor Wadsack (Madison) and Kathleen Taylor Isaacs (Pasadena, MD), 6 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for late May or early June. A specific date will be announced later.

Read a Wisconsin State Journal article

Check out a weblog entry by Andrew Taylor, director of the Bolz Center for Arts Administration, and share a public comment or memory about her.