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70th-Anniversary Celebration
August 21–23, 2026
All alumni since 1956 are invited for a celebratory weekend to honor the 70th anniversary of TASIS
and the grand opening of the Donald MacDermid Hall and Music Center.
- Schedule of Events
- Registration
- About MacDermid Hall
- MCF: What A Life!
- FAQ
- Merchandise
- More Information
Schedule of Events
Schedule of Events
Times subject to change; check back before the event for exact timings.
| Friday, August 21 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 16:30 | Alumni arrival and registration | Main parking lot, Gazebo |
| Welcome aperitivo for alumni | Palmer Center Lawn | |
| 19:00 | Opening remarks | Palestrina |
| World premiere of TASIS Through Time, a powerful new TASIS film by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Michele Josue ’97 | Palestrina | |
| Q&A with filmmaker, Michele Josue ’97, and featured participants | Palestrina | |
| 20:00 | Dinner for alumni and the postgraduate Class of ’66 | De Nobili Terrace Casa Fleming |
| Saturday, August 22 | ||
| 15:30 | Guest arrival and registration for banquet and musical attendees | Main parking lot, Gazebo |
| 16:30 | Campus tours | Meet at Gazebo |
| 16:30 | Encore screening of TASIS Through Time | Palestrina |
| 17:00 | Grand Opening of MacDermid Hall and Music Center with guided tours | MacDermid Hall |
| 18:00 | Aperitivo | |
| 19:00 | Revival of the joyous musical MCF: What a Life!, a vibrant tribute to Mrs. Fleming and the TASIS legacy. | Palestra |
| 20:50 | 70th-anniversary banquet | Palestra |
| Sunday, August 23 | ||
| 10:00 | Guest arrival and registration | Main parking lot, Gazebo |
| 10:30 | Final screening of TASIS Through Time | Palestrina |
| 11:30 | Encore performance of MCF: What a Life! for friends, family, and the broader community | Palestra |
| 13:00 | Closing lunch to celebrate the past, present, and future of TASIS | |
Registration
About MacDermid Hall
MacDermid Hall
The 70th Anniversary Celebration will coincide with the opening of MacDermid Hall. The new dormitory and classroom space was largely made possible by the generous donation of Donald MacDermid '61.
The new building will feature 27 double student rooms, 2 faculty apartments, common room, and 4 classrooms.
A Lasting Legacy
In 2019, Donald (pictured to the right with Lynn Fleming Aeschliman) became one of the School’s most generous donors. His legacy gift will fund a major portion of the Donald MacDermid Music Center and the Donald MacDermid Residential Hall while also establishing the Donald MacDermid Endowment Fund for the Fine and Performing Arts.
MacDermid Hall Construction Updates
MCF: What A Life!
MCF: What a Life!
MCF: What a Life! is an original musical by Todd Fletcher that premiered in 2000 in celebration of TASIS Founder M. Crist Fleming’s 90th birthday. It was later performed in 2011, in 2016 as the centerpiece of the School’s 60th-anniversary celebrations, and in 2017 by the TASIS High School Theater Program.
The special performance for the 70th-anniversary celebration will be directed by Mikey Rosenbaum, with musical direction provided by Erika Cramp and Eugene Villanueva serving as the vocal instructor. The cast and crew will be composed of current and former TASIS students as well as many professional actors and musicians who have an association with the School.
The show will be performed in the TASIS Palestra at 19:15 on Saturday, August 22, and at 11:30 on Sunday, August 23.
Synopsis
Geoffrey, a young graduate student in education, interviews Mrs. Fleming for his dissertation. He asks her how one goes about creating a school. Mrs. Fleming gives him her recipe, and reflects on episodes from her life as his questions bring them to mind.
As a child in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, the young Mary Crist daydreams of traveling the world and having adventures. As she grows up, visits to the Soviet Union and Italy fuel this determination, although she gives up her earlier plan of being an opera singer after hearing a classmate, Anne Belmont, sing brilliantly. Mary graduates from Radcliffe and goes on to travel Europe in the company of other young ladies. The journey is marked by problems at the borders, many admirers, and even more flat tires!
Back in the US, Mary Crist marries Mr. Fleming and has three children. Before long, she founds a children’s program called Frog Hollow and hits on the idea of doing a program in Switzerland called Frog Hollow’s Swiss Holiday. The first season is extremely difficult and is capped by one of her young charges, Ronny, falling very ill with polio. Mrs. Fleming decides not to repeat the Swiss program, but Ronny’s positive outlook gives her strength and she changes her mind.
She rents Villa Verbanella—a beautiful property in Ticino—and is inspired to found a year-round school instead of just a summer program. The school is a success, and she seeks bank loans to be able to expand. The bankers do not share her conviction, however, and only her perseverance allows her to find the financial backing necessary.
TASIS continues to grow and evolve, but Mrs. Fleming hits a setback with her next venture, the short-lived Fleming College. Matters come to head in a board meeting. Her next venture—to open an American school in England—is greeted with skepticism by virtually everyone, but she goes ahead all the same and proves them all wrong.
Geoffrey is stunned at the rich story she has told him. Mrs. Fleming assures him that it wasn’t all plain sailing: there were mistakes and failures along the way, too. She wonders whether her students have at least embraced part of her passion and conviction; Geoffrey assures her that she has changed the lives of thousands, and extracts of letters from former students confirm this. Mrs. Fleming is reflective for a moment, then snaps into action. There’s so much to do—no time to stand still!
The 2016 performance of MCF: What a Life!
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can attend the 70th Celebrations?
- I haven't been to Lugano in a long time. Do you have information on the local area?
- Do you have any hotel recommendations?
- What is the dress code for the events?
- One of my guests is disabled and requires a wheelchair. Is the venue accessible?
- Are smoking and vaping allowed on campus or in the venue?
- Are there any age restrictions to attend the 70th Celebrations?
- Can my children who are current TASIS students attend the 70th Celebrations?
- On Saturday night, is it possible for me to sit at a table with my friends?
- May I request a specific meal or dietary accommodations?
- Can I update or change my guest information after booking?
- Can we stay in the TASIS dorms during the weekend?
- May I purchase a ticket for a teacher?
- Is there transportation to and from TASIS for the events?
- Will there be valet parking?
- Where do we check in?
- Will there be a photographer or videographer covering the events?
- Are dogs allowed at the events?
- Where can I find an updated schedule of events?
- What if I registered and paid for a ticket but can no longer attend?
Who can attend the 70th Celebrations?
Friday evening's events are free for alumni and their guests and long-serving faculty. Saturday is open to anyone in our community who is 18+ and not a current student, but tickets are required. Sunday's events are free and open to everyone in our wider community, including families. For ticket information and to register, visit tasis.ch/70th.
Note: registration is required for all events by July 24. Missed the deadline? Email us—we may have cancellations, or seats may be still available.
I haven't been to Lugano in a long time. Do you have information on the local area?
Explore our Visitor Portal for information about the local area, including transportation and hotel options and links to local tourism boards.
Do you have any hotel recommendations?
Please visit the Visitor Portal for a list of hotels in the area. We recommend staying either on the Collina d’ Oro or in Lugano. We have reserved blocks of rooms at Grotto Flora, Resort Collina d’Oro, and Villa Principe Leopoldo on the Collina d’Oro. In Lugano, we have blocks of rooms at Hotel Bellevue au Lac, Hotel Delfino, Hotel Lugano Dante, Hotel Walter au Lac, The View, and The Splendide, so mention TASIS when you book to see if there are still rooms available.
What is the dress code for the events?
One of my guests is disabled and requires a wheelchair. Is the venue accessible?
All venues are accessible. Guests in need of any special access requirements should send an email to 70th@tasis.ch.
Are smoking and vaping allowed on campus or in the venue?
Are there any age restrictions to attend the 70th Celebrations?
On Friday, guests should be over 18. On Saturday, guests must be over 18. On Sunday, all ages are welcome. Direct any questions to 70th@tasis.ch.
Can my children who are current TASIS students attend the 70th Celebrations?
On Saturday night, is it possible for me to sit at a table with my friends?
We will do what we can! Please let us know whom you would like to sit with at your table. Email your requests to 70th@tasis.ch.
May I request a specific meal or dietary accommodations?
We will do our best to accommodate dietary accommodations. You can indicate the dietary restriction for any of the attendees during the registration process. If you have any questions, send an email to 70th@tasis.ch.
Can I update or change my guest information after booking?
All changes should be communicated to 70th@tasis.ch by July 24. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate any changes made after July 24.
Can we stay in the TASIS dorms during the weekend?
May I purchase a ticket for a teacher?
Is there transportation to and from TASIS for the events?
Will there be valet parking?
Where do we check in?
Will there be a photographer or videographer covering the events?
Are dogs allowed at the events?
Where can I find an updated schedule of events?
Please visit the 70th website for more information, including an up-to-date schedule of events for the weekend.
What if I registered and paid for a ticket but can no longer attend?
Merchandise
70th Anniversary Merchandise
We are thrilled to unveil an exclusive line of limited-edition TASIS merchandise, curated just for our 70th Anniversary weekend.
Included are beautifully crafted Tuscan leather notebooks, glasses cases, and catch-all trays. Also available for the first time is a cookbook written by Mrs. Fleming’s longtime chef at her Tuscan property filled with regional Italian recipes. A heritage collection of gifts and goods selected by Mrs. Fleming will be available to purchase.
We have also commissioned a run of 70 individually-numbered, bespoke, Swiss-made watches. Own a piece of TASIS history before time runs out!
Limited Edition TASIS Watch (Mens)
- Designed and manufactured in Switzerland
- Powered by a Swiss automatic caliber
- Visible mechanical artistry
- Modern aesthetic
- Exclusive release
- Individually numbered
Limited Edition TASIS Watch (Womens)
- Designed and manufactured in Switzerland
- Powered by a Swiss automatic caliber
- Modern aesthetic
- Exclusive release
- Individually numbered
Heritage Collection
Curated by Mrs. Fleming as gifts for visiting dignitaries and distinguished guests, these items bring a touch of our founder’s timeless style and grace to any home.
