Most Relevant Deaths in Theatre

[shob]

Posted: 6/9/10 at 11:32pm

Today was my first day of rehearsal for a community theatre production of The Music Man. We gathered and chatted for a while extremely excited for the show and meeting new cast members. But a while into the rehearsal we learned from our director that a cast member that we all knew VERY well died in a car crash on his way to rehearsal. He was 17. All of our plans for the day vanished and we all took the time to mourn and remember him.

It got me thinking that being in that group of people united us. And I was curious, has this ever happened to you? Not necessarily with a cast member, but maybe crew, or staff? And if it hasn't, was there ever a death in professional theatre that shocked you the most?

Comments? Questions? Ideas? Thoughts?

[Queen of the Night]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 11:12pm

I think Jonathan Larson's untimely departure from the world right before the opening of "Rent" had an effect on the show--giving it an extra layer of poignancy that it might not have had on its own. It makes you wonder what else he could have written if he had lived longer.

And of course there was Gower Champion passing right before the opening of 42nd Street on Broadway....

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 12:29am

Where did this accident happen?

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 2:40am

August Wilson.

[starspangledjenny]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 3:00am

I'd definitely say the incomparable David Carrol. Amazing person, and amazing actor.

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 3:01am

Every death is relevant because it involves the ending of someone's life. Every death matters because every life matters.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 3:56am

Marquise, you're turning me on....

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 4:14am

Ditto.

[Here I Am]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 4:20am

Beautiful, Marquise! Very well said indeed!

And shob, I am so sorry to hear about that. What a tragedy!
Updated On: 6/11/10 at 04:20 AM

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 9:53am

Gower Champion

[twinbelters]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 5:25pm

David James Carroll's passing during Grand Hotel was so sad. I loved him dearly, but it was also his first Broadway hit after a string of (interesting) flops.

I wish we could have had Michael Bennett fulfill his career potential.

[CONAries]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 5:34pm

Of course every death is important and tragic, however I have to agree that Larsons struck a whole new chord in musical theatre, a man who have lived in near poverty the majority of his life, up to the final years when his career started to pick up, (he also had a good child hood) and then he finally writes, not only a fantastic blockbuster, but also a ground-breaking musical that broke many of the remaining theatre taboo's and ultimately, led the paving stones for modern commercial shows such as Spring Awakening, and the man suddenly dies of something that, if it had been correctly diagnosed when he went to the hospital just days before, he would still be with us, I am not the biggest fan of Rent, however, Tick, Tick BOOM is one of the most beautiful shows I have ever heard, and what I have heard of his earlier stuff, such as Superbia, was also very raw, emotional and incredible music!

[The Other One]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 5:42pm

Geraldine Page had just won an Oscar, was back on Broadway, and still seemed to have a good 15-20 years ahead of her when she died during the run of "Blithe Spirit" in 1988(?). A very sad departure.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/11/10 at 5:57pm

"Of course every death is important and tragic, however I have to agree that Larsons struck a whole new chord in musical theatre, a man who have lived in near poverty the majority of his life"

He didn't live in near poverty the majority of his life.