RIP to legendary scenic designer Robin Wagner (The Producers, 42nd Street, Dreamgirls), who has died at age 89.

A titan of his field and one of the key figures in modernizing Broadway set design, Robin Wagner's credits spanned from 1961 to 2012, and included such landmarks as the original productions of A Chorus Line, Angels In America, Crazy for You, City of Angels, On the 20th Century, Promises Promises, Jelly's Last Jam, Hair and JCS, and flops like Ballroom, Mack & Mabel, Merlin, and Leap of Faith. Among his most frequent collaborators were Michael Bennett, Gower Champion, David Merrick, Susan Stroman, Joe Papp, George C. Wolfe, and Michael Blakemore.

His death has been confirmed by those close to him, including producer/attorney John Breglio.

Here he is in Theater Talk a few years ago, in which he and David Rockwell talk about their approaches to design and their respective productions of On The 20th Century.

Updated On: 5/29/23 at 07:49 PM

Sorry to hear this. He was the last living member of Michael Bennett's "Dream Team" (Robin Wagner, Theoni V. Aldredge, and Tharon Musser). I was always completely fascinated and obsessed with his designs. Especially A CHORUS LINE, DREAMGIRLS, and ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. 

His ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY sets and designs were perfection…for the original Broadway production. I still remember that train, adorned with Imogene Coca, about to plow into the audience!