In Memoriam: Richard “Dick” Wolpert, 97
Richard “Dick” Wolpert passed away peacefully August 20, 2023 at the age of 97. Dick was one of the last of the “old guard” members of the theatrical lighting industry. He was the heart and soul of Union Connector, growing it from a loft in Hell’s Kitchen to a 20,000 square foot factory on Long Island. His honesty and integrity were well known and acknowledged by customers and competitors, alike. Several became close friends. He could sell snow to Eskimos, but everything was always “above board” as he often said. His word was his bond. Read More »In Memoriam: Richard “Dick” Wolpert, 97
Lighting Designer/Director, Thom Roberts has died of a gunshot wound at his home on Sunday, July 9, 2023. He was 68. Roberts was a Nashville, TN-based LD with nearly 50 years of lighting experience, and was part of the Randy Travis touring family for over 20 years.
The Broadway community honored the memory of Robin Wagner, the triple Tony Award®-winning scenic designer who worked on more than 60 Broadway shows in a career that spanned over five decades. Mr. Wagner passed away on May 29, 2023, at the age of 89. On June 17, 2023, the Committee of Theatre Owners dimmed the lights of Broadway theatres in New York for one minute at exactly 7:45pm, in his honor.
Kenneth Joseph Burns Jr. of Sycamore IL passed away on April 25, 2023 at the age of 48, at Loyola University Medical Center. He was born on August 8, 1974, in Edison, NJ. Ken, or as everyone in the industry called him, Junior, worked at Upstaging, Inc. for 32 years. He traveled the world as crew chief for Upstaging supporting many well-known artists and events. He was known for his professionalism, dedication, leadership, kindness, and ever-present smile. His calm demeanor allowed him to become a mentor to many new Upstaging crew members over the years.
