It is with a heavy heart that PLSN has learned of the passing of industry visionary, Eric Pearce, owner of SGPS/ShowRig. He died on Sunday, July 24, 2022, he was 72. Details of his passing have not yet been released. He was a Parnelli Visionary Honoree in 2013 and will be greatly missed throughout the industry. We will have more on the life and career of Pearce at a later date.
Read More »In Memoriam: Eric Pearce, Innovator and Visionary, 72
Stage Directions has learned of the death of Director Peter Brook on July 2, 2022 at the age of 97, according to his publisher, Nick Hern Books in a statement they released on Twitter: All of us at NHB are very sad to hear of the death of legendary director Peter Brook, at the age of 97. We’re honoured to have been Peter’s publisher for the past twenty years, sharing his wisdom and insights with the world. He leaves behind an incredible artistic legacy. RIP.
We send our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues, and friends. Requiescat in Pace, Peter Brook.Read More »In Memoriam: Director Peter Brook, 97
PLSN has learned of the death of longtime television Scenic Designer Victor Paganuzzi, who died on June 16, 2022 at age 90. He was the designer of the distinctive set of CBS Sunday Morning and so many other CBS programs. Here’s a video from CBS that was broadcast on July 31, 2011 upon Paganuzzi’s retirement after nearly 50 years at CBS. Paganuzzi explains to Charles Osgood how the inspiration for the original CBS Sunday Morning set came from a baseball diamond.
Read More »In Memoriam: Television Scenic Designer Victor Paganuzzi, 90
PLSN was saddened to learn of the death of White Light founder and former chairman, John Simpson. The company, which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary, announced his passing on June 11, 2022. He was 79. In addition to his work with White Light, Simpson was known for his charity work, acting as Chair of Backup: The Technical Entertainment Charity, which provides financial support to industry technical professionals in times of hardship. Over the last two years of the pandemic, he had been tireless in the support of the people in the industry who needed help – right up until a week before his untimely death. Here’s a remembrance by White Light of Simpson and his career. We send our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues, and friends.Read More »In Memoriam: John Simpson, Founder of White Light, 79
PLSN has learned of the death of Live Event Production Manager, Douglas L. Pope on May 30, 2022 at the age of 79. Pope worked frequently with Patrick Stansfield, Imero Fiorentino, and others on a wide range of projects over his long career. Click below for a tribute written by John Purdy, a long-time friend of Pope’s where they worked together on many production events.
Read More »
PLSN learned of the passing of Martin “Martee” Nuruddin, Vice President of PRG Orlando on April 14th. Nuruddin, born on February 15, 1954, was 68. He was a 44-year member of IATSE Local One, having been initiated on February 2, 1978. He worked throughout the Broadway jurisdiction and started his career as an apprentice at Vanco in New York. He would move to Florida to open Vanco Orlando.Read More »In Memoriam: Martee Nuruddin, 68
Lawrence “Larry” Smith, longtime sales rep for Performance magazine and founder of the Nashville-based publication, Tour Guide, later renamed Mobile Pro Monthly, died March 13 at his home in Gallatin, TN. Smith also published an industry directory, The Road Book, and founded the annual Tour Link Conference. He was 75.
Read More »
Tokyo – March 10, 2022 – FOR-A Company Limited today announced the passing of the company’s founder and representative director, Mr. Keizo Kiyohara who died on March 7. He was 88 years old.
Mr. Kiyohara established FOR-A Co. Ltd. in 1971. Three years later, he started FOR-A Corporation of America in California. FOR-A, the Japanese company name, means “A Partnership that Grows Together.” The name was given by Mr. Kiyohara because he believed that with the solutions developed by the company, there was true value in its meaning.Read More »In Memoriam: Mr. Keizo Kiyohara, FOR-A Founder, Passes Away at 88
PLSN was saddened to hear of the unexpected passing of Donn Deniston at age 64 of a heart attack on March 4, 2022. Many in… Read More »In Memoriam: Donn Deniston, 64, Littlite Marketing Mgr. and Special Products Engineer
Read More »
Tony Walton, an iconic award-winning designer and director for theater, film, television, ballet, and opera died on March 2, 2022 at his apartment in New York City after complications from a stroke. He was 87.
Read More »
Juan “JC” Faxas, formerly with the ADJ Group of Companies and a prominent figure within the MI industry community, died Feb. 12 at age 59. Born in Cuba, Faxas’ family brought him to the U.S. at age six. His lifelong love of music shaped his career, first working as a DJ during high school in the 1970s before joining Guitar Center and then, later in his career, ADJ.
Read More »
Stage Directions in PLSN has learned of the death of Production Stage Manager and Production Supervisor Alan Hall, who died Monday, February 7, 2022, in Spruce Head Island, ME. Born in England in 1936, Hall was 85. Here’s a great and informative video interview with Hall from the American Theatre Wing’s Guide to Working in the Theatre series, where Hall speaks in-depth on the role of the Production Stage Manager. Hall describes a PSM as “a benevolent dictator”:
Read More »In Memoriam: Alan Hall, Stage Manager and Production Supervisor