- Richard Adler, a Broadway composer and lyricist, has died at age 90. With Jerry Ross, Adler co-wrote The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, which both ran for more than 1,000 performances on Broadway. Adler’s enduring songs include “Rags to Riches,” “Whatever Lola Wants,” “Hernando’s Hideaway” and “Hey There.” He also produced numerous events for U.S. presidents, most famously John F. Kennedy’s birthday party in 1962, where Marilyn Monroe sang “Happy Birthday.”
- Gore Vidal, author and playwright, passed away in August at age 86. He was also an occasional actor; he appeared in the 1964 film version of his Tony-nominated play The Best Man. Vidal was born in 1925 at the United States Military Academy at West Point and later enlisted in the Army. Among his numerous published works are 25 novels, 2 memoirs and 8 plays.
- Marina Keegan, a journalist and playwright, has died at age 22. A Yale graduate, Keegan had earned national recognition by urging students to resist the lure of Wall Street recruiters and to do public good through other paths. Keegan’s new play Utility Monster was part of the Firework Theater’s Winter Reading Series 2012, and she wrote the book of the new musical The Independents, staged this past summer at the New York International Fringe Festival.
- Gregory R. Tate, co-founder of HartBeat Ensemble, a Hartford, Conn.–based theatre group that confronts questions of prejudice and poverty, has died at age 60. Tate was an ensemble member at the San Francisco Mime Troupe and traveled to Johannesburg to work on AIDS education projects. At HartBeat, Tate acted, wrote, directed and mentored scores of young people. The group will establish an apprenticeship in his name.
- René Hainaux, an actor, teacher and researcher, and a founding member of the International Theatre Institute, has died at age 94. Hainaux was a leader of the Belgium Center of the ITI since its founding Congress in 1948. From 1947 to 1968 he was editor of World Theatre. Hainaux also devoted himself to the publication of bibliographies on the performing arts.
In Memoriam
Commemorating the lives of Richard Adler, Gore Vidal, Marina Keegan, Gregory R. Tate, and René Hainaux.
