Alan Brandt, 78, Playwright
Alan Brandt, who launched a career as a playwright when he was 75 years old—he is best known for penning Off-Broadway's "2fi Jews"—died of cancer on Fri., Sept. 6. He was 78.
"2fi Jews," which played at the Greenwald Theatre for almost a year (1998-1999), is a seriocomic play concerning three generations of men who learn to live with each other, despite personal differences.
The Brooklyn native was also a lyricist who wrote words for songs made famous by such singers as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, and Peggy Lee, among others. His most recognized song, "That's All," has been featured more than two million times on radio, TV, and film. Indeed, in 2002, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) honored his lyrics for that tune.
When he was not writing, Brandt was a dealer in tribal art and a significant source of Oceanic and African sculptures to collections at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Detroit and Minneapolis Institutes of Art, and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., among others.
Brandt began taking acting classes in his late 60s at HB Studios in New York and began playwriting when he was in his 70s in an attempt to create material that he could use in his classes. His goal was to forge interesting scenes and characters for a man of his age.
Do Gooder Productions, an Off-Broadway company dedicated to new play development, has established the Alan Brandt Memorial Play Fund, which will promote the development and production of new plays by new playwrights.
Donations may be sent to Do Gooder Productions, 359 W. 54th St., Ste. 4FS, New York, NY 10019.
Stewart Fisher, 37, NJ Assoc. Artistic Dir.
Stewart Fisher, associate artistic director of the New Jersey Repertory Company died of heart failure on Sun., Sept. 22. He was 37.
The plays he helmed at New Jersey Rep included: "Ends," the company's premiere production in 1999; "Adult Fiction"; "The Girl with the High Rouge"; "Naked By the River"; and "Slave Shack."
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence who lived in Brooklyn, Fisher was married to Dana Benningfield, literary director at New Jersey Rep and an actress with the company.
A memorial service will be held at the theatre at a later date.