Broadway Producer Behind MUMMENSCHANZ, Arthur Shafman, Passes Away at 75

Broadway producer Arthur Shafman passed away July 28, 2014. He was 75.

In the late '70s and early '80s, Shafman shepherded several shows to Broadway, among them Quick Change, Insideoutsideandallaround with Shelley Berman, A Kurt Weill Cabaret, A Condition of Shadows and, perhaps best known, Mummenschanz.

Mummenschanz is a Swiss mask theater group founded by Bernie Schürch, Andres Bossard and Floriana Frassetto in 1972 -- the name is German for "mummery". The troupe is known for their surreal, bizarre style, with unique lighting and nuanced choreography. Mummenschanz ran for three years on Broadway from 1977 to 1980 for a total of 1,326 performances.

Shafman also worked as a manager for artists such as Red Skelton, Karen Akers and José Molina.

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