Theater Writer Stuart W. Little Dies at 83

 Stuart W. Little died last night in his Canaan, CT home at age 83. The cause of death was congestive heart failure.

Mr. Little is best known as a writer of theatrical literature (in both books and news) from the 1950's through the 1970's. He wrote a theater news column for the Tribune from 1959 through 1966. In the 1970's he wrote and produced two books, "The Playmakers" and "Off-Broadway: The Prophetic Theater". Both books examined the way theater was created in New York and scrutinized the loss of culture Mr. Little and some of his contemporaries felt the theater was undergoing.

The New York Time Book Review said of his first book (co-authored with producer Arthur Cantor), "This is the fabulous invalid's story, told in multitudinous detail by two sympathetic friends."

In the mid-seventies he forged a bond with well respected theater revolutionary Joseph Papp (founder of The Public Theatre). With Mr. Papp, Little began working on his next literary venture, a book called "Enter Joseph Papp: In Search of A New American Theatre".

Stuart Little graduated from Yale in the middle of World War II and immediately began working for the CIA writing psychological profiles of high-ranking Nazis. After the war he began his career in entertainment working for the Herald Tribune, NBC, and editing TDF's quarterly newsletter.

Mr. Little is survived by wife of sixty-two years, Anastazia, his son Chris, his daughters Caroline and Suzanne, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.