Vineyard Theatre to Host Memorial Service For Founding Member T. Scott Cunningham Today 8/17

The Vineyard Theatre will host a private memorial service for actor T. Scott Cunningham - a founding member of Drama Dept. and The Vineyard Community of Artists, who died at age 47 due to pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome on June 20 - today (Monday, August 17) at 4:00pm at the Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street).

Speakers include Tony Award-winning director Joe Mantello, actor Cameron Watson, actress Deborah Obenchain, playwright Nicky Silver, actress J. Smith-Cameron, Bill Sanders, and Harry Bouvy - Mr. Cunningham's partner of 14 years. In addition, Justin Brill will perform "Anytime" by William Finn, with accompaniment from Seth Rudetsky.

T. Scott Cunningham last appeared this past April at the Philadelphia Theatre Company in Edward Albee's "At Home at the Zoo." On Broadway, he was in "Love! Valour! Compassion!" and revivals of "Design for Living" and "Tartuffe." His off-Broadway credits include "As Bees in Honey Drown" and "Music from a Sparkling Planet," both by Douglas Carter Beane (Drama Dept.); "Wintertime" and "The Dear Boy" (2nd Stage)'; and "New England" (Manhattan Theatre Club). He originated roles in three plays by Nicky Silver: "Pterodactyls" and "The Eros Trilogy" at The Vineyard Theatre and "Fit to be Tied" at Playwright's Horizons.

Mr. Cunningham was recently in the National Tour of "Twelve Angry Men" and the Las Vegas production of "Mamma Mia!" and was also in the west coast tour of "Take Me Out." He was very proud to have been in the Kennedy Center's production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with George Grizzard. His work in regional theatre includes South Coast Rep, Seattle Rep, Old Globe (Richard Greenberg's "The Violet Hour"), Long Wharf, McCarter, Alliance, Williamstown, NY Stage & Film, Portland Stage Co., Utah Shakespeare (title role in "Hamlet"), and many others.

His film and television credits include Serendipity, The Out of Towners, Our Very Own, People I Know and The Boys of Sunset Ridge, "Law and Order," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," "Maximum Bob," "Cybill," and "Central Park West."

In a statement, playwright Nicky Silver said: "T. Scott Cunningham was a brilliant actor, an inspiration and a dear, dear friend. We were very close for the last 17 years. I will miss him every day."

Mr. Cunningham is survived by his partner of fourteen years, Harry Bouvy of New York City; parents Judy and Tim Cunningham, brother Kevin, sister-in-law Jena, niece Morgan, nephews Mason and Kade, all of Shelbyville, Tennessee; countless friends and colleagues in theatre, film and television.

Donations can be made in memory of T. Scott Cunningham to The Actors Fund, or for a bench in Central Park that will be dedicated to Mr. Cunningham. Checks can be made payable to Central Parks Conservancy, and mailed to Bill Sanders, c/o Civic Theatre, 527 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.