Plans are underway for a memorial performance celebrating the life of former Theatre By The Sea producer Tommy Brent, who passed away June 4. The event, entitled SONGS ON THE SAND: A Broadway Concert Celebrating Tommy Brent, will take place at Theatre By The Sea on July 25, 2011.
During his years at Theatre By The Sea, Mr. Brent helped many artists get their start in the business. He introduced up-and-coming performers such as
Cherry Jones,
Tovah Feldshuh,
Michael McGrath and
Frances Sternhagen. He also started the career of
Fred Barton, Broadway conductor, TV composer and co-creator of the internationally acclaimed revue,
Forbidden Broadway, which ran for 27 years off-Broadway and around the world.
"In 1977, Tommy took a chance on an 18-year-old novice, then, in 1979, made me his youngest musical director ever, and that gamble paid off for us both. He tutored me both sternly and gently, and never let me get away with anything less than better-than-my-best," said
Mr. Barton. "He didn't just start my career, he made it, and this sentiment is held by countless other theatre professionals. We want to put on ‘one more show' just for Tommy."
The cast of SONGS ON THE SAND will feature alumni of
Tommy Brent's productions, including Mr. McGrath,
Gary Lynch, Karen Wilder,
Mr. Barton and many others.
Mr. Barton, Mr. McGrath and other alumni are producing this memorial with the support of Mr. Brent's family and in cooperation with Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit producing entity at Theatre By The Sea. OSTC is also working with the family to set up a directed fund in Mr. Brent's honor. Any performing alumnus/alumna of the
Tommy Brent years interested in participating should contact
Mr. Barton at TommyBrentMemorial@gmail.com.
The concert will be free and open to the public. Specific details regarding the celebration will be released shortly and will also be made public at www.theatrebythesea.com.
Friends are also invited to a celebration of Mr. Brent's life to be held on Saturday, June 18 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 2315 Brinkley Road, Fort Washington, MD from 10 am until a Mass of Christian Burial is celebrated at 11 am Interment Cedar Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for contributions to be made in Tommy's name to Ocean State Theatre Company, c/o
Amiee Turner, Producing Artistic Director, P.O. Box 302, Wakefield, RI 02880 or online at www.theatrebythesea.com.
Mr. Brent was first introduced to Theatre By The Sea in the late 1940s, when he worked on a documentary about theaters in New England. He returned in 1958 for a one-year stint as the theatre's press agent. Ten years later, learning of the theatre's imminent demolition, Mr. Brent galvanized the local community and saved the theatre. He produced over 100 musicals and plays there from 1967 through 1988.
Mr. Brent credited himself with helping save the theatre a second time, in 2007, bringing together
Amiee Turner, Joel Kipper, and Bill Hanney to reopen Theatre By The Sea after it stood dark for four years.
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