Paul Libin, a significant determine within the American theater for practically seven many years whose management positions at Circle within the Sq. Theatre and Jujamcyn Theaters contributed a few of Broadway‘s most fun and acclaimed stage productions, died June 27 in New York Metropolis after a quick sickness. He was 94.
Throughout the span of his profession in theater Libin produced greater than 250 Broadway, Off Broadway and touring productions. He lead Circle within the Sq. Theatre for 62 years till his demise, serving as Govt Vice President and Producing Director of Jujamcyn Theaters for 28 years till 2017, and was President of Broadway Cares/Fairness Fights AIDS for twenty-four years till 2018.
Only a small sampling of the productions staged beneath Libin’s watch: Loss of life of a Salesman starring George C. Scott in 1975; St. Joan with Lynn Redgrave in 1977; Tina Howe’s Coastal Disturbances starring Timothy Daly and Annette Bening in 1987; and, simply in the previous few seasons, Slave Play, Humorous Woman, Romeo + Juliet and, presently at Circle within the Sq., Simply In Time starring Jonathan Groff.
Born in Chicago in 1930, Libin served two years within the military and went on to graduate from Columbia College on the GI Invoice. He launched his theatrical profession by aiding scenic designer Jo Mielziner. In his early New York years, he labored as an actor, stage supervisor, normal supervisor, and in 1958 he started his producing profession with a revival of The Crucible on the Martinique Theatre.
In 1963 Libin partnered with Circle within the Sq. Theatre founder Theodore Mann, a handshake deal that lasted 49 years. Underneath their stewardship, the corporate mounted landmark productions together with The Iceman Cometh, Uncle Vanya, Loss of life of a Salesman, and True West, amongst different traditional revivals, modern performs, and musicals.
After Mann’s demise in 2012, Libin continued on as President of Circle within the Sq. Theatre.
In 1990, Libin additionally joined Jujamcyn Theaters as Govt Vice President and Producing Director, a place he held till his retirement from that function in 2017. Throughout his tenure, he performed a key function in shepherding groundbreaking works to Broadway comparable to Angels in America, The Producers, Fela! and Love! Valour! Compassion!.
Concurrently, Libin served as President of Circle within the Sq. Theatre College, chaired The Broadway League from 2009 to 2011, and sat on quite a few Tony Award committees, and different Broadway League governance and negotiating committees, in addition to appearing as trustee for a number of multi-employer pension funds for theatrical staff.
Amongst his most profound legacies was his work as President of Broadway Cares/Fairness Fights AIDS, the place he oversaw exceptional development within the group’s philanthropic attain. On the time of his retirement in 2018, he was named the group’s first President Emeritus and honored with The Paul Libin Heart at The Actors Fund. Discussing the formation of BC/EFA in response to the early days of the AIDS disaster, Libin famously remarked, “We couldn’t not do one thing.”
All through his prolific profession, Libin was the recipient of the Eugene O’Neill Medallion, the Eugene O’Neill Basis Tao Home Award, and the Lucile Lortel Excellent Lifetime Achievement Award. He obtained 12 Tony Awards, together with the Particular Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement within the Theatre in 2013, and in 2016 was inducted into the Theater Corridor of Fame.
In recent times, Libin remained actively engaged with the Broadway theater group, persevering with his work with Circle within the Sq. Theatre College and presenting new hit productions at Circle within the Sq. Theatre, together with An Enemy of the Folks, Romeo + Juliet, and presently, the critically acclaimed and viewers favourite Simply in Time.
Throughout the theater world, Libin was a beloved and admired raconteur, a sort of dwelling encyclopedia of present biz lore. Paul Libin’s devotion to each the artistry and the humanity of the theater made an indelible mark on Broadway and levels past.
Susan Frankel, who labored with Libin for greater than 40 years, will proceed Circle’s custom of progressive productions of revivals and new works, serving as Theater Operator and Chief Govt Officer of Circle within the Sq. Theatre, working with Managing Director Cheryl Dennis.
Libin is survived by his spouse of 70 years, Florence Rowe Libin, his three kids, Charles Libin and his spouse Mindy Goldstein, Claire Libin, and Andrea Libin and her husband John Excessive, and his grandchildren Travis Libin, Milah Libin, and Sasha Excessive.
A celebration of his life will likely be introduced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the household requests that donations be made to Broadway Cares/Fairness Fights AIDS or the Leisure Group Fund (previously the Actors Fund).
