Tony-Winning Theatrical Producer Benjamin Mordecai Dead at 60

Tony Award-winning producer Benjamin Mordecai III passed away in New Haven, Connecticut on Sunday, May 8 "after a long illness," according a statement. He was 60.

Mordecai was Associate Dean of the Yale School of Drama where, in addition to teaching and chairing the school's graduate management program, he was responsible for financial aid and recruitment. From 1982 to 1993, Mordecai was Managing Director of Yale Repertory Theatre. He is currently represented on Broadway by Brooklyn which is produced by Producers Four, his producing group with Robert G. Bartner, Brian Brolly and Michael A. Jenkins.

Mordecai produced 10 of August Wilson's plays on Broadway, off-Broadway, regionally and in London's West End. As Managing Director of Yale Repertory Theatre, Mordecai transferred nine plays from Yale to Broadway including five plays by August Wilson including: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Tony nomination for Best Play, Fences winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize and 1988 Tony Award for Best Play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone Tony nomination for Best Play, The Piano Lesson 1990 Pulitzer Prize winner and 1991 Tony nominee and Two Trains Running Pulitzer nominee and Best Play Tony nominee. At the time of his death, he was presenting the world premiere of Wilson's Radio Golf at Yale Rep. As Executive Director of Sageworks, Mordecai produced Seven Guitars Pulitzer nominee and Tony nominee King Headley II Pulitzer Prize and Tony nominee and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom on the Great White Way. Mordecai also produced Wilson's Jitney, at the Union Square Theatre in the fall of 2000 and at London's Royal National Theatre, where it received the Olivier Award for Best New Play.

In addition to his work with Wilson, Mordecai founded, and for 11 years was the Producing Director, of the Indiana Repertory Theatre. He served on the board of the Classic Stage Company. In addition to Brooklyn, Producers Four, for which Mordecai was managing partner, produced Hitchcock Blonde in London and Sixteen Wounded on Broadway. Mordecai was also involved in producing the revival of Flower Drum Song, Golden Child, Thunder Knocking on the Door and Endpapers and national tours of Gate of Heaven, The Harlem Nutcracker and Flower Drum Song. He received the first Robert Whitehead Award for outstanding commercial producing. He was President of the American Theatre Exchange Initiative, an organization dedicated to the continued interchange between the American and Russian Theatre communities.

Mordecai is survived by his wife Sherry Lynn Morley Mordecai and daughter Rachel Elizabeth Mordecai.