Alan Wasser, a veteran Broadway general manager and founder of Foresight Theatrical, passed away on April 14 at the age of 70.
Wasser died due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. A long-time collaborator with Cameron Mackintosh, Wasser and his company, Alan Wasser Associates, general managed “Les Misérables,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Miss Saigon” on Broadway as well as on the road.
“Alan’s contribution to the re-birth of the American musical theater in the 1980’s and 1990’s was enormous, helping turn it into a hugely successful industry where before there had only been occasional big hits. Through Alan’s organizational efforts and inspiration, he brought to my attention numerous exciting new talents who had not yet worked on Broadway.Through their tremendous efforts these huge shows criss-crossed America on a similar scale to their original Broadway splendor – something that had not happened before on this scale,” Mackintosh said.
Wasser’s Broadway career spanned five decades and included general managing all of Mackintosh’s Broadway and touring productions, as well as “Seussical,” “Sweet Smell of Success” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” He was the lead producer of “Lysistrata Jones” in 2011.
He was the recipient of an honorary Tony Award in 2017 for excellence in theater.
Wasser began his professional career as a subscription manager and then assistant managing director at the Circle in the Square Theater on Broadway. In 1985, he became the general manager of productions for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which was where he met Mackintosh.
“Alan was the general manager of the Kennedy Center when we first met. He was clearly a young man with a big future. He established his reputation on Broadway working with Cameron Mackintosh on an amazing string of hits. He was a tremendous asset to the industry, and a wonderful man,” said Robert Wankel, president of the Shubert Organization.
