Producer Benjamin Mordecai Dies at 60

Mordecai was best known for his longtime association with the playwright August Wilson; he produced 10 of Wilson’s plays on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, and in London’s West End, including the current staging of Radio Golf at the Yale Repertory Theatre, of which he was managing director from 1982 to 1993. He earned a Tony Award for the Broadway production of Fences and an Olivier Award for the London production of Jitney, among many other honors.

In 1992, Mordecai founded the theatrical producing and management firm Benjamin Mordecai Productions, Inc. He was also the managing partner of Producers Four, which operated in the United States and Europe; among that company’s recent shows were Hitchcock Blonde in London and Sixteen Wounded on Broadway. Additionally, Mordecai produced the recent Broadway revisal of Flower Drum Song and was the executive producer of Angels in America.

He is survived by his wife, Sherry Lynn Morley, and daughter, Rachel Elizabeth Mordecai. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Benjamin Mordecai Fund at Yale School of Drama (P.O. Box #208244, New Haven, CT 06520). A memorial service will be held in the fall.