Cy Feuer, Legendary Producer-Director, Dies at 95

Cy Feuer, a producer and director on Broadway for more than 50 years and the former president of the League of American Theatres and Producers, died in Manhattan today. He was 95.

Feuer was born in Brooklyn and eventually attended The Juilliard School, where he studied music. He was a professional trumpet player before becoming a composer and head of the music department at Republic Pictures.

He joined the Army Air Force during World War II. Upon his return to civilian life, Feuer decided to become a Broadway producer, teaming up with Ernest H. Martin for the musical Where’s Charley? The pair worked on numerous other Broadway productions including Guys and Dolls (for which Feuer won his first Tony Award), Can-Can, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and The Act. During his career, Feuer also directed such shows as The Boy Friend, Silk Stockings, Little Me, and Walking Happy.

Feuer produced the film versions of Cabaret and A Chorus Line. In 2003, he published his memoir, I Got The Show Right Here: The Amazing True Story of How an Obscure Brooklyn Horn Player Became The Last Great Showman on Broadway, written with Ken Gross. That same year, Feuer was given a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

His wife, Posy, died in 2005. Feuer is survived by his sons Jed and Bob. The marquee lights of Broadway, as well as many theaters across the country, will be dimmed tomorrow night at 8pm in his honor; plans for a memorial celebration have not yet been announced.