As a theater enthusiast who has witnessed the magic of live performances unfold on the Great White Way, I am deeply saddened by the passing of Adam Epstein, the prodigious producer whose brilliance and passion for the arts left an indelible mark on Broadway. At just 49 years old, Epstein’s life was cut tragically short by a brief battle with brain cancer, but his legacy will endure forever in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have been touched by his work.
49-year-old Adam Epstein, the Tony Award-winning producer known for his work on ‘Hairspray’, as well as nominations for ‘Amadeus’ revival, ‘The Crucible’ revival, and adaptations of ‘The Wedding Singer’ and ‘Cry-Baby’, has passed away.
On Tuesday, Adam Epstein passed away at Adventist Health hospital in Glendale following a short fight against brain cancer, as confirmed by his family. At the time of his sudden illness, he was engaged in hosting his podcast, Dirty Moderate With Adam Epstein.
At the tender age of 28, Epstein collaborated with Margo Lion as a co-producer for the premiere Broadway show of “Hairspray”, which debuted in 2002 and eventually amassed eight Tonys out of thirteen nominations, with the top honor being best musical. In its initial run, Harvey Fierstein was the lead actor, and it continued for over 2,600 performances until 2009.
Epstein initially worked in Broadway as an intern and assistant in casting, later moving on to become a production associate in 1997 for the musical “The Life,” which was nominated for best musical. The following year, he produced the Tony-winning revival of Arthur Miller’s “A View From the Bridge,” featuring Allison Janney and Anthony LaPaglia.
1999 saw him debut with the film “Amadeus,” featuring Michael Sheen, followed by “The Crucible” in 2002, starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. The stage adaptation of “Hairspray,” originally from John Waters’ movie, later gained immense popularity.
“Jerry Mitchell, a two-time Tony Award-winning choreographer, stated that when we collaborated on Hairspray, Adam was the youngest producer I had ever partnered with. I will forever appreciate his kindness, support, and concern for our team.”
In 2006 and 2008, two musical adaptations, namely “The Wedding Singer” with Laura Benanti and inspired by the Adam Sandler-Drew Barrymore film, and “Cry-Baby” featuring Elizabeth Stanley, based on another John Waters’ movie, made their debut.
His theatrical productions garnered 12 Tonys and 46 nominations — in just the span of a decade.
Adam Keith Epstein was born on the 7th of September, 1974, in Miami Beach, Florida. His dad operated a radiology clinic, while his mom worked as a social worker. He studied at Miami Country Day School and shone in stage performances for shows like The Wiz and Jesus Christ Superstar.
“Adam had aspirations of becoming a producer since his childhood,” Waters stated. “This self-assuredness stems from the fact that he’s always been clear about his goals.”
Adam and I shared success with a show called “Hairspray,” and a less successful one titled “Cry-Baby.” Regardless of their outcomes, Adam’s excitement and support for both productions were unmatched by anyone else.
As a gaming enthusiast, I embarked on my academic journey at New York University, where I proudly graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor’s degree in the fascinating field of Political Science. During this time, I had the privilege to intern for Congressman Peter Deutsch and Senator Bob Graham, both esteemed Democrats from Florida.
Between the years 2014 and 2016, Epstein resided in London, where he penned a column titled “Expat Enquiry.” This platform allowed him to share his perspectives on politics and culture. Later, he moved back to the U.S., enrolling at Brown University, and eventually receiving a master’s degree in American studies.
He began his television journey as a political analyst on Fox News, serving as the more progressive perspective in debates against conservative commentators. Additionally, he held teaching positions as an adjunct professor at New York University and delivered guest lectures at both Harvard University and Columbia University.
He premiered his Dirty Moderate podcast in 2021; the last episode ran Aug. 8.
Among those who carried on are his mom and dad named Bonnie and Marc, his sibling Brett, his sister Logan, as well as his nieces Hazel, Sophie, Lucy, and his nephew Oliver.
Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Levitt-Weinstein-Blasberg, Rubin-Zilbert Memorial Chapels in North Miami Beach. Afterwards, there will be a burial at Mount Nebo in Miami.
Instead of sending flowers, consider making a donation to the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) research fund supported by Dr. Timothy Cloughesy, which can be found at UCLA under account number #61893C. You can do this by following the link provided here.
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2024-08-15 17:25