Brennen Leath, 'Walmartopia' & SF Bay Area Actor, Dies at 25

The producers of Walmartopia sadly announce that cast member Brennen Leath, 25, died after the musical's Saturday evening performance. The cause was complications from diabetes. Sunday's performances were canceled; performances will resume tonight, Tuesday at 8PM.

Walmartopia producer Dale Leibowitz said, "Brennen was integral to the spirit of our show and will be sorely missed by everyone involved with the production. Our thoughts are with his family."

Born Justin Brennen Leath, the actor most recently appeared in R-E-S-P-E-C-T at New York Stage & Film. This past year he appeared in Happy End and A Christmas Carol at San Francisco's ACT and Mother Courage at Berkeley Rep. Additional credits include Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, Henry IV Part 1, Born Yesterday and Camelot at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, where he received the Michael and Jan Finlayson Memorial Acting Award. As a vocal soloist he has appeared with the Milwaukee and San Antonio symphonies and on NPR's "West Coast Live." He is a recent graduate of the ACT's MFA Acting Program.

Daniel Goldstein, director of Walmartopia stated, "Brennen was an incredible talent. He was bright, funny, worked hard - the kind of actor you always want in the room. More than that, he loved his job, his company of actors, his crew, and that love and sheer joy shone through every moment on stage. I have no doubt that he would have been a major star. To the Walmartopia company, he already is. He will be sorely missed."

A memorial service will be held on Thursday at the Bethany UCC Church in San Antonio. Contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Foundation. www.diabetes.org

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