Memorial Service for Frederic B. Vogel to Be Held February 9 at Schoenfeld Theater

A memorial service for Frederic B. Vogel, founder and President of the Commercial Theater Institute, producer, and one of the theatre community's most respected and knowledgeable management advisors, will be held on Thursday, February 9 at 1:30 p.m. (Doors open at 1 p.m.) at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue).

Fred passed away at his home in New York on November 29, due to complications from lung cancer.

Mr. Vogel trained two generations of American theatre producers and scores of regional theatre managers. His annual conferences on producing theatre have for 25 years drawn thousands of hopefuls from all 50 states and over 15 foreign countries to New York City to hear and learn about the craft of theatre producing. He has written extensively on not-for-profit theatre management and his new book, "Producing for the Commercial Theatre," will be published next year.

Frederic B. Vogel created the Commercial Theater Institute in conjunction with The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. and Theatre Development Fund in 1982, the first workshop ever conducted to train producers for commercial Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring productions. Workshop leaders have included the commercial theatre's major Producers, General Managers, Theater Owners, Press Agents, Literary Agents, Theatrical Attorneys, and others. Over 50 participants in these programs have gone on to produce successfully On Broadway and Off.

Having invested in more than 50 Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, Mr. Vogel co-produced the Tony Award nominated "Marlene" and "Enchanted April" on Broadway. Off Broadway, he co-produced "Shakespeare's 'R&J,'" R.T. Robinson's "The Cover of Life," and the musical, "Lust."

Mr. Vogel produced his first independent film in 2004, "A Tale of Two Pizzas." For 17 years Mr. Vogel headed the Foundation for the Extension and Development of the American Professional Theatre (FEDAPT), which offered development and technical assistance to over 500 theaters, dance organizations, performing arts centers and other arts projects throughout the United States, with support from leading foundations and Actors Equity Association.

Prior to this, Mr. Vogel was Assistant Director for the Performing Arts at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, which presented more than 125 international theatrical and concert attractions. He was in charge of the International Special Events Program and served as the Director of the Film Program, which premiered films from around the world. Mr. Vogel was subsequently appointed Special Events Director of the New York State Commission on the World's Fair for the New York State Pavilion at the World's Fair, a position he held from 1963-1965. As General Manager for "Lumadrama" (a son et lumiPre) at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Mr. Vogel coordinated this tourist and education program with the U.S. Department of the Interior and was responsible for its operation.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Mr. Vogel began his higher education at the University of Pennsylvania. Interrupted by a tour of duty as an ensign in the navy, he went to Princeton after WWII and eventually graduated from Penn State. Beginning his theatrical career as an actor at the age of 9, Mr. Vogel appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, the summer stock circuit, television and film before switching his creative priorities to the "front office."

He has held administrative positions in summer theatre, music events, Off-Broadway Theatre, and created and supervised Broadway Theatre Leagues Tours (Columbia Artists Management) throughout the U.S. For several years Mr. Vogel served as an independent Arts Management consultant for a variety of organizations. In addition, he has been a stage manager, box office treasurer, subscription and group sales manager, PR/Publicity Director, general manager and producer. He has lectured at leading universities' Arts Management graduate programs in the U.S. He also served as an arts consultant for the Ford Foundation in Indonesia.

In 1988, Mr. Vogel was a founding member of Broadway Cares and was the chair of the Broadway Cares Grants Committee, which, from 1988 – 1992, distributed over $1 million to scores of AIDS service providers in New York City and across the country.

With the merger of Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS in May 1992, he joined the BC/EFA Board of Trustees and continued in his role as chair of the BC/EFA National Grants Committee until his death. Over the last 13 years, as chair of the Grants Committee, Fred has been instrumental in BC/EFA providing over $25 million in grants to hundreds of AIDS and family service providers and advocates in 48 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Mr. Vogel is survived by niece Kathie Packer of Chicago, nephews Daniel J. Zitin of New York and Gary M. Zitin of Philadelphia, sister Naomi V. Zitin and brother-in-law Williard Zitin of Philadelphia.

Donations in Mr. Vogel's memory can be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, 165 W. 46th St, New York, NY 10036.