Center Theatre Group's Frank Bayer Dies, 9/22

Frank Bayer, whose long career in theatre included stints as actor and stage manager on Broadway and as casting director and production supervisor at the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, died on September 22, 2010.  He was born June 29, 1936, in Brazil, Indiana. 

Frank began his career as an actor in the early 60s at the San Francisco Actor's Workshop, founded by Jules Irving and Herbert Blau.  When Irving and Blau went east to head up the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center, Frank went too, appearing in "Danton's Death" in 1965 and going on to start his stage-managing career.  With his friend Barbara-Mae Phillips, he handled the majority of the main stage plays there for over nine years. 

Returning to the West Coast, he joined the Center Theatre Group staff in Los Angeles to work with Mark Taper Forum Artistic Director Gordon Davidson from 1980 to 2005.  "He was a thorough-going theatre baby with a wry, dry sense of humor; a cynical optimist," Davidson says. 

Frank's career at the Taper began in the casting office, but after five years as Casting Director, he returned to the action - back stage - to become the Production Supervisor for over 125 main stage productions, including the world premiere of Lanford Wilson's "Burn This," "Angels in America," the world premiere of "QED" with Alan Alda, the American premiere of David Hare's "Stuff Happens" and the world premiere production of August Wilson's "Radio Golf."

 In addition to his work at the Taper, he was also Production Supervisor for CTG's Ahmanson Theatre for 10 years.  There, he covered over 50 productions, including the American premiere of Matthew Bourne's "Swan Lake," and the world premiere of Neil Simon's "Proposals."  The role of Production Supervisor was a job created "just for him," according to Davidson. 

In 1990, he returned to Broadway as Production Supervisor for Bill Cain's "Stand-Up Tragedy," which originated at CTG. 

Donations may be made in Frank's name to the Actors Fund.

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