Lake Hollywood Photos - Off-Broadway

On February 3, 1959, after performing together on the Winter Dance Party Tour, rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. 'The Big Bopper' Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. The three, together with pilot Roger Peterson who also perished, were attempting to make it to their next stop by plane rather than travel by bus during a raging snowstorm. The event later became known as 'The Day the Music Died' after singer-songwriter Don McLean so referred to it in his 1971 song 'American Pie.' And although I was too young at the time to really understand what their deaths meant to the world of early rock and roll, I certainly appreciate the music they left behind that will live on as long as others continue to spin the tunes and keep imitating these rock and roll icons onstage.

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

James Roday, star of the hit television series 'Psych,' and Michael Weston of TV's 'House' will play two friends on a reckless weekend in Gabe McKinley's new play EXTINCTION, previewing Off-Broadway on Feb 13, 2010 prior to its official press opening February 17 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Manhattan. Wayne Kasserman directs.

Tony Winner Dan Fogler premiered his directing debut at the Tribeca Film Festival last week. The movie, Hysterical Psycho, is a spoof of cabin in the woods movies, made with his theater group, Stage 13.