A beloved Broadway shape head died erstwhile he was deed by a New Jersey Transit train bound for NYC during a unreserved hr commute connected Wednesday morning.
Thomas J. Gates, nan accumulation shape head of nan Tony-nominated philharmonic “Illinoise,” was fatally struck adjacent nan South Orange Station successful New Jersey astatine 9:12 a.m., according to Northjersey.com.
He was 51 years old.
The train that fatally struck Gates was group to get astatine Penn Station successful New York astatine 9:42 a.m.
There were nary reported injuries to nan 60 customers aliases unit connected committee nan train, nan outlet reported.
Gates’ decease comes 2 weeks aft “Illinoise” made its Broadway debut astatine nan St. James Theatre.
“Thom was nan halfway of Illinoise connected Broadway, a beloved friend and collaborator. We are devasted for his hubby Rick, different personnel of nan Illinoise community,” the production wrote in a connection connected X.
“These 2 astonishing quality beings led our institution connected our travel since nan beginning. We dedicate nan tally of Illinoise to Thom and his loving memory.”
Grammy-winning musician and character Sara Bareilles, who worked pinch Gates connected “Waitress” in 2021, described him arsenic a “Reliable. Generous. Loving. Compassionate” person successful a touching Instagram tribute following nan news of his death.
“He was nan first 1 In and nan past 1 out. He has been a shape head for galore shows complete nan years, and taken attraction of countless others…but he’s nan only 1 I made my first show pinch who took attraction of me. Today is unspeakably tragic for galore reasons- I can’t moreover put words to it. Thom Gates will beryllium missed and loved. I dream he knew that.”
Gates worked connected 11 productions connected Broadway crossed 22 years earlier he was killed.
Gates started connected Broadway successful August 2002, erstwhile he was named adjunct shape head for “Hairspray,” according to Playbill.
His first domiciled connected Broadway arsenic lead shape head came successful 2006 for nan play “High Fidelity.”
Wednesday night’s show astatine nan St. James Theatre successful midtown Manhattan was canceled owed to nan “tragedy wrong the ‘Illinoise’ community.”
“We apologize for nan inconvenience. All tickets for nan canceled capacity will beryllium refunded astatine nan original constituent of purchase,” the philharmonic said successful a statement.
“Illinoise” is based connected Sufjan Stevens’ 2005 medium of nan aforesaid sanction and is head and choreographer Justin Peck and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury.
The creation philharmonic gained awesome occurrence arsenic an Off-Broadway astatine Manhattan’s Park Avenue Armory earlier transferring to nan St. James Theatre connected April 24, according to Playbill.
The show is group to tally until August 10.
Just past week, “Illinois” was nominated for 4 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design, and Best Orchestrations.
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