It is with sadness ATPAM announces the passing on July 15 of Gold Card manager Ashton Springer, age 82, in Mamaroneck, New York. Brother Springer had been a member of ATPAM since 1977 and was, over the course of his career as both producer and manager, instrumental in bringing to light the work of African-American theatre artists.
Among the productions he produced were: A Lesson from Aloes, Eubie! (1979 Drama Desk Award for Best Musical), Cold Storage, Going Up, the All Black Cast Revival of Guys and Dolls (1977 Tony Award nominee for Most Innovative Production of a Revival), Bubbling Brown Sugar (1976 Tony Award nominee for Best Musical) and No Place to Be Somebody. Brother Springer was also the Manager of the Little Theatre, now known as the Helen Hayes, in New York City.
Brother Springer is survived by his sister Claudia, sons Caz and Mark and other extended family.
He will be missed.
See also: New York Times obit