It is with sadness ATPAM announces the death on April 18 of Gold Card Press Agent Harvey Sabinson in Sarasota, Florida. Brother Sabinson was 94 years old and had been a member of ATPAM for over 70 years – since 1949.
Harvey served as Vice-President and Board Member for ATPAM for many years.
A New York City native, Harvey attended Townsend Harris High School and Queens College, where he met his wife, Sarah. He served in the Army during World War II, earning a Purple Heart.
On Broadway, Harvey represented over 250 plays and musicals, among them the original productions of: Finian’s Rainbow, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Hello, Dolly! 1776, Oliver, Promise, Promises and Carnival. He press-agented 10 of Neil Simon’s Broadway plays, and introduced Broadway audiences to Pinter’s The Caretaker and Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He also represented the long running Off-Broadway hit The Fantastics. Among the producers he worked with were: David Merrick, Robert Whitehead, Roger L. Stevens and Emanuel Azenberg.
In 1976, Harvey took on a new assignment: Director of Special Projects at the League of New York Theatres and Producers, the trade association known today as The Broadway League. He capped twenty years at that organization with thirteen of them as Executive Director. In 1995 he was awarded a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement.
His 1977 memoir “Darling, You Were Wonderful” detailed his experiences as a theatrical Press Agent on Broadway.
Harvey is survived by his wife, sons Eric and Allen, and grandchildren Lia, Elena Beth and Juliana.
Services will be private. Donations in his memory may be made to The Actors Fund.
He will be missed.
