It is with sadness ATPAM announces the death on February 11 of Manager Joseph P. Harris in Greenwich, CT. Brother Harris was 87 years old and had been a member of ATPAM since 1949. In a career that spanned over 50 years and 200 productions ranging from classical plays to original musicals, he created a lasting legacy as a Manager and Producer on Broadway.
Among the productions he worked on as a Company Manager were: Clutterbuck, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Two on the Aisle, Can-Can, Silk Stockings, and the original production of The Most Happy Fella. He also oversaw dozens of productions as General Manager, including: Two for the Seesaw, The Miracle Worker, All the Way Home, A Thousand Clowns, Golden Boy, Sweet Charity (both the original and the 1986 revival which garnered a Tony Award), Mame, Mummenschanz and 1776.
In 1968, Joseph formed a lasting and successful partnership with Ira Bernstein which went on to produce Golden Rainbow, The Norman Conquests, Sophisticated Ladies, Pippin and On the Twentieth Century, among many others. Later he partnered with Noel Pearson to produce a number of Brian Friel’s plays: Translations, Wonderful Tennessee, Dancing at Lughnasa (Tony Award) and Frank McGuiness’ Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me. He won his third Tony Award in 1994 for An Inspector Calls.
Brother Harris served on the Board of the Broadway League and was Chairman of the Board of the Johnny Mercer Foundation. He was a proud member of the Shubert Alley Irregulars.
Joseph was married for 39 years to Geraldine Delaney, a Broadway dancer whom he met while she was performing as a Hot Box girl in the out of town tryout of Guys and Dolls. He is survived by his children Jeremiah, James, Joseph and Jennifer, and by six grandchildren.
Visitation will be held today – Tuesday, February 17 – from 2 to 8pm at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch Street in Greenwich CT followed by a memorial service tomorrow – Wednesday, February 18 at 10 am – at the same location.
Contributions in Joseph’s memory may be made to the Actors Fund, 729 Seventh Avenue, NY, NY 10019 or to the Special Olympics New York , attn: Donations, 504 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12304.
He will be missed.