Michael Kuchwara, Longtime Associated Press Drama Critic, Dead at 63

Michael Kuchwara, the well-respected theater reporter and critic for the Associated Press, died on May 22, 2010 at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City. According to the AP, his death was caused by complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease that causes scarring. He was 63.

Kuchwara recently celebrated 40 years with the syndicated news service, where he worked as a reporter and editor before being named drama critic in 1984. His last review for the AP (of the off-Broadway musical The Kid) was published on May 10.

According to the AP, Kuchwara was surrounded by family and was listening to music from the Broadway musical Gypsy, his favorite show, on his iPod at the time of his death. The marquees of Broadway theaters will be dimmed in his memory for one minute on May 25 at exactly 7:00PM.

Kuchwara is survived by his wife, Johnnie Kay Kuchwara, and sister Pat Henley.