Frederic B. Vogel, Producer and Commercial Theatre Institute Founder, Dies in New York

With a theatrical career that began at the age of nine, Vogel invested in more than 50 Broadway and off-Broadway productions. He began his Broadway career as a performer, acting in a 1951 mounting of Romeo and Juliet and the play Take a Giant Step two years later. In 1969 he served as assistant conductor on the musical Coco. He then moved on to Broadway producing, serving as a producer on the musical Marlene and the play Enchanted April. His off-Broadway producing credits include The Cover of Life, Warp and Shakespeare's R&J. Vogel created the Foundation for the Extension and Development of the American Professional Theatre FEDAPT in 1970. In 1982, he founded the Commercial Theatre Institute, which offered the first workshops ever conducted to train producers for producing commercially on Broadway, off-Broadway and for road production. He served as CTI's executive director. He has written extensively on not-for-profit theatre management and his new book , Producing for the Commercial Theatre, will be published next year. He is also one of the founders of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

"Fred's passion for the theatre was embodied in his tremendous commitment to identifying and training emerging producers and encouraging them to produce work they were passionate about," Theatre Development Fund Executive Director Victoria Bailey said in a statement. "He was tireless in his work. On a personal level I have always been grateful to Fred as he gave me my first job in New York City at FEDAPT, the organization he founded that provided critical technical assistance to emerging regional theatres throughout the country. He will be sorely missed."

Vogel is survived by niece Kathie Packer of Chicago, nephews Daniel J. Zitin of New York and Gary M. Zitin of Philadelphia, sister Naomi V. Zitin and brother-in-law Williard Zitin of Philadelphia. He requested that there be no funeral. There will be a memorial service sometime in January. Contributions in his memory can be made to BC/EFA.