Thom Gates Death, Illinoise Production Stage Manager has died: Thomas J. Gates, the production stage manager of Broadway’s Illinoise, was killed in a subway train disaster early on May 8. He was fifty-one years old.
On May 9, Illinoise posted a picture of Mr. Gates on Instagram as a mark of respect.
“With heavy hearts, we lament the passing of Thomas J. Gates, our production stage manager. Illinoise on Broadway revolved around Thom, a beloved colleague and cooperative partner. We feel terrible for his husband Rick, who hails from Illinois as well. These two amazing people have led us from the very beginning of our business. We dedicate the Illinoise race in remembrance of Thom and his precious memory.”
A beloved figure in the theater industry, Gates was a familiar face behind the scenes at some of Broadway’s largest shows, including Waitress, Newsies, and Hairspray. In addition to the Broadway original productions of Brooklyn, The Visit, and High Fidelity, he also contributed to the Broadway revivals of Noises Off, Pippin, Finian’s Rainbow, and The Visit.
While on tour, he directed numerous regional productions, including Grease, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Chicago, White Christmas, and many more. Known by his loving nickname, Thom, Mr. Gates attended Niagara University for his training and was a union member. He was a longtime stage manager for the Easter Bonnet Competition and an outspoken advocate of Actors’ Equity.
The news of Mr. Gates’ passing has stunned the community beyond comprehension, leading to the cancellation of Illinoise’s concert on May 8 and a deluge of sad social media remarks. Sara Bareilles, the composer and performer of Waitress, shared the following tribute on Instagram:
“He was considerate. That is, mostly accidentally funny. He said in a low voice. reliable. Give it away. devoted and understanding. He was worn out and overworked, but I never heard him complain. He was the last to leave the room after entering. He has over the years overseen and supervised a great deal of shows as a stage manager, but on my first play, he was the only person I worked with that really looked out for me. There are too many reasons why today is so dreadfully terrible to list them all. Thom Gates will be missed and loved by us. I hope he knew about it.
The husband of Mr. Gates who is still alive is Rick Steiger. Lisa Iacucci, a Broadway stage manager, has set up a GoFundMe campaign, with the proceeds going to Steiger. Playbill is thinking of all the people who knew and loved Mr. Gates, as well as his friends and family. A memorial for the public will shortly be announced.