Brennen Leath, Off-Broadway actor, 25
bway...@gmail.com
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111324.html
Young Actor Brennen Leath, Dead at 25
By Andrew Gans
25 Sep 2007
Brennen Leath, who was part of the company of the Off-Broadway musical
Walmartopia, died following the Sept. 22 evening performance of that
musical. Mr. Leath died from complications from diabetes. He was 25.
In a statement Walmartopia producer Dale Leibowitz said, "Brennen was
integral to the spirit of our show and will be sorely missed by
everyone involved with the production. Our thoughts are with his
family."
The show's director, Daniel Goldstein, added, "Brennen was an
incredible talent. He was bright, funny, worked hard - the kind of
actor you always want in the room. More than that, he loved his job,
his company of actors, his crew, and that love and sheer joy shone
through every moment on stage. I have no doubt that he would have been
a major star. To the Walmartopia company, he already is. He will be
sorely missed."
Born Justin Brennen Leath, the young actor was recently seen in R-E-S-
P-E-C-T at New York Stage & Film. This past year he also appeared in
Happy End and A Christmas Carol, both at San Francisco's A.C.T., and
in Mother Courage at Berkeley Rep.
His other stage credits included Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, Henry
IV Part 1, Born Yesterday and Camelot. For his work in the latter, a
production at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Mr. Leath received the
Michael and Jan Finlayson Memorial Acting Award.
A recent graduate of A.C.T.'s MFA Acting Program, Mr. Leath appeared
as a vocal soloist with the Milwaukee and San Antonio symphonies and
on NPR's "West Coast Live."
A memorial service will be held in his honor Sept. 27 at the Bethany
UCC Church in San Antonio. Contributions may be made in Mr. Leath's
name to the American Diabetes Foundation; visit www.diabetes.org.
*
The Sunday performances of Walmartopia were canceled; performances
resume Sept. 25.