In Memoriam: Pete Wright Lighting&Sound America has learned of the death of Broadway stagehand Pete Wright, who died in a fall from a ladder on the fly floor at the Winter Garden Theatre on November 12. He was 54. According to the New York Times, Wright "fell from the narrow, raised platform alongside the stage around 8:45am while performing routine maintenance, the police said. Emergency medical services workers found the man lying on the floor of the theatre, which sits between 50th and 51st Streets, and transported him to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead." The Winter Garden is currently empty. The musical Beetlejuice, the previous tenant, closed on March 10. The next occupant, a revival of The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, is scheduled to begin previews on December 10, 2021. Wright's main job was as a flyman at the August Wilson Theatre, currently the home of the musical Mean Girls. The August Wilson is part of the Jujamcyn Theatre chain. The company says in a statement, "We are all devastated by the news and mourn this immense loss alongside Pete's family, his work family, and his union family. Since all of our marquees have been dimmed during the shutdown, we will illuminate the marquee at the August Wilson Theatre this weekend to remember and honor Pete, who brought such light into that theatre year after year." A spokesperson for the Shubert Organization, owner of the Winter Garden, says in a statement, "We mourn the loss of our valued colleague. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family during this difficult time." Dylan Foley, a Broadway stagehand, posted on Facebook, "Pete was a force of nature, often doing the work of three men when he ran load ins and load outs. He had a dry wit, an unstoppable work ethic, and a trademarked grin. If you asked for something from Pete, his line was, 'For you, the grid's the limit.' He was completely fearless in how he lived his life as a stagehand." According to Deadline.com, "The New York Police Department and OSHA launched investigations, though the NYPD did not suspect any criminality." Wright is survived by his wife, Marcie, whom he met when both were working as stagehands on a revival of Grease at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, and their two sons. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist Wright's family at this difficult time: https://tinyurl.com/y247jnwy. 
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