Thomas H. Connell III

Thomas Hilbert Connell III (October 25, 1942 – April 18, 2010) was a longtime chief stage manager at the Metropolitan Opera.[1][2]

Biography

Connell was born on October 25, 1942, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and grew up in Westport, Connecticut. He was a singer, pianist and violist in high school, and was inspired by a class trip to the Met's La Bohème to enter the opera industry.[1]

Connell earned his bachelor's degree in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University.[1][3] He served in the military during the Vietnam War, flying Navy transport planes. He later did graduate work in music at University of Hawaiʻi.[1]

Connell staged managed operas in graduate school and worked for a few regional opera companies before joining the Met as stage manager in 1977.[1] From 1981 until his death, he was the company's chief stage manager, also known as the production stage manager.[1]

Connell died on April 18, 2010, at his home in Manhattan.[1]

Personal life

Connell's first marriage to Katherine Snyder ended in divorce.[1] He then married writer and Ogilvy & Mather executive Stephanie Pierson,[4][5] a marriage also ended in divorce.[6] He had two daughters, one from each marriage, and his second daughter, Phoebe Connell, is married to Jacob Danziger, a son of Russell Sage Foundation President Sheldon Danziger.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Fox, Margalit (2010-04-28). "Thomas H. Connell III, Longtime Met Stage Manager, Dies at 67". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  2. ^ Dobrzynski, Judith H. (2009-05-07). "Great Performances -- Behind the Scenes". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  3. ^ "Columbia College Today". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  4. ^ "N.Y. executive, author misses her Baltimore - Baltimore Sun". 2021-06-20. Archived from the original on 2021-06-20. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  5. ^ Barbour, Celia (2006-09-24). "Sometimes, Anonymity Can Be Healing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  6. ^ "Stephanie Pierson, Copywriter, Bride". The New York Times. 1981-06-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  7. ^ "Phoebe Connell, Jacob Danziger". The New York Times. 2008-06-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-28.