Partner Bob Miller
Queer Places:
Parsons School of Design, 66 5th Ave, New York, NY 10011
New York University, 70 Washington Square S, New York, NY 10012
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, 30 Cooper Sq, New York, NY 10003
Westchester Hills Cemetery
Hastings-on-Hudson, Westchester County, New York, USA
Edwin "Ed" Wittstein (April 7, 1929 - July 28, 2011) was an artist and scenic designer of the original production of "The Fantasticks" among many others. The work of Broadway's gay and lesbian artistic community went on display in 2007 when the Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation Gallery presents "StageStruck: The Magic of Theatre Design." The exhibit was conceived to highlight the achievements of gay and lesbian designers who work in conjunction with fellow gay and lesbian playwrights, directors, choreographers and composers. Original sketches, props, set pieces and models — some from private collections — represent the work of over 60 designers, including Ed Wittstein.
Edwin Wittstein was born on April 7, 1929 in Mount Vernon, New York. He was educated at the Parsons School of Design and New York University; he also attended Cooper Union and studied at Irwin Piscator's Dramatic Workshop. Wittstein went on to design for theatrical and operatic productions for television in the United States and Europe. An early success for Wittstein was the long-running 1960 production of The Fantasticks.
Wittstein's versatility led him to venture into the film industry, designing for Woody Allen's Bananas and Play it Again, Sam. He was nominated for Broadway's 1974 Tony Award as Best Scenic Designer for "Ulysses in Nighttown."
Leaving New York, he became active at Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park, welcoming the change in environment. His work there included not only the usual challenges of stage design, but clarifying concepts of what a theatre structure should be -- exploring new approaches to housing the drama. He comments "very often I am brought in by the directors and the producers to help choose the theatre itself...very often the architectural aspects of Off-Broadway theatres have lead me to do some of my best and most interesting designs."
He died on July 28, 2011 in New York City, New York. He was survived by his beloved friend, Juan Alvarado and his longtime partner, Bob Miller. He was interred at Westchester Hills in Westchester County, New York.
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