Purchase College to Honor the Memory of Technical Theatre Legend Pete Feller, Sr.

On April 18 at 7 p.m., Purchase College, State University of New York’s Broadway Technical Theatre History Project, will honor the memory of Broadway technical theater legend, Pete Feller, Sr. when it presents his family with the esteemed “Backstage Legends and Masters Award.”

Feller joins previous Backstage Legends and Masters honorees Artie Siccardi (2012), Arnold Abramson (2013), Fred Gallo (2014), and Gene O’Donovan (2015).

As the founder of one of the premier scenic construction shops of its time, Feller Scenery, Feller was not only responsible for building a host of Broadway productions, he also trained and inspired an entire generation of shop owners including Jere Harris, Fred Gallo, Bill Mensching, Gene O’Donovan, and Gary Raussenberger. Feller also significantly influenced the development and use of electronically controlled automation in productions and helped redefine how scene shops operate, ushering in a streamlined process which consolidates various trades under one roof.

“It’s hard to imagine the existence of an award like this without recognizing Pete Feller, Sr. His role in the world of Broadway theatre is so extraordinary, and continues to influence so much of what is going on today that this was an obvious choice,” says Dan Hanessian, associate professor at Purchase, who launched the Broadway Technical Theatre History Project in 2011. “To say that Feller is a critical piece of the history of technical theatre doesn’t even begin to capture the importance he played and the influence he still has today.” Hanessian trains up-and-coming technical directors and production managers in the Design/Technology Program of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Purchase.

The free event will take place in the Performing Arts Center on the College’s campus at 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY. It will be webcast live and archived for future viewing.

About Peter Feller, Sr.

A third generation theatre technician, Feller (1919-1998), was a Tony Award-winning set builder who collaborated with most of the leading scenic designers over the course of 50 years including Oliver Smith, Boris Aronson, Jo Mielziner, Ming Cho Lee, and John Lee Beatty. He began his career in the Army in World War II, when Irving Berlin chose him to build the scenery for his wartime musical This Is the Army. By 1952, Feller won a Tony for his work on Call Me Madam, starring Ethel Merman. In 1957, David Steinberg asked him to take over Imperial Scenic Studios where Feller supervised building many of the significant shows of the late 50s and early 60s. In 1962, he founded Feller Scenery Studios Sought out by producers including George Abbott, Hal Prince, and Cameron Mackintosh, Feller’s landmark shows included: Fiddler on the Roof, Follies, Company, and Sweeney Todd. In 1984, he received a Tony for lifetime achievement in the theater.

About the Backstage Legends and Masters & the Broadway Technical Theatre History Project

Backstage Legends and Masters, founded by Dan Hanessian, is an annual public presentation spotlighting individuals who have been central to the realization of Broadway productions for many years, but are not typically provided recognition through the Tony or Drama Desk awards. Each year, an individual is selected by a panel of distinguished professionals who represent a variety of Broadway production specialties.

“The goal of the Broadway Technical Theatre History Project is to create a living history of the shops and technical personnel who have played a role in the realization of Broadway productions,” Hanessian explains.

This information will be available to the public in a centralized database. The project will also include a visual history and timeline of the shops. For more information, contact Dan Hanessian at dan.hanessian@purchase.edu or (914) 251-6854.

About Purchase College–SUNY

Purchase College, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) network of 64 universities and colleges, was founded in 1967 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller. His aspiration for Purchase was to create a dynamic campus that combined conservatory training in the visual and performing arts with programs in the liberal arts and sciences, in order to inspire an appreciation for both intellectual and artistic talents in all students. Today, Purchase College–SUNY is a community of students, faculty, and friends where open-minded engagement with the creative process leads to a lifetime of intellectual growth and professional opportunity. For more information about the College, visit www.purchase.edu