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IRA GASMAN Obituary
Died of heart failure October 6 at 76, having fulfilled his dream to write for Broadway. With his story and lyrics and Cy Coleman's music, The Life was nominated for 12 Tony awards and won "1997 Best Musical" Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and Drama League Award as well as praise from Stephen Sondheim (that Ira treasured) and a 2017 London revival. Ira began his musical theater career in the '60s, writing the legendary musical What's a Nice Country Like You Doing in a State Like This? with NYU frat brother Cary Hoffman. Working as a copywriter as well during those years, he penned such iconic ads as Bounty, The Quicker Picker Upper. He went on to collaborate with, besides Cy Coleman, such distinguished composers as Burton Lane (Finian's Rainbow), Jule Styne (Funny Girl), Steve Allen (This Could Be the Start of Something Big), and Galt MacDermot (Hair), writing for musical theater, TV, motion pictures, and cabaret. Yip Harburg (The Wizard of Oz) affectionately called him "Brother Ira." Survived by sister Linda Dadon (Bart), niece Allyson Pimentel (Pedro Noguera), nephew Ted Yeschin (Kate), longtime partner Sallie Quirk, and a multitude of friends and colleagues who loved him. Memorial service to be announced.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for IRA GASMAN
Sponsored by his family, who loved him so.
David Alpern
October 7, 2020
Ira would be so pleased to learn that almost exactly two years since his passing, New York's City Center announced that it would revive THE LIFE as soon as in-person performances are permitted, and that on October 14, 2020, it would begin streaming a video of how the new version is being created and produced. From the NYCC website:
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Go behind the scenes with this new digital series—Encores! Inside the Revival.
This five-part mini documentary series takes you inside the next chapter of the beloved Tony-honored Encores! where the unique creative process of productions in development is led by Encores! Artistic Director Lear deBessonet and newly announced Producing Creative Director Clint Ramos.
Enjoy live performances and hear one-on-one conversations with the directors and artists invested in bringing these productions to you as soon as it is safe to do so.
All Encores! Inside the Revival episodes will be streamed for free below or on City Center’s YouTube channel.
Encores! Inside the Revival | The Life
Premieres Wed Oct 14 at 7:30pm
In the first installment of the series, Emmy and Tony Award-winning artist Billy Porter (FX’s Pose, Kinky Boots) takes audiences through his re-imagining of The Life, a twelve-time Tony-nominated musical (including Best Musical). The 1997 musical dramatizes complex lives in Times Square in 1980 and tells the story of Queen, a prostitute who strives for a better life against all oppressive forces. Interviewed by Encores! Producing Creative Director Clint Ramos, Porter discusses his vision for an updated take on the story that breathes a fresh, honest, and discerning view into the life of sex workers.
Music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Ira Gasman, and book by Coleman, Gasman, and David Newman
Adapted and directed by Billy Porter
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Bravo Encores!
David Alpern
July 8, 2020
His melody and lyrics linger on! Ira and Cy talking about THE LIFE as it opened on Broadway will be featured in a Zoom presentation of clips from my old radio show in August for the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton, N.Y. Take your bow, old pal. David
John wood
May 4, 2020
I will plant you a tree my friend. Though I've never been on kibbutz, I will plant you a tree and I hope with love and attention it will out shine raintree county and the hanging gardens of hammarapi!! At least. Much love, be safe, and love the living. Jw.
John
May 4, 2020
He was a great man, a very, very good man I beleive, and one to help a younger dramatist, songwriter and poet. What a mensch. I hope he will live on in so gs heard and unheard for all time. And bless him for staying put at the Granercy Hotel when all the dollars and all the dollar brokers were against him. What a funny word, dollars...jw.
January 6, 2020
We received our Christmas card back from Ira as undeliverable. We met Ira at one of our visits to NYC. Very friendly and hospitable. We have sent cards to him for the past nine years and will miss the opportunity to have brunch with him at Gramercy Hotel.
Gene & Sharon Phillips
Du Quoin, Il.
With Minnelli
October 6, 2019
Linda Dadon
October 5, 2019
Ira will remain in our hearts always. We, his family, deeply mourn his loss, but we take comfort in remembering all the ways in which he brought love and laughter into our lives. We continue to admire his great lyrical talent, his creative genius, and his abundant wit and honor his remarkably brave perseverance in the face of great challenges. He was deeply loved.
Ira and Sallie Quirk
David Alpern
October 5, 2019
Ira and sister Linda
David Alpern
October 5, 2019
Memorial Invitation
David Alpern
October 5, 2019
David Alpern
October 5, 2019
The excellent videographer Michael Stever has now posted his coverage of the memorial service for my longtime lyricist pal Ira Gasman (1942-2018) who brought THE LIFE to life on Broadway with music by the legendary Cy Coleman. More than a hundred people gathered to share memories of Ira's creativity and humor, and the many steps it took to reach show business success. Of course there were songs, live and on video, by Tony winners Lillias White and Chuck Cooper, Liza Minnelli, Peter Yarrow, Ira himself and others -- and hardly a dry eye at the Judson Memorial Church in New York after the service closed with a special recording by cabaret star Steve Ross of one of Ira's last lyrics, set to music by their mutual friend Alex Rybeck, "Bless Your Heart."
https://youtu.be/C_0Os4bUj6k
Enid Futterman
July 13, 2019
"Please say goodbye for me. He was a great lyricist and I greatly admired his work."--Stephen Sondheim
Steve Ross
January 13, 2019
Ira was such a droll and charming man. I always enjoyed our conversations and of course was a big fan of his work. An echt Manhattanite with talent and curiosity to spare!
January 8, 2019
Ira was such a droll and charming man. I always enjoyed our conversations and of course was a big fan of his work. An echt Manhattanite with talent and curiosity to spare!
Robert Stock
December 3, 2018
Condolences to his family and friends.
Enid Futterman
November 20, 2018
Ira and I were fledgling copywriters at Grey Advertising just out of college, so I knew him best before it all happened for him, or rather, before he made it happen. He was a dear man, a very welcome companion in that weird world. We didn't know then that we'd both gravitate to the other side of town where theater was being made. Third Avenue is only five minutes from Broadway, but it's a rocky road and Ira was the one who got there. Rest on your laurels, Ira. .
Bryan Boyhan
November 9, 2018
There are two short stories I remember in particular about Ira.
One.
We worked together for about a year on a play that was never finished.
He had read an article in my paper, The Sag Harbor Express, about a debate that was going on in a local village over whether to begin hunting to reduce the deer population. It was heated, with crowded village meetings full of people complaining about deer spreading ticks and disease and destroying landscaping, and protesters who opposed the hunt as too dangerous and inhumane and took the deers' side, including one woman who showed up with a gag wire arrow through her head.
It was great material, thought Ira. He called it Oh Deer!
So we wrote on our own and would meet each Sunday for lunch at one of our favorite haunts, The American Hotel in Sag Harbor. I'd drink a glass of wine, he'd have cup after cup of coffee.
One day, overthinking things, I told Ira I couldn't figure out the tone we were trying to set. He looked at me over the top of his glasses and said: All we want to do is make people laugh.
Two.
Many, many years ago I managed a cabaret in Port Jefferson, Long Island.
A few years back I was having dinner with my wife and a few friends at The American Hotel. One of them was a theater reviewer who had come to many of the cabaret shows back in the 70s and 80s.
We talked for a while, mostly reminiscing about the days we had spent in that little theater, when he wondered aloud why we had never done a production of What's a Nice Country Like You Doing in a State Like This?
It's a very funny show, you know, and would have been very topical for that time, my friend said. Yes, I agreed, and laughed and said my friend Ira Gasman had written the show's lyrics.
We kept talking for another few minutes when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a burly figure pushing his way through the crowd by the bar. He crashed his way over to our table, wrapped his arms around my wife, picking her halfway out of her chair, and began a comic and wildly mock-passionate make-out session.
I turned to my friend and said, So, Phil, let me introduce you to Ira Gasman.
Peter Mole
October 28, 2018
Went to a 'Reading' at The American Hotel 40-ish years ago, and who did it turn about to be - Ira Gasman, the guy in the office next to mine at d'Arcy Advertising when I was first in New York from London.
How sad that such a lively mind which brought joy to so many should finally be frought with physical challenges, but at least we are consoled that he will be remembered with nothing but happiness as he finally rests in peace.
Peter Mole, Southampton.
October 22, 2018
Dear Linda, I'm so very sorry about Ira's passing. In many ways it's shocking, as he was still so young. But in some ways it must also be comforting ... he is now at peace, floating above the clouds in the BIG theater above us all. Our deepest sympathy to you, Bart, and your family. All our love,
Shirley and Brandon Cholek
Cary Hoffman
October 17, 2018
So in !960 Ira and I were both pledging a fraternity AEP at NYU and I sang in a talent contest they had...After I sang this guy (Ira) approached me and said that he wanted to do a comedy team with me..I asked him if he was a comic or if he had ever been on stage.he said no..but had every confidence that we could do it ..and that he would write our act.Ira's confidence sold me...and got me into show business.!. He did write it....and we went to the Catskills with no agent...no experience....my singing voice ...and Ira's confidence! We would go to small hotels ..Ira would of course do all the talking and tell them that we were a headlining comedy act from Vegas and we were breaking in some new material on the East coast..and I would just shake my head like I knew what Ira was talking about....Ira traded our "act" for room and board......except for the evenings we bombed..then we'd sleep in my car.We did this until one night we entered a talent contest at a religious Jewish Hotel and they didn't let Ira on cause they had never seen our act.(or maybe they had seen our act)...but they did let me sing.....I was scared to death to go onstage without Ira ..but I won the contest and they gave Ira and I jobs on the social staff to be tummelers... guys who joked with the guests.....but it didn't make a difference to me...all I wanted to do was sing...and Ira with his incredible self confidence...hubris..and talent for words made that happen for which I will be forever grateful. Our horrendous act ultimately led to Ira and I being out of work a lot...until one afternoon we started to write our first song ..' Heaven Only Knows" We made a demo and took it around to the famous Brill Building and within 2 days we were signed by Don Costa as a rock and roll songwriting team..for 25 dollars advance weekly salary....We were not made for rock and roll ..I worshipped Sinatra and Ira worshipped Cole Porter.....but we did manage to have some records made....one by Kenny Rankin.....Ira wrote beautiful new words to ' Greensleeves' and Sandy Stuart recorded it.. And I almost got to meet my God Frank Sinatra when Don Costa arranged Sinatra's great album.." Sinatra And Strings" Ira was the words to my music and the confidence to my fears..We later collaborated on the hit Off Broadway musical .."What's A NIce Country Like You Doing In A State Like This..?...Thank you Ira....
Susan Israelson
October 17, 2018
A character with great character, stogy n hand, charismatic quips, funny, fun, pardon me Ira in heaven for the pun, can't resist, a gas, yes. Enjoyed every moment. Will miss you. Eternal love, Susan Israelson
BRUCE NICOL
October 16, 2018
Ira Gasman
Jack was how I often addressed Ira. I don't remember how, but is seemed to come
naturally with the best friend of my LIFE. Never to be forgotten was our introduction at
my summer share in East Hampton. That was more than thirty years ago at a BBQ of
mine where he was a guest of a guest of a guest. Ira sat beside me at a table of ten or a
dozen. One told of a horrible observance of our society having witnessed kids at
Altman's saying let's go spit on some furs the table was aghast. Ira leaned to my
ear and said sounds like fun to me. That moment was the beginning of a friendship to
last forever. Ira won me to live in and love Sag Harbor and The American Hotel. I
cherish memories of weekend breakfasts in the window of the Paradise. So many
memories of this wonderful gentleman will always be in my heart.
Bruce Nicol
Robert Riskin
October 16, 2018
My condolences to the family. I came to know Ira in Sag Harbor. Spent many hours with him enjoying his droll sense of humor and his love of life and music. He will be missed.
Maxine Lewis
October 14, 2018
My condolences to the family of Mr. Gasman. I came to know Ira when he was in Norfolk,Va at Province Place of Depaul. He was a smart, funny man, who loved music. GOD speed Mr. Gasman
Shelby Coleman
October 13, 2018
Ira was a lovely man and a brilliant lyricist. He achieved something very very few mortals ever do, he got a show on Broadway. And it ran for over a year. Ira wrote an amazing score with Cy on The Life. I still sing snippets of it almost every day. Those lyrics are epic. What a sweet, good man Ira was.
Ira
David Alpern
October 13, 2018
Ira & Bellamy Young, ingenue in "The Life," now a star of ABC-TV's "Scandal":
David Alpern
October 13, 2018
A
October 13, 2018
Im sorry to hear of your precious loss. May your memories always bring smiles to your faces and comfort to your hearts. And may the god of all comfort help you through this difficult time. (Isaiah 61:1,2)
Alex Rybeck
October 12, 2018
Many emotions arise, thinking of Ira's passing . But the one overriding feeling is that of gratitude -- grateful we met and wrote songs, and shared stories, laughs, music. I am proud of our collaboration, and that some of those songs quickly found their way into the repertoires of some highly acclaimed performers. I wish I'd met you sooner, but I'm so very grateful we met at all, and you will never be forgotten.
October 11, 2018
To his family, my condolence, may our god of love bring comfort and peace. Mathews 5:4;
From the program for London revival of "The Life"
David Alpern
October 11, 2018
My best and most fun friend for more than 20 years, on and off the tennis court, in New York at the Gramercy Park Hotel, Sag Harbor and Mallorca with Sallie. More than fulfill his Broadway dream,he lived and loved it.
October 11, 2018
To the Gasman Family: My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends during this difficult time. I hope that the promise in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 can bring comfort. Knowing that there's a hope for the ones we have lost in death can be so reassuring.
Angela Daniels
October 11, 2018
I thank God for having the privilege of knowing someone as special as you my friend, thanks for all the good advice and beautiful memories that will always live in my Heart. Love Forever Angie &Dylan
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