2023 -- H 5531

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LC001707

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF EUGENE LEE

     Introduced By: Representatives Ajello, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Kennedy,
Kislak, Tanzi, Cortvriend, McNamara, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Eugene

Lee, a very talented and highly honored set designer who worked for "Saturday Night Live",

numerous Broadway shows, and the Trinity Repertory Company; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Lee was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, with his twin brother, Thomas, to

Eugene and Elizabeth Lee. As a young man, he was an Eagle Scout and was introduced to the

theater thanks to his high school having a fantastic English teacher and theater facility. He

attended the Art Institute of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University and the Yale School of Drama,

earning BFA degrees from the latter two, and an MFA from Yale. He also received honorary

PhDs from DePaul University, Rhode Island College, and the Rhode Island School of Design;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Lee began his distinguished artistic career in 1967, when he made his

debut with Trinity Repertory. The first set he designed was for the production of "The Importance

of Being Earnest." He then created more than 100 dazzling sets for Trinity Rep and played a vital

role in the sterling reputation Trinity Rep developed, and continues to have, across the globe

within the performing arts community; and

     WHEREAS, Building upon his Providence roots, Mr. Lee moved to New York City

where he began a long Broadway collaboration with the late Director-Producer Harold Prince.

Their first project together was a revival of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s

"Candide" which began at the Chelsea Theater and thanks to its success, was quickly moved to

Broadway. He earned rave reviews for his sets and for his outstanding work on the "Great White

Way", and earned three Tony Awards for "Candide", "Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Barber

Street", and for "Wicked"; and

     WHEREAS; Mr. Lee's work on Broadway caught the attention of Lorne Michaels, who

asked him to be a theater designer for his new television show, Saturday Night Live, a

collaboration that would last forty years. Whether it was creating sets for various comedy skits,

Putin's office, Wayne's World, a podium for Melissa McCarthy, or the More Cowbell set, Mr. Lee

produced sets that earned rave reviews and always enhanced the show and the natural talents of

the actors using his sets; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Lee was nominated for eighteen Primetime Emmy Awards and won six

of them. He also collaborated on many projects connected to Saturday Night Live, including

"Gilda Live", Simon & Garfunkels's "The Concert in Central Park", and Paul Simon's

"Graceland: The African Concert." He also was the person Jimmy Fallon and Seth Myers would

turn to when they needed sets designed for their night time shows; and

     WHEREAS, In recognition of his enormous contribution to American Theater, Mr. Lee

was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2006. He was described by the current

Artistic Director of Trinity Repertory, Curt Columbus, as being a "once-in-a-generation theater

artist, one of the greatest minds to ever answer the question, 'What is Theater?'" Mr. Columbus

went on to say that Mr. Lee was "simultaneously playful and profound, childlike and rigorous, a

genius who sees the world in ways that others can only dream. Every time I worked with Eugene

as a designer, my work as a Director became more bold, more expansive and more true. It is one

of the greatest honors of my life in the theater that I could call Eugene Lee my collaborator and

my friend. Words cannot express how much he will be missed"; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Lee leaves behind his wife, Brooke, his sons Willie and Ted, and their

wives, Kate and Greta, and his grandchildren, Lucy and Otis. He is also survived by his twin

brother, Thomas, his nephew, Graham and his wife, Pam; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses deepest condolences on the passing of Eugene Lee; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Brooke Lee and family.

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