2023 -- H 5531
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
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 P ASSING 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 1
Lee, a very talented and highly honored set designer who worked for "Saturday Night Live", 2
numerous Broadway shows, and the Trinity Repertory Company; and 3
WHEREAS, Mr. Lee was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, with his twin brother, Thomas, to 4
Eugene and Elizabeth Lee. As a young man, he was an Eagle Scout and was introduced to the 5
theater thanks to his high school having a fantastic English teacher and theater facility. He 6
attended the Art Institute of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University and the Yale School of Drama, 7
earning BFA degrees from the latter two, and an MFA from Yale. He also received honorary 8
PhDs from DePaul University, Rhode Island College, and the Rhode Island School of Design; 9
and 10
WHEREAS, Mr. Lee began his distinguished artistic career in 1967, when he made his 11
debut with Trinity Repertory. The first set he designed was for the production of "The Importance 12
of Being Earnest." He then created more than 100 dazzling sets for Trinity Rep and played a vital 13
role in the sterling reputation Trinity Rep developed, and continues to have, across the globe 14
within the performing arts community; and 15
WHEREAS, Building upon his Providence roots, Mr. Lee moved to New York City 16
where he began a long Broadway collaboration with the late Director-Producer Harold Prince. 17
Their first project together was a revival of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s 18
"Candide" which began at the Chelsea Theater and thanks to its success, was quickly moved to 19
Broadway. He earned rave reviews for his sets and for his outstanding work on the "Great White 20
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Way", and earned three Tony Awards for "Candide", "Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Barber 1
Street", and for "Wicked"; and 2
WHEREAS; Mr. Lee's work on Broadway caught the attention of Lorne Michaels, who 3
asked him to be a theater designer for his new television show, Saturday Night Live, a 4
collaboration that would last forty years. Whether it was creating sets for various comedy skits, 5
Putin's office, Wayne's World, a podium for Melissa McCarthy, or the More Cowbell set, Mr. Lee 6
produced sets that earned rave reviews and always enhanced the show and the natural talents of 7
the actors using his sets; and 8
WHEREAS, Mr. Lee was nominated for eighteen Primetime Emmy Awards and won six 9
of them. He also collaborated on many projects connected to Saturday Night Live, including 10
"Gilda Live", Simon & Garfunkels's "The Concert in Central Park", and Paul Simon's 11
"Graceland: The African Concert." He also was the person Jimmy Fallon and Seth Myers would 12
turn to when they needed sets designed for their night time shows; and 13
WHEREAS, In recognition of his enormous contribution to American Theater, Mr. Lee 14
was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2006. He was described by the current 15
Artistic Director of Trinity Repertory, Curt Columbus, as being a "once-in-a-generation theater 16
artist, one of the greatest minds to ever answer the question, 'What is Theater?'" Mr. Columbus 17
went on to say that Mr. Lee was "simultaneously playful and profound, childlike and rigorous, a 18
genius who sees the world in ways that others can only dream. Every time I worked with Eugene 19
as a designer, my work as a Director became more bold, more expansive and more true. It is one 20
of the greatest honors of my life in the theater that I could call Eugene Lee my collaborator and 21
my friend. Words cannot express how much he will be missed"; and 22
WHEREAS, Mr. Lee leaves behind his wife, Brooke, his sons Willie and Ted, and their 23
wives, Kate and Greta, and his grandchildren, Lucy and Otis. He is also survived by his twin 24
brother, Thomas, his nephew, Graham and his wife, Pam; now, therefore be it 25
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 26
expresses deepest condolences on the passing of Eugene Lee; and be it further 27
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 28
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Brooke Lee and family. 29
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