Hooray for Broadway Hooray for Mort
Back in the 90’s when I was doing steady work for THE NEW YORKER, sometimes they would assign me to see a Broadway production and create an illustration for either a theater review or up front in the cultural listings section. If I was lucky sometimes my wife, Terri, would be included on their tab. And so it happened with a production of NOISES OFF, probably the most incredibly perfect performance of farce I’d ever seen on stage, a master class in comic timing. To this day I still remember how difficult it was trying to do sketches in the theater that night because my laughing had reach utterly painful levels; it was difficult to catch my breath, and I was snotting and tearing all over my sketchpad. Well the issue came out and we received a call soon after from the wife of one of the stars of the show, Peter Gallagher. She apparently liked the illustration enough to want to buy the original for a birthday present. A sale was made and it felt good to receive that kind of positive reaction. A couple weeks later I received a call from a gentleman identifying himself as Mort Swinsky, one of the producers of the show, and he was looking to buy the original. I had to explain that the sale was already made but a copy would happily be printed. Mort requested several, to offer to cast and fellow producers. We worked out a fee and the deal was sealed.
Actually the deal was better than sealed. What happened next was the beginning of a dream come true working friendship that has continued to this day.
Some background is needed here. Mort comes from serious business credits as a Wall Street heavyweight and trader, running operations for Merrill Lynch and Fuji Securities to name a couple. But he also was greatly interested in the performing arts. He was one of the producers behind the film BOYS DON’T CRY, among others. But I think his real love is theater and it seems you can name a hit on the Great White Way or Off-Broadway and odds are that he’s one of the names behind it. His acumen to spot a winner is phenomenal and if he were a baseball player his batting average would justify a 100 million dollar contract- per season. With all these successes, and in Mort’s case there are plenty, a monstrous personality and narcissism would not be out of the question to expect. But Mort seems utterly devoid of ego and hubris. Calling attention to himself is probably bottom on his list of things to do. Putting his backing behind a quality play or musical is what seems to bring him pleasure. That and collecting art. He loves and appreciates art and the creative process. His apartment is a jaw dropping museum of paintings and sculpture of all genres and a marvel of space utilization. There is not a square foot that doesn’t showcase a visual creation- on the walls, floors, staircases, and even ceilings.
As an illustrator I would consider Mort a perfect art director if he were in the business. He trusts what I plan to do and whatever approach I take. He doesn’t nitpick or second guess. His only specific commentary might be in making sure that I don’t let my satirical leanings portray an actor in an unflattering manner as, ultimately, the finishes are made into prints that he presents to the stars or co-producers.
Working for Mort allows me to work in disciplines not normally associated with my illustration style. In the beginning, I had started off in a more caricature oriented approach to his commissions, going to the performances and working off my sketches and whatever photo reference to be found. I usually worked in pencils, pen and ink and watercolor or gouache, and pretty large. However, as time went on, I found myself abandoning the pen and ink and working in colored pencils and more and more with paints and canvases. As a matter of fact, my commissions for Mort became opportunities to explore painting again. As painting is not what I normally do, the projects become interesting, sometimes intimidating, challenges that often take far longer than an illustration assignment to complete to my satisfaction. Restarting paintings from scratch has not been an unusual occurrence. It’s been my good fortune that Mort has never pressured me to get commissions finished within a certain time span. At times his unhurried attitude has been more of a stress than if he were breathing down my neck, such is the sense of responsibility I feel for not moving faster. But an interesting thing happens for me when working on something that will be hanging on a wall for a long time as opposed to appearing in a publication that will quickly disappear in the normal flow of print cycles. I feel a different sense of responsibility to make sure what I present can withstand continual reappraisal and scrutiny over the long term. Consequently, it makes me gravitate towards being more thoughtful and reflective about what I’m putting on the canvas. Maybe it’s a little stage fright?
Anyway, every commission has been a learning experience and an opportunity to stretch my range of expressions. I’m very grateful to Mort for allowing me the good fortune to play and explore my abilities. Every new piece feels like I’m starting from square one, but it’s a great escape from what feels like second nature with in my illustration, and maybe even taken for granted at times. It’s a good, humbling kick in the pants to look at a big empty canvas or mounted board and get out of the secure comfort zone that normal studio work can create.
I remember the first time we went to a party at Mort’s and I found myself turning a corner and looking at all my work assembled on one wall, almost like a wing in a large gallery. It was a rush. It was an even better rush surveying what I had done and being pleasantly surprised by how well they held up on review. I hope to continue adding to that wing for a long time. Thank you, Mort.
6-27-10
It is one of those incredibly tragic ironies that this posting was done just weeks before Mort's death on June 19th. It took me by complete surprise and has left me terribly saddened. I truly hope he got a chance to see it. It has come to my attention that associates and family have since. Mort's passing is a great loss to the dramatic arts. It seems only right to include a list I found online of the productions that Mort was involved with. It's truly impressive and attests to his broad range of tastes and keen ability to spot a winner.
Productions Dates of Production
The Addams Family [Original, Musical]
Produced by Pittsburgh CLO/Gutterman-Swinsky
Apr 8, 2010 - ?
Come Fly Away [Original, Musical, Dance]
Produced by Pittsburgh CLO/GSFD
Mar 25, 2010 - ?
A View From the Bridge [Revival, Play, Drama]
Produced by Mort Swinsky/Joseph Deitch
Jan 24, 2010 - Apr 4, 2010
Fela! [Original, Musical]
Produced by Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky
Nov 23, 2009 - ?
Desire Under the Elms [Revival, Play, Drama]
Produced by Mort Swinsky/Michael Fuchs/Cindy & Jay Gutterman
Apr 27, 2009 - May 24, 2009
The Seagull [Revival, Play, Comedy, Drama]
Produced by Mort Swinsky
Oct 2, 2008 - Dec 21, 2008
Talk Radio [Original, Play, Drama]
Produced by Mort Swinsky
Mar 11, 2007 - Jun 24, 2007
Spring Awakening [Original, Musical, Drama]
Produced by Mort Swinsky
Dec 10, 2006 - Jan 18, 2009
Grey Gardens [Original, Musical, Drama]
Produced by Mort Swinsky
Nov 2, 2006 - Jul 29, 2007
The Lieutenant of Inishmore [Original, Play, Comedy, Satire]
Produced by Mort Swinsky
May 3, 2006 - Sep 3, 2006
The History Boys [Original, Play]
Produced by Mort Swinsky
Apr 23, 2006 - Oct 1, 2006
Glengarry Glen Ross [Revival, Play, Drama]
Produced by CJM Productions
May 1, 2005 - Aug 28, 2005
The Pillowman [Original, Play, Drama]
Produced by Morton Swinsky
Apr 10, 2005 - Sep 18, 2005
Spamalot [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Produced by GRS Associates
Mar 17, 2005 - Jan 11, 2009
Frozen [Original, Play, Drama]
Produced by Mort Swinsky
May 4, 2004 - Aug 22, 2004
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All [Original, Play, Solo]
Produced by Morton Swinsky
Nov 17, 2003 - Nov 17, 2003
Golda's Balcony [Original, Play, Solo, Drama]
Associate Produced by Morton Swinsky
Oct 15, 2003 - Jan 2, 2005
Little Shop of Horrors [Original, Musical, Comedy, Puppets]
Associate Produced by Morton Swinsky
Oct 2, 2003 - Aug 22, 2004
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom [Revival, Play, Drama]
Produced in association with Morton Swinsky
Feb 6, 2003 - Apr 6, 2003
Dance of the Vampires [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Associate Produced by Morton Swinsky
Dec 9, 2002 - Jan 25, 2003
La Bohème [Revival, Musical, Opera, Drama, Tragedy]
Associate Produced by Mort Swinsky
Dec 8, 2002 - Jun 29, 2003
Hairspray [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Produced in association with Kardana-Swinsky Productions
Aug 15, 2002 - Jan 4, 2009
The Crucible [Revival, Play, Drama]
Produced in association with Morton Swinsky
Mar 7, 2002 - Jun 9, 2002
Metamorphoses [Original, Play, Drama, Comedy]
Produced by Morton Swinsky
Mar 4, 2002 - Feb 16, 2003
Elaine Stritch At Liberty [Original, Special, Solo, Play with music]
Produced in association with Morton Swinsky
Feb 21, 2002 - May 27, 2002
Noises Off [Revival, Play, Comedy, Farce]
Produced by Morton Swinsky
Nov 1, 2001 - Sep 1, 2002
A Thousand Clowns [Revival, Play, Comedy]
Produced by Kardana-Swinsky Productions
Jul 11, 2001 - Sep 23, 2001
King Hedley II [Original, Play, Drama]
Produced in association with Kardana-Swinsky Productions
May 1, 2001 - Jul 1, 2001
Seussical [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Produced in association with Kardana-Swinsky Productions
Nov 30, 2000 - May 20, 2001
The Music Man [Revival, Musical, Comedy]
Produced by Kardana-Swinsky Productions
Apr 27, 2000 - Dec 30, 2001
Kat and the Kings [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Produced in association with Kardana-Swinsky Productions
Aug 19, 1999 - Jan 2, 2000
Annie Get Your Gun [Revival, Musical, Comedy]
Produced in association with Kardana Productions
Mar 4, 1999 - Sep 1, 2001
Chicago [Revival, Musical, Comedy]
Produced in association with Kardana Productions
Nov 14, 1996 - ?
Hamlet [Revival, Play, Tragedy]
Produced by Kardana Productions
May 2, 1995 - Jul 22, 1995
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying [Revival, Musical, Comedy]
Produced by Kardana Productions
Mar 23, 1995 - Jul 14, 1996
The Who's Tommy [Original, Musical]
Produced by Kardana Productions
Apr 22, 1993 - Jun 17, 1995
Guys and Dolls [Revival, Musical, Comedy]
Produced by Kardana Productions
Apr 14, 1992 - Jan 8, 1995