David Westphal, Former Actors’ Fairness Councilor and Keeper of the Legacy Gown, Has Handed Away at 71

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Mr. Westphal labored with the theatrical union for practically 40 years.

David Westphal, former Fairness councilor, workers member and devotee of the refrain, handed away February 11. He was 71.

Mr. Westphal was born to Laurel M. Westphal and Cleo M. Williams September 5, 1950, in Vandalia, Illinois, rising up in close by Farina. He acquired his Fairness card in 1970, within the refrain of a manufacturing of Little Me throughout his third season performing on the Little Theatre on the Sq. in Sullivan, Illinois. Mr. Westphal quickly moved to New York, the place each his profession and love for the refrain grew. He carried out in dozens of exhibits, together with the nationwide tour of Applause and productions of Hi there, Dolly! with Carol Channing and Cabaret with Jack Gilford. Over the course of his inventive profession, he additionally labored as a stage supervisor and choreographer.

Mr. Westphal first grew to become an Jap refrain councilor for Actors’ Fairness in 1981, a job he held for 20 years. As a member-leader, his work included serving on the Election Procedures Committee, the Nominating Committee (together with as chair), as vice chair of the ACCA, and as a vice chair of the Deputy Committee. He additionally served on the Manufacturing Contract negotiating staff and volunteered for VITA, aiding his fellow members with their tax returns.

Along with his theatre profession, Mr. Westphal additionally labored as a therapeutic massage therapist. Through the AIDS disaster, he volunteered his time engaged on Fairness members fighting the illness.


David Westphal

In 2007, Mr. Westphal joined the union’s workers as a enterprise consultant centered on the wants of refrain members. Throughout his time on workers, he shepherded the ritual of the Legacy Gown, main the ceremony on opening nights of most Broadway musicals. He remained on Fairness workers for 13 years, retiring on the onset of the pandemic.

“David was such a champion of the refrain,” mentioned Jennifer Cody, Actors’ Fairness Affiliation’s second vp and chair of the Advisory Committee on Refrain Affairs (ACCA). “He got here from the refrain. He was essential to creating the ACCA Awards occur every year. He guided me once I first grow to be second vp.

“Many individuals will keep in mind him because the particular person behind the Legacy Gown ceremony. At each ceremony he would ask everybody making their Broadway debut to come back into the middle of the stage, and everybody who’s ever seen a ceremony can attest to the enjoyment in his face at that second. That’s who David was.”

Mr. Westphal is survived by his sisters, Mary Kay Sigrist and Nancy Harper, and his brother Ted Westphal, in addition to 5 nieces and nephews and 12 great-nieces and nephews.

David Westphal presides over numerous Legacy Gown ceremonies.






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