Here's something you might be interested in.
Jack Tygett passed away last week. For everyone who knew him, the loss is immense. But rather than me listing his credentials from afar, I asked John Martin, longtime local actor (and cast member of the Marquis Public's legendary Gemini) for personal recollections of the man he knew for over 30 years.
"Jack was a San Diego musical theatre institution - director, choreographer, teacher, a modest man with tremendous gifts.
"Everyone knew of him even before they met him. He was a chimney sweep with Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, a dancing Rabbi in Thoroughly Modern Millie, a bar patron in The Happiest Millionaire, and an American guest in Flower Drum Song In the TV version of Cinderella, with Lesley Ann Warren, he had the famous line, 'Cinderella, remember what your fairy godmother told you: you must be home before midnight.'
"I first met Jack, as did most of us in San Diego, while auditioning. Not being a dancer, of course, I was rarely cast. But he always remembered you, and was always a champion encouraging you.
"I finally had the wonderful pleasure of working with him in the mid-80s when he choreographed "City Streets" at Sea World. At the time I was very overweight. He knew my limitations and accepted them gracefully. That was one of the most wonderful things about Jack. He respected talent as well as nurtured it. If he knew you were having difficulty he would find a way to make it work for you, while still making it look polished and professional.
"He taught at USIU, was a fixture at Starlight Bowl, and still found the time and energy to help wherever help was needed in the theater community.
"He championed so many people by coming to see their work and congratulating them with 'a job well done.'
"The last time I had the honor of working with Jack was in 2003. I was in two summer shows at Starlight. He was directing and choreographing another, My One and Only, and asked me if I would mind stepping in a role for that show. I was already doing two and didn't want to do a third, but hey - it was Jack Tygett, a man you could not say 'no' to, so of course I said yes and had one of the most wonderful experiences of that summer.
"Whether you worked with Jack or not, you knew of him, and you knew he was one of the kindest, most thoughtful, and loving Song and Dance Men you would ever know, who never once thought he was better than you.
"He will be truly missed by all of us down here and, as corny as this may sound, to paraphrase from Singin in the Rain, 'He will be a shimmering star in the heavenly firmament.'
"From a thankful actor, thank you for your guidance, Jack."
Jack Tygett passed away last week. For everyone who knew him, the loss is immense. But rather than me listing his credentials from afar, I asked John Martin, longtime local actor (and cast member of the Marquis Public's legendary Gemini) for personal recollections of the man he knew for over 30 years.
"Jack was a San Diego musical theatre institution - director, choreographer, teacher, a modest man with tremendous gifts.
"Everyone knew of him even before they met him. He was a chimney sweep with Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, a dancing Rabbi in Thoroughly Modern Millie, a bar patron in The Happiest Millionaire, and an American guest in Flower Drum Song In the TV version of Cinderella, with Lesley Ann Warren, he had the famous line, 'Cinderella, remember what your fairy godmother told you: you must be home before midnight.'
"I first met Jack, as did most of us in San Diego, while auditioning. Not being a dancer, of course, I was rarely cast. But he always remembered you, and was always a champion encouraging you.
"I finally had the wonderful pleasure of working with him in the mid-80s when he choreographed "City Streets" at Sea World. At the time I was very overweight. He knew my limitations and accepted them gracefully. That was one of the most wonderful things about Jack. He respected talent as well as nurtured it. If he knew you were having difficulty he would find a way to make it work for you, while still making it look polished and professional.
"He taught at USIU, was a fixture at Starlight Bowl, and still found the time and energy to help wherever help was needed in the theater community.
"He championed so many people by coming to see their work and congratulating them with 'a job well done.'
"The last time I had the honor of working with Jack was in 2003. I was in two summer shows at Starlight. He was directing and choreographing another, My One and Only, and asked me if I would mind stepping in a role for that show. I was already doing two and didn't want to do a third, but hey - it was Jack Tygett, a man you could not say 'no' to, so of course I said yes and had one of the most wonderful experiences of that summer.
"Whether you worked with Jack or not, you knew of him, and you knew he was one of the kindest, most thoughtful, and loving Song and Dance Men you would ever know, who never once thought he was better than you.
"He will be truly missed by all of us down here and, as corny as this may sound, to paraphrase from Singin in the Rain, 'He will be a shimmering star in the heavenly firmament.'
"From a thankful actor, thank you for your guidance, Jack."