The brothers and sisters of Local #1 IATSE experienced a horrible tragedy on November 12, 2020. Pete Wright, the incredibly talented flyman of the August Wilson Theatre, was fatally injured in an accident while doing restore work at the Wintergarden Theatre. He died at the hospital a short time later.
Pete Wright was one of four stagehand brothers who were known for their great work in the Local and all were legendary mechanics. Pete was a force of nature, often doing the work of three men when he ran load ins and load outs. He had a dry wit and an unstoppable work ethic. If you asked for something from Pete, his line was, "For you, the grid's the limit." He was completely fearless in how he lived his life as a stagehand. Pete was 54.
Pete leaves behind his beloved wife Marcie, who had also worked as a stagehand. They worked together on the 1990's revival of "Grease," at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. Pete and Marcie lived in Connecticut, where they raised their two sons, Kenny and Matt.
Pete and I worked on "Jersey Boys" together. A few years ago, Pete bought an old industrial building in his town. He told me with a gleeful look on his face how he had converted the small building into the ultimate "man cave"... half woodworking shop, half metal shop. It sounded like a stagehand's dream.
--Dylan Foley
