Members of the Theater Community Reflect on What Joel Markowitz Meant to Them

Tributes and expressions of affection and appreciation for Joel have been pouring in. This is a space for us to celebrate and remember our friend, Joel Markowitz. Use the comments to share feelings, favorite stories, and photos.

Joel was very special, and I’m forever grateful I knew him. Usher trips to NY. Tony-watching potluck parties. Laughing our way through absurd fringe shows. His sense of humor and passion for theater carried him through many trying times. And he carried me through the delights and discovery of DC theater with his enthusiasm and dedication to the arts. I will miss him. May he rest in peace.

Kalyn Bruin

I had many long and memorable conversations with Joel over the years about theatre in the DC area. He was a champion for small and aspiring companies, a square dealer, a thoughtful listener and a good man. Rest In Peace, my friend. You’ve earned it.

Alex Zavistovich

RIP Joel, sorry you had to leave us so early in your life, you will be missed by many in the world of live theater.

David Colburn

Joel Markowitz helped with MD Theatre Guide before leaving to begin his own publication, DC Theater Arts. We have many fond memories of Joel and are mourning the loss of this amazing advocate for the theatre community.

Mark Beachy

So sorry to hear about Joel’s passing. He was so beloved by the DC theater and performing arts community. Just wanted to share how important he has been to my life, although I never met him in-person.

My first memory of Joel is a fond one. I grew up in the area, very active in a theater group in Montgomery County. We had these annual carwash fundraisers that helped to provide for sets and costumes each year. One year, after I graduated out of the program, my brother (also in the program) told me he had met a man at this fundraiser who ran a DC theater blog, and they had such a good conversation, my brother began to write for him.

I was in my freshman year of college – the idea of writing on the performing arts hadn’t ever occurred to me, but I started writing for my college newspaper, and by my senior year was the Arts Editor. That position segued into an internship here at the Kennedy Center, which turned into the position I hold now.

So, in a sense, you could say that Joel kicked my whole career experience off.

Maria Rodriguez
PR Coordinator, Classical
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Dearest Joel, A very dear friend, an extremely optimistic and kind of soul. I will miss his graciousness, his lovely sense of humor, and his wonder at the joys of life. I am very saddened at this very, very dark news. I am so happy that he came to see MASTER CLASS at Metro Stage. We had such a very special chat, even though it was challenging for him to be there. I will always treasure our time together. His lovely sense of humor, his kindness. This world has lost a very special person. But he is at rest now, and free of physical and emotional constraints. He can now fly. Rest in peace my dear friend.

Ilona Dulaski

Bruce, I send my sincere condolences to you, your brothers and your families, on the passing of your delightful brother Joel. He meant much to me too, and was instrumental in making my later life infinitely more productive by his faith in me, his constant encouragement, and great support.  He will be missed by many, for his generous spirit touched so many. I will be with him in spirit for a long time to come.

Richard Seff

RIP Joel Markowitz

Yesterday, Wolf Pack Theatre Company lost an advocate, supporter and most importantly, a dear friend.

Back in December of 2013, Joel and Yvonne French came out to see our first production of A Christmas Carol. We weren’t a company just yet, and had produced the show under the Community Crisis Services Inc. banner. Both Joel and Yvonne were incredibly supportive, and Joel called me personally a few weeks later to tell me that our young actor, Sofia Nasreen Riazi Sekowski had received a ‘Best Of’ Honor for her portrayal of Tiny Tim.

During the conversation, Joel supported my ideas of a new company in Prince George’s County. He understood my vision, and my mission and encouraged me to pursue my dreams as he’d done with many others before me and WPTC was officially launched in July of 2014. Joel believed in the power of theatre, and worked tirelessly to support smaller companies regardless of their budgets.

I remember during one production we had absolutely no money for advertising and Joel called me asking where my ad was. When I explained the situation he insisted that I send copy to him anyway. He told me that if the show did well, I could pay for the ad at that point, and if not then I hadn’t lost anything.

It was just the kind of man he was.

Since that first meeting, Joel went out of his way to help WPTC in whatever way possible while insisting that we hold ourselves to the highest standard possible.

The theatre community will never be the same thanks to his unflagging optimism, passion and drive. Those of us he took under his wing will never forget his support, his encouragement or his belief in each of us.

The world is just a little dimmer today.

William Dean Leary
Wolfpack Theatre

I found out about our loss of Joel yesterday. I will be directing “Tuesdays With Morrie” for Prince William Little Theatre.  The show will go up in March and I plan to dedicate it to Joel. This play had a personal meeting to me from someone lost years ago.  With our loss of Joel, it now means even more.

God Bless Joel and his family.

Sincerely,

Harry Kantrovich

Save

Save

Save