[mami]

Arthur Lithgow
Former McCarter director
AMHERST, Mass. — Arthur Lithgow, the former director of McCarter Theatre, died Tuesday. He was 88.
An accomplished actor who transferred his talents to producing and directing, he was the artistic and producing director at McCarter from 1963 to 1971.
"McCarter Theatre was saddened to learn about the passing of Arthur Lithgow," said Emily Mann, McCarter's artistic director, in a statement. "He was a wonderful man, a true pioneer and a champion of the American regional theater movement. He did everything — he was a director, an actor, an able administrator and a fine producer. We especially remember him as a key figure in the evolution of this institution — its executive director from 1963 to 1971 — and as a lifelong friend."
Ms. Mann added, "Under Arthur's leadership, the original vision of Milton Lyon, McCarter's first executive producer, was finally fulfilled: the creation of a resident professional company.
"The roster of actors who appeared during Lithgow's tenure include many who have since gone on to successful careers in film and stage, including Olympia Dukakis, Dom de Luise, Tony Musante, George Hearn, Dustin Hoffman and Lawrence Luckinbill," Ms. Mann said. "It was also during Arthur Lithgow's time at McCarter that two friends who grew up in Princeton made their debuts on the McCarter stage: John Lithgow and Christopher Reeve."
His son John is a stage, television and movie actor as well as author of children's books.
"Perhaps his greatest contribution to McCarter was the creation and success of the student matinee program," Ms. Mann said. "During his years at McCarter, Arthur traveled all over the state visiting schools and talking to English classes. For the Shakespeare Quadricentennial Drama Series in 1964 ("Othello," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Richard III," "Taming of the Shrew," "Romeo and Juliet"), more than 55,000 students from New Jersey's schools and six state colleges attended the 48 scheduled student matinees. Arthur's memory and his many accomplishments will continue to inspire McCarter and its audiences, young and old, for many years to come."
Mr. Lithgow began his directing career at Antioch College, his alma mater, in 1952 when he became the founder and artistic director of Antioch Shakespeare Festival, which became known as Shakespeare Under the Stars. Over six years, all the works of Shakespeare were produced. He held a number of other directing positions in Ohio during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
After leaving McCarter, he held a number of academic and directing positions. Most recently he helped found the Ithaca Theater Guild.
Son of the late Arthur Washington and Ina Bernice Lithgow, he is survived by his wife, Sarah Jane Price Lithgow; children John and Robin of Los Angeles, David of New York and Sarah Jane Bokaer of Ithaca, N.Y.; sisters Marion James of Melrose, Mass., and Jeanette Peverly of Milton, Mass.; and 13 grandchildren