Music Theatre International is mourning the loss of our good friend and colleague, David Beckwith who passed away on Friday, January 19th. 

In addition to his many accolades in entertainment PR, David served as MTI’s publicist for over 10 years working directly with Co-Chairman Freddie Gershon on his annual scholarship program for theatre educators. Through this project David worked with nearly 100 teachers from across the country to raise the profiles of their work in their local communities, while extolling the benefits of musical theatre for young people.

Not only did David provide professional PR services to the “Freddie G. Fellows” as they’ve become known, he was a trusted source of advice, and a dear friend who delighted in celebrating their accomplishments.

David’s most recent work with MTI was during the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic when he headed up the PR campaign for MTI’s All Together Now!, a free revue provided to theatres around the world to help keep the arts alive during the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Freddie Gershon, remarked, “David was my friend as well as a business associate, a man who was honorable, dependable, and highly effective navigating life and business with humor and style always conducting himself as the first-rate gentlemen he was. I miss my warm, special, generous buddy.”

Jason Cocovinis, MTI’s Director of Marketing worked closely with David and remarked, “David was a mentor and beloved friend who I had the pleasure of knowing for many years. I was first introduced to David by his wonderful husband Dietrich with whom MTI was working on a separate project. David and I hit it off from the moment we met, and I always treasured seeing him during his visits to New York for his work with the Freddie G. Fellows. He will be missed.”

You can learn more about David and his work in these two obituaries:

People

The Hollywood Reporter