Songs and stories will celebrate late Trinity Rep composer’s life

PROVIDENCE, RI: Trinity Repertory Company is pleased to invite the public to remember and celebrate the life of the late Richard “DeeDee” Cumming, former musical director, director of Project Discovery, and composer-in-residence, who passed away in November at the age of 81. The memorial celebration – featuring songs, speakers and stories about Trinity Rep’s longtime friend and composer – will take place on Saturday, June 12, from 11 AM to 1 PM in Trinity Repertory Company’s Dowling Theater, 201 Washington St. in Providence. The memorial service is free and open to the public – seating reservations are not necessary, but those with special seating needs should call (401) 521-1100 ext. 411.

Cumming, who with founding artistic director Adrian Hall co-authored several pieces for the radio, television, film and the stage – including the adaptation of A Christmas Carol still produced annually on Trinity Rep’s stage – served as Trinity’s composer-in-residence for 25 years, composing over 60 musical scores and sitting behind the keyboard for some twenty productions from A Streetcar Named Desire (1965-66 season) through Red Noses (1988-89 season).

Born in China and educated in the Philippines, California and Colorado under pianist Rudolf Firkusny and composers Ernest Bloch, Roger Sessions and Arnold Schoenberg, Cumming enjoyed a prolific and celebrated career as a pianist, educator and composer.  Cumming’s classical training was brought to bear in not only his performances but his compositions as well – his chamber opera, The Picnic, had its world premiere at Trinity Rep in 1999 under the direction of Oskar Eustis.

Having toured 49 of the 50 states as well as Canada, Europe and the Far East as a solo pianist and concert accompanist for major performers, Cumming’s career also spanned stints as a teacher at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the University of Saskatchewan and at the RI Governor’s School for the Youth in Arts. He would go on to create study materials for more than 40 Project Discovery productions – working as the Director of Trinity Rep’s pioneering educational outreach program from its inception in 1966 to 1980. Project Discovery continues to introduce thousands of students annually to the power of live theater: last season, 25,000 students were able to participate in those workshops which Cumming helped pioneer.

In addition to his work with Trinity Rep, Cumming shared his talents with stages such as the New York Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theater, Milwaukee Rep, Dallas Theater Center, the Alliance Theater, the Folger Shakespeare Theatre, and the Geffen Playhouse, among others. With Adrian Hall, he co-authored several pieces aired on PBS, including Feasting With Panthers, Life Among the Lowly, The House of Mirth, and Brother to Dragons, all produced under the banner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Cumming’s work garnered him awards from the ASCAP, Ford Foundation, NEA, RISCA, Wurlitzer Foundation, Rubin American Opera Competition, Associated Schools of the Arts Piano Concerto Competition, among others.