Lewis Allen, 81; Producer of ‘Annie’ Won Three Tony Awards
Lewis Allen, 81, producer of the Broadway hit “Annie” and winner of three Tony Awards, died Monday of pancreatic cancer in New York City, his wife, writer Jay Presson Allen, said.
“Annie” opened in 1977 and ran for six years. Allen won a Tony for it and for two plays he produced: Herb Gardner’s “I’m Not Rappaport” in 1986 and Terrence McNally’s “Master Class” in 1996.
Allen also produced several films, including Shirley Clarke’s “The Connection” (1962), Francois Truffaut’s “Fahrenheit 451” (1966) and both the 1963 and 1990 versions of “Lord of the Flies.”
He was an early supporter of “Annie,” which started at a regional theater in Connecticut. Although that production received lukewarm reviews, Allen got producer-director Mike Nichols to join him in backing the Broadway version, which spawned a 1982 film version that Allen did not produce.
Allen was born in Berryville, Va., graduated from the University of Virginia and served with the American Field Service during World War II.
His wife wrote the screenplays for “Cabaret” (1972) and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Marnie” (1964).
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