June 17, 1927 – November 6, 2023
features Milt’s collection of theater playbills.
On November 6, 2023, legendary stage manager and actor Milt Commons made his final exit at the age of 96 in his longtime home of San Francisco, California, after an exceptionally long, useful, and colorful life…
Mr. Commons, a gay man, moved to San Francisco in 1974, but it was at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles that he began his longest professional association, working with playwright and director Luis Valdez on his groundbreaking play (and subsequent film), “Zoot Suit.” An obituary prepared by friends and family noted that Mr. Commons continued to stage-manage for Valdez’s theater company, El Teatro Campesino, for its annual bilingual Christmas plays in San Juan Bautista, California. He led these immersive performances inside Mission San Juan Bautista for 25 years, finally calling his last show there in 2018.
Valdez paid tribute to his longtime friend and colleague, stating,
Milt instilled the highest level of professionalism as a stage manager and esteemed mentor in our company.
He made it possible for all of our Chicano theater company to feel like it had a special place in the American Theatre. For this he will always have a special place in our heart.
“Former SF stage manager Milt Commons dies”
Bay Area Reporter, November 17, 2023
