Theater Community Mourns For NJ Man Fatally Hit By Train

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The theater community continues to mourn for a Broadway stage manager who died after being hit by a train in Essex County last week.

According to NJ Transit, the fatality took place at the train station in South Orange and impacted the Morris and Essex line. There were no injuries to the 60 customers or crew on board. NJ Transit police are investigating the death.

The deceased man has been identified as Thomas J. Gates, 51, of South Orange: a longtime Broadway stage manager from New Jersey. He worked as a production stage manager for “Illinoise,” NJ Advance Media reported.

The stage production canceled its show on the day of the train strike due to a “tragedy within the Illinoise community,” People.com reported.

Producers of the Tony-nominated musical called Gates a “beloved friend and collaborator” in a message of mourning shared on social media. The theater company’s statement reads:

“With heavy hearts we mourn the passing of our production stage manager, Thomas J. Gates. Thom was the center of Illinoise on Broadway, a beloved friend and collaborator. We are devasted for his husband Rick, another member of the Illinoise community. These two amazing human beings led our company on our journey since the beginning. We dedicate the run of Illinoise to Thom and his loving memory.”

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