Festival Announces Passing of Beloved Retired Staff Member Bruce C. Lee
It is with deep sadness that the Festival announces the sudden passing of Bruce C. Lee, former Publications Manager at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, on December 3. Bruce retired in fall 2022 after a thirty-one year career at the Festival. His humble professionalism and mentorship, dedication to the mission of the Festival, and passion for creative work left a lasting mark on the organization and the people around him.
“For over 30 years the Festival was blessed by Bruce’s love of language, rigor in writing, and passion for creative communication,” says Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr. “His literary leadership and award-winning publications were fundamental in creating the Festival we know today.
“As a quiet and unassuming story-teller, Bruce had the gift for capturing the magic of the Festival’s people, plays, and programs and distilling it so they could be promoted and preserved,” Bahr continues.
Bruce’s impressive career encompassed many important decades of growth and change for the Festival. He led the Festival’s marketing and communication department for numerous years, and was part of the team during the expansion into the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts.
Director of Development and Communication Donn Jersey comments: “Bruce’s influence on my life and at the Festival was transformative. Beyond our professional collaboration, he became a mentor whose impact resonated deeply. His teachings extended far beyond the confines of the office and stage, leaving an indelible mark on my personal journey.
“At the Festival, our teamwork was more than a creative partnership,” Jersey continues. “It was a shared exploration of art and life. Bruce infused our work with invaluable insights, elevating it beyond mere professional endeavors. His unique perspective enriched our projects, making them artistically fulfilling and personally meaningful. Every aspect of his life was guided by his faith, gratitude, and humility which I so admired. He touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of Festival patrons across the globe with his impeccably crafted messages and creative works. He was simply brilliant.”
“For all the years I knew Bruce he was the voice of reason,” shares emeritus Festival Managing Director R. Scott Phillips. “In the very dramatic world of theatre, he maintained a calm and focus on the end product. As a gifted writer, he expressed his passion for the world through words and ideas. He elevated the stories of the Festival to new levels of artistry. His shadow will be cast long and wide for years to come.”
His indelible work at the Festival was seen through years of writing, continually raising the quality of its marketing and communication, the publication of thousands of printed and digital articles, and the creation of the organization’s website––and the moniker “bard.org”––which he began in 1997, among many other contributions.
He also directed the visual look of the Festival, from the souvenir programs to emails, from brochures to billboards. His touch and influence is still very present today. For example, he was very influential in the development of the Festival’s current “Believe” campaign prior to his retirement last year.
Friend and retired Festival Art Director Phil Hermansen worked alongside Bruce for 21 years. He shares: “He was the best boss you could ever have. He was a father-figure to many of the Festival staff.”
For the full obituary, click here.
His Festival family sends our deepest condolences, prayers, and love to his family during this difficult time. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 9 at 10 am at the LDS Meetinghouse at 451 E. Midvalley Road, Enoch, Utah. Interment will be in the Enoch City Cemetery.
