Steve Fickinger '82

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Steve Fickinger '82, the Tony Award-winning producer and creative executive who shepherded musicals like "Dear Evan Hansen," "Newsies," "The Lion King" and others into existence, died suddenly on June 17 at his home in Laguna Beach, California. He was 62.

Fickinger began his career at Disney as a temp in the mail room. Over the course of two decades with the Mouse, he worked his way up to director of creative development for Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he oversaw the creation and execution of "Mulan," "Tarzan," and "Lilo and Stitch." After that, he served as the vice president of creative development for Disney Theatrical Group. He supervised six Broadway shows from idea to premiere during that period, including six-time Tony Award-winning "The Lion King" and Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida." Fickinger also personally oversaw the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of "Newsies," the record-breaking national tour of "High School Musical," and the long-running Broadway production of "Aladdin." He was also proud to oversee Disney Theatrical's education and outreach efforts, including Disney Musicals in Schools, which provided material resources and teaching artists free of charge to schools underserved in the arts.

After leaving Disney in 2013, Fickinger struck out as an independent theatrical producer, launching FickStern Productions. The company's first endeavor, "Dear Evan Hansen," would go on to win six Tony Awards, two Drama League Awards, a Grammy, a Critics' Circle Award, and three Laurence Olivier Awards. Fickinger was one of the people on stage at the 2017 Tony Awards accepting the statue for Best Musical.

At the time of his passing, Fickinger had a producing deal with Warner Bros. Studios and had recently finished leading and participating in a creative think tank project for the studio that included director Jon Chu, Rashida Jones, Academy Award winner Rodney Rothman and Broadway's Alex Timbers. Fickinger was also the executive producer of "Rock of Ages" at The Bourbon Room in Hollywood, where Nick Cordero was reprising his role in the show before his death from COVID in 2020.

Fickinger had a number of independent creative projects in development, including "Live at the Crescendo Club: An Evening With Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Pearl Bailey," written and directed by Seret Scott and produced with four-time Grammy Award-winning icon Deniece Williams.

Steven Thomas Fickinger was born in Winnetka, Illinois, the youngest of five children born to parents Joan and Wayne Fickinger. He graduated from New Trier High School West in Northfield, Illinois, which inducted him into the alumni Hall of Achievement in 2013; and UCLA, where he was the first recipient of the Carol Burnett Musical Award for excellence in performance. Fickinger's philanthropic pursuits included the AIDS Walk, a cause for which he personally helped raise more than $15 million. He was also involved with the Los Angeles Food Mission, Meals on Wheels and the Race to Erase MS.

In addition to all of his creative and professional achievements, Fickinger was a beloved brother, uncle, great-uncle, neighbor and friend.

A funeral was held in Chicago on July and a memorial service is planned for Los Angeles.