Steve Fickinger, a Tony Award-winning producer of Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen and, as a longtime creative executive with Disney Theatrical Group helped spearhead the development of such stage shows as Newsies and Aladdin, died suddenly at his home in Laguna Beach, California, on June 17.
He was 62.His death was announced by his niece, Jessica Roy.In a two-decade career with Disney, which began as a temp in the mail room, Fickinger worked in the mid-1990s as Director of Creative Development for Walt Disney Feature Animation, overseeing such projects as Mulan, Tarzan, and Lilo and Stitch.
From 1992 to 2012, he was Vice President of Creative Development for Disney Theatrical Group, supervising six Broadway shows including six-time Tony Award-winning The Lion King and Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida.Fickinger also oversaw the Broadway production of Newsies, the national tour of High School Musical, and the long-running Broadway production of Aladdin.While at Disney, he spearheaded 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 launched his career as an independent theatrical producer with his FickStern Productions.
In its first endeavor, the company was among the producers of Dear Evan Hansen, which would go on to win six Tony Awards in 2017.
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