CEDAR CITY — The Utah Shakespeare Festival announced last week the Dec. 3 death of longtime publications manager Bruce C. Lee.
Bruce C. Lee served in various capacities for the Utah Shakespeare Festival for 31 years | Photo courtesy of Utah Shakespeare Festival, St. George News / Cedar City News
According to a news release, Lee retired in fall 2022 after a 31-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,” Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr said in a news release. “His literary leadership and award-winning publications were fundamental in creating the festival we know today.
“As a quiet and unassuming storyteller, 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.”
According to Lee’s obituary, he was born in Cedar City in 1955 and grew up in Beaver, where he played football and baseball. Lee graduated from Beaver High School as valedictorian and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brigham Young University.
Lee’s career encompassed many decades of growth and change for the festival. He led the marketing and communication department for many years and was part of the team during the expansion into the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts.
“Bruce’s influence on my life and at the festival was transformative,” Director of Development and Communication Donn Jersey said in the news release. “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.”
The news release also said “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.”