Ben Mordecai, 61

“Benjamin Mordecai, associate dean of the Yale School of Drama, prolific commercial theatrical producer and nurturer of playwright August Wilson’s 10-play cycle, died Sunday of cancer at the Yale. Wilson acknowledged his debt to his producer and friend, who helped develop the regional theater circuit where Wilson worked on his plays as they made their way to New York. Wilson said there were only two constants in the 10 plays: himself and Mordecai.”