Theater News

Orchestrator Jim Tyler Dies at 76

Jim Tyler, who orchestrated the scores of many Broadway musicals including the original production of Jerry Herman’s La Cage aux Folles, died on March 5 in Middletown, New York. He was 76.

Tyler was born in Louisville. He attended the Unviersity of Kentucky and the Cincinnati College of Music before serving in the Korean conflict. In addition to La Cage, he orchestrated the Broadway shows Half a Sixpence (1965), Gantry (1970), Over Here! (1974), Man on the Moon and Rodgers and Hart (1975), Rockabye Hamlet (1976), Bring Back Birdie and Oh, Brother! (1981), Grind and Jerry’s Girls (1985), Honky Tonk Nights (1986), and Teddy & Alice (1987). Tyler also worked on the movie The Great Muppet Caper and TV versions of Romeo and Juliet and Measure for Measure.

He is survived by his wife, one sister and her husband, one uncle, three nieces, and one nephew.