Death at Yale School of Drama

Dear fellow theater co-workers,

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I write to inform you of the latest news from the Yale School of Drama. Sunday morning 11/18, Pierre, a grad student in the Drama program was struck by scenery while unloading the truck during the first two hours of load-in of our next show, Tartuffe. The student was taken by ambulance to the nearby hospital, where he lost consciousness, stopped breathing, and died.

The news article from the Yale Daily News is here: http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/22506
Followup articles are here: http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/22534
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/22829

We at the Yale School of Drama, from the staff, faculty, students of all the disciplines and especially the student’s fellow technical design classmates are all in shock.

The student, Pierre, was 26 years old and in his 2nd year of study in the Technical Design and Production program. He was a professional with lots of experience working in Singapore and Asian theaters. He had experience as a stage manager and all-around technician and was a big advocate of safety. He came to Yale to learn all he could about good theater practices so he could bring that knowledge back to Singapore and help improve theater there. He was a positive force, with a smile and a witty (if oddball) comment when levity was needed, and a strong work ethic. We all expected him to go far.

All work has stopped on the show. Both New Haven and Yale police are investigating the accident. The truck and all materials on it are considered key evidence in the investigation and have been taken for further study. The entire school was notified within hours and were assembled in the afternoon to provide them with information and access to counseling. Pierre’s classmates and staff in the Technical Design Program met together, and a candlelight vigil was held by the students that evening.
The student’s parents are enroute from Indonesia. A service to honor his memory will be held at one of the school’s theaters on Tuesday, once the parents and family arrive. Classes and work on the other shows in progress will continue, but if students feel that they cannot do so, it’s ok.

Personally, this has been a hard day. I had just worked the overnight strike and was resting in the green room with the other students on the call when I saw Pierre that morning at 7am, coming in with donuts and wearing his lime green hard hat. He was so excited and eager to start the day. I will always remember that smile. We are so safe here at Yale. Everyone gets classes in safety with lifts, ladders, material handling, driving, electricity, and on and on. One of the classes the Tech students take in their first year is Safe Theater Practices, teaching them how to look at a situation, determine what’s wrong, and fix it. Every load-in and notes call and strike requires the use of hard hats. It is unbelievable that this could happen.

I do need to say this: Even though he was a student, Pierre had the experience and knowledge of most theater professionals about unloading a truck safely. This accident did not happen because of ignorance – it could happen to anyone, and none of us are immune.

Feel free to ask questions and I will answer them to the best of my ability.

In prayer,
Linda

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Linda Young
Head Electrican, Yale School of Drama