Jay Barnhill, Longtime Public Theater Employee, Dies at 62

By Robert Simonson
December 9, 2009

Jay Barnhill, a fixture in the box office at Off-Broadway's Public Theater for 17 years, died Nov. 25, the theatre announced. He was 62.

Anyone who ever picked up or bought tickets for one of the Public Theater's myriad productions since 1992 had dealings with Mr. Barnhill. His usual station was the first window. He worked under three of the company's four artistic directors: Joanne Akalaitis, George C. Wolfe and Oskar Eustis.

Mr. Barnhill was also a director and actor who worked in both Ohio and New York City. He acted in 1991's Deposing the White House by Dan Isaac, and 1992's Awoke One by Jack Agueros, both at the Ensemble Studio Theatre; and, in 1998, he acted in Gip Hoppe's comedy Savior of the Universe, presented by Theatre Outrageous. He most recently directed a reading of Agunah by Karen Lichtman at The Public in 2008.

Mr. Barnhill is survived by his brother, Terry Barnhill; sister, Julie Polisher; an incredible extended family; and longtime girlfriend and co-worker/lobby staff member Karen Lichtman. A private family ceremony will be held in his hometown of Circleville, OH.