About R.I. Sutherland Cohen

R. I. Sutherland-Cohen lives in New York City. During a career that spanned over fifty years Robert has been production stage manager and/or production coordinator for numerous Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre productions, New York City Opera, and Lincoln Center Festivals.

Additionally, he was Entertainment Operations Manager for the Tropicana and Associate Producer/Writer for Westinghouse TV. He has served as a former Chairperson and as an Executive Board of the Stage Managers’ Association. In 2020 he was honored with the Founders Award, for Embodying the Values Expressed by the Founders of the Stage Managers’ Association through his Work, Teaching, Writing, and his Many Years of Service to the Organization.

Retired as Associate Professor (emeritus) Brooklyn College, Department of Theater, he has also taught at Emerson College, Stockton State College, and guest lectured at Yale University, SUNY Purchase, and West Chester University.  

Robert was instrumental in the formation of the Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Stage Management Mentoring Project for which he served at various annual occasions. His expertise was sought on panels at professional trade conferences, including USITT and Advanstar East Coast conferences.  His industry articles range from “Theatre in Cuba” and “Stage Management Use of Computers in Rehearsal,” published in issues of Focus (British Association of Lighting Designers) & Stage Directions, to Cueline (British Association of Stage Managers).

His recent books include: “Introduction to Theatre Production: Creating Theatre Onstage, Backstage, & Offstage” (published by Focal Press / Taylor & Francis Group) and the graphic illustrated non-fiction biography “Tesla for Beginners”.  Also, he has self-published: “Black Lives Matter: SOHO 2020” – Photos from the Pandemic.

As a professional photographer Robert is a monthly contributor to jazz publications here and abroad. His photos appear in numerous CDs, including Wadada Leo Smith’s 2017 “Downbeat” jazz album of the year: “America’s National Parks.” Most recently he was Nominated by the Jazz Journalists Association – 2020, 2022 in the Category the Lona Foote-Bob Parent Award for Career Excellence in Photography.

Robert holds a BS in Mathematics from Northeastern University and an MFA in Directing from Boston University.  

For more information on the photographs please contact R.I. Sutherland-Cohen.