BOSTON, Mass.—For close to 35 years, Nancy Movsesian remained closely attached to the Colonial Theater as a press agent and publicist for blockbuster shows making their stop here.
You would find her inside the lobby with an armful of press kits ready for distribution to theater critics who showed up on press night to render their reviews.
The entourage represented Boston’s leading newspapers, television, and radio shows, all greeted with a smile and a kind word from the owner of Ideas Associates, a small PR firm located in the heart of the theater district where she dwelled.
On Nov. 15, they showed up once again to memorialize the woman who gave the Boston stage its notoriety over these decades as the Colonial Theater once again laid out its red carpet.
On the marquee was the imminent musical “The Jersey Boys,” ready for production over the holidays. It may have well been replaced with “A Night Belonging to Nance Movsesian.” The evening was billed as a celebration of her life, not a memorial by any stretch.
Movsesian succumbed Oct. 26 at her Haverhill home after a brief struggle with cancer. She was 80 and dedicated her whole career to the welfare of Boston theater as well as numerous stage companies in the suburbs.
To say she was a fixture is putting it mildly.
“The Colonial lobby was one of Nance’s favorite places,” said Don Tirabassi, former manager. “She would work the room with the press corps on opening night. She was everywhere at once, even chasing one or two critics out into the street for a quote after the show. And if she didn’t get your review or photo in a timely fashion, she’d pester you with calls. The smart ones kept special delivery handy.”
Tirabassi lauded his late colleague for her devotion to the Colonial, but more for her affinity with the stage and all it represented. Nance also managed the Wilbur Theater nearby during her prime.
“She would call to tell me to move things along because everyone was on a deadline,” Tirabassi added. “The only other Christian Scientist that could try and upstage God at a time like this was her good friend Carol Channing.”
The place was packed with notables from every corner of the medium, including the unions to which Nance belonged. One by one they approached the dais to patronize their friend, whether it was Nance’s love for animals (she was known to feed stray dogs cheeseburgers) to the many favors she performed for people (getting parts in shows).
They were people like Joyce Kulhawik, former arts and entertainment anchor for WBZ-TV and a member of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Kulhawik had interrupted another engagement to attend the celebration, saying “she wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
“Anyone who knew Nance couldn’t help but admire her loyalty and devotion to the profession,” she said. “It was immense. She would always be one of the first to greet me and made sure all the formalities were in order. It made our job all the easier.”
Prominent actress Julie Harris, known for her one-woman portrayal of “The Belle of Amherst,” sent along a message of her own, recapping how Nance Movsesian publicized her shows in impeccable fashion and helped with their success. The two remained close friends throughout.
Former protégé Kathy Rochefort and Spring Sirkin, owner/director of Chamber Theater Productions, joined Tirabassi in organizing the event.
“Anyone who worked under Nance certainly got to learn the business from the bottom up,” said Rochefort. “She meant so much to so many people. Her memory will always live on.”
Also attending were Nance’s brother Albert M. Movsesian and sister Lucy Talanian, along with other representatives of the Armenian community.
Tom Vartabedian
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