Harry Rigby, Producer of ‘Sugar Babies,’ Dies

Harry Rigby, who conceived and helped produce the long-running stage hit “Sugar Babies” and helped revive some of Broadway’s most memorable musicals, is dead at 59.

His body was found in his New York City apartment by a member of his staff who went there Thursday after he failed to keep a luncheon appointment.

Rigby’s publicist, Henry Luhrman, said the cause of death was not known.

Rigby probably will best be remembered for his ability to persuade older and retired actors and actresses to resume their careers.

Tony Award Winner The Tony Award-winning producer talked Ruby Keeler into the 1971 revival of “No, No, Nanette,” Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell into resurrecting “Irene” in 1973 and then lured Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller into “Sugar Babies” in 1979.

That latter-day burlesque show is still touring the country with its original stars.

Rigby’s first Broadway production was the musical “Make a Wish” in 1951. He won an Antoinette Perry award in 1968 for “Hallelujah, Baby!” and was nominated for three others: “Knock Knock” in 1976; “I Love My Wife” in 1977 and “Sugar Babies” in 1980.

His other shows included the 1953 musical revue “John Murray Anderson’s Almanac” and a short-lived revival in 1974 of the musical “Good News,” with Alice Faye and John Payne.