Robert J. Schlosser, 67; Headed Marketing for Taper, Ahmanson

Robert J. Schlosser, 67, audience development director for the Center Theater Group/Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theater for 23 years, died of colon cancer Wednesday at Brotman Medical Center in Culver City.

From 1973 to 1996, Schlosser’s theater marketing expertise helped bring national attention to important Taper world premieres such as the Tony Award-winning “Children of a Lesser God” and the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Angels in America” and “The Kentucky Cycle.”

A nationally recognized innovator in theater marketing and an early proponent of making theater accessible, Schlosser created audience-friendly discount ticket programs such as Hot Tix, Public Rush and Pay What You Can. He also was in the vanguard of programs such as Project D.A.T.E. (Deaf Audience Theater Experience).

Born in Stockton, he was a graduate of the University of San Francisco. He became the subscription and box office manager of the famed San Francisco Actors’ Workshop in 1962. In 1965, he became audience development director of The Repertory Theater of Lincoln.