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Sylvia Herscher, 91; Broadway Producer and Literary Agent

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Sylvia Herscher, 91, a Broadway literary agent, general manager and producer who received a special Tony Award in 2000, died Wednesday at her home in New York City. The cause of death was not reported.

Herscher worked in all aspects of the theater, particularly musicals. For many years, she was secretary to composer Jule Styne, assisting him on such shows as “Make a Wish” (1951) and the 1952 revival of “Pal Joey.”

Born Sylvia Kossovsky in New York City, she studied piano from an early age. After marrying and raising a family, she went to work in 1950 for the producer Alexander Cohen, doing publicity for “King Lear.” She eventually served as general manager for such productions as “Hazel Flagg” (1953) and “Mr. Wonderful” (1956), and helped produce the 1955 comedy “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?”

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In 1960, she joined the William Morris Agency as a literary agent. From 1966-75, she headed the theater department at Edwin H. Morris, one of the leading publishers of Broadway scores. She headed the theater department at G. Schirmer until retiring in 1982.

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