Lisa Norman
I am just discovering that dear Gene has left the planet. I knew him both in the theater world and in the design world. The first time I saw him perform onstage I thought, "Wow, this guy is a star!" Through these many years, I still mourn the theater world's loss that his calling was not, ultimately, performance. With a malleable face and impeccable timing, Gene could hold an audience in his graceful palm. He hired me (an unemployed recent theater grad) to work at Counterpoint in Knoxville in the office. I was able to observe his design talent at close range and it made a life-long impression. What a brilliant, creative mind! All his projects had the Gene Daniels aesthetic--you just knew it was his. Gorgeous, playful, welcoming. Just like him. I'm so sorry our paths did not cross again in these many years. I've thought of him (and spoken of him) often.