The table is being turned on a behind-the-camera fixture on New York’s theater scene. A Kansas City native and veteran photographer of production and publicity shots is herself about to become the center of attention.
Carol Rosegg, a graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School who grew up attending Congregation Beth Shalom, has been named recipient of the 2018 Friend of Off Broadway Award as presented by the Off Broadway Alliance. The award will be formally presented on June 19 at Sardi’s restaurant in New York in association with the annual Off Broadway Alliance Awards honoring the best Off Broadway shows that opened in the past season.
Rosegg has taken photos of literally thousands of Broadway, Off Broadway, opera, ballet and theatrical performances since opening her own studio nearly 25 years ago. Her expansive portfolio of photographs covers a vast range of productions and performers in virtually all theaters and playhouses in New York as well as on assignment with traveling production companies.
Peter Breger, president of the Off Broadway Alliance, said the Friend of Off Broadway Award is only presented when an individual “not normally in front of the footlights” is considered extremely valuable to the Off Broadway scene. He said Rosegg is “universally loved” for the quality of her photography, her willingness to work with production companies regardless of size and, perhaps most importantly, her genuine appreciation of all things theater.
“People remember how generous and helpful Carol was for them in the beginning of their careers,” Breger told The Chronicle. “The amazing thing about Carol is you call her and she’s there. She’ll run from the set of a major Broadway hit to go take shots for emerging artists putting on their first show on Off Broadway.”
After graduating from high school in the early 1970s, Rosegg caught the theater bug while attending Tufts University in Boston and becoming involved in summer stock work. Rosegg said she was not an actress or set designer and so became involved in stage lighting and general management. She moved to New York to be involved in a theater opening but within a year found herself looking for work.
It was then, thanks to staying connected to New York theater circles and seemingly always carrying a camera, an associate introduced Rosen to Martha Swope. Swope was then the preeminent dance and theater photographer in the city. Swope was looking for someone to work in the darkroom to process black-and-white negatives.
“That was a most exciting time… I was beside myself,” Rosegg said. “Martha would let me come to the shows with her. She would shoot a show and around midnight or one in the morning I’d go back to the studio to process the film and make the negatives.”
Rosegg worked for and with Swope for 18 years. When Swope retired 23 years ago, Rosegg opened her own studio and began charting her own course to becoming a preeminent theater photographer.
Rosegg said she “could not be happier” about being the recipient of the Friend of Off Broadway Award. Having worked in most of the Off Broadway theaters over the years she appreciates being associated with people who share her passion for theater.
“Happily I get to see many very good people over and over,” Rosegg said. “It’s a joy working with many of the directors and companies. It’s very wonderful being in the theater family.”
Breger of the Off Broadway Alliance said Rosegg is sought after as a photographer because when it comes to theater “she gets it.”
“What Carol does is incredibly valuable,” Breger said. “Her photos are the calling card for these companies. She has the gift of being able to convey in photos what’s valuable and exciting in their work.”
