07/21/2026
Another sad notice of a beloved RTB alums passing-
Peter Sayer.
Peter was sophisticated, elegant, wry and talented-
A renowned architect, who with his longtime partner, William Maher, had the firm Maher and Sayer in Manhattan and a long and notable career in architecture and interior design. They lived in Ridgefield from 1978 until 2008.
With clients like Bergdorf Goodman, Hermes, Cohoes, and boutiques in Princeton’s Palmer Square on their list, Peter certainly didn’t need the gig with the RTB- But he came to us anyway.
His set designs are still legendary, and a series of photos of his work that graced our bathrooms pre-expansion are waiting to be reinstalled now that the building is complete. Even the photos of his sets are works of art.
Peter threw the best parties and his home was divine. He told the best dirty jokes and carried around a portable martini bar long before that BYO vibe became a part of how we presented shows on our stage.
He had a sense of style that was always the coolest and most elegant in the room. He remembered details about everyone and everything that made you feel like part of his inner circle.
When I first got to know him in my early twenties I was in a production of Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever” - Davina Porter was also in the cast, Tom Holehan was directing in Stratford and it was divine. Back at the RTB I was just getting to be a part of this delightful, wicked, joyful, rowdy, talented group and I remember thinking that Peter was like Noel Coward- at least in my mind. I was a bit in awe of him and quickly came to adore him. Those were great years- as a matter of fact, those of us from that core group at that time are still in a daily (well, almost daily) text thread.
We are all deeply saddened by his passing and shared our respect of his talent, great memories and deep sense of community and love for those years at the RTB, with Peter and the whole gang.
I can say this, with certainty: Peter’s work and giving of his talents laid the groundwork for the level of production excellence we strive for with every show we do. For Peter, like all of us at the RTB, community theater was the inclusive, collaborative space that he chose to share his talents. He gave because he loved to do it, and loved the RTB community.
And we loved him.
- Pamme Jones
Executive and Artistic Director
