Producer Karl E. Held died June 23 in New York City after suffering a heart attack. The news was confirmed by press agent Joe Trentacosta. He was 63.

Claiming Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as his hometown, Mr. Held split his time between there, New York City, and Hollywood, working as both a performer and a producer. Over his career, he worked on projects in collaboration with Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and the Spoleto Festivals, along with such artists as Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Frank Wildhorn, John Williams, Elaine Stritch, and many others.

Among those works was a video series created in partnership with producer Roger Englander and Music Theatre International's Freddie Gershon that captured the creators of Broadway shows talking about their original intentions and writing process. Among the works covered were Assassins and Into the Woods with Stephen Sondheim, John Weidman, and James Lapine; And the World Goes 'Round with John Kander and Fred Ebb; She Loves Me; Forever Plaid; and others.

On Broadway, Mr. Held was on the producing team for the 2009 revival of Ragtime, earning a Tony nomination. Other New York producing credits included Into the Woods, White Lies, and Kowalski. The latter, which performed Off-Broadway earlier this year, was recently revealed to have a Broadway transfer in the works.

In his Gettysburg hometown, Mr. Held was responsible for the 2005 renovation and gala reopening of the historic Majestic Theater, along with the creation and launch of the 10-day interdisciplinary Gettysburg Festival. “Gettysburg was not always the arts-rich community it is today,” said Chris Glatfelter, founding executive director of the Adams County Arts Council. “We owe a debt of gratitude to Karl—the trailblazer, the creative spark who helped ignite the transformation.”

“He had the most incredible and contagious laugh,” said longtime friend Karen Land. “You always knew when Karl was in the house.”

“Karl always helped me keep things in perspective,” added Aaron Grant, friend and general manager. “Whenever things got stressful, Karl would remind us to look at the big picture by asking: ‘What’s the view look like from 30,000 feet?’ I know he’s looking down on us now, from at least 30,000 feet.”

Born June 7, 1962, in Gettysburg, Mr. Held is survived by his brother, Michael Held. Memorial services are planned for New York City and Gettysburg. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Adams County Arts Council, or any organization supporting the arts.