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Martha Lavey, a Leading Lady of Chicago Theater, Dies at 60 Martha Lavey, a Leading Lady of Chicago Theater, Dies at 60
(about 9 hours later)
Martha Lavey, who took over as artistic director of the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago in 1995 and over the next 20 years made it a showcase for acclaimed productions and an incubator for new plays and young playwrights, died on Tuesday in Chicago. She was 60.Martha Lavey, who took over as artistic director of the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago in 1995 and over the next 20 years made it a showcase for acclaimed productions and an incubator for new plays and young playwrights, died on Tuesday in Chicago. She was 60.
The cause was complications of a stroke, her brother Jim said.The cause was complications of a stroke, her brother Jim said.
Ms. Lavey was an actress by training. She appeared in more than 30 productions at Steppenwolf, where she became a member of the ensemble in 1993 and later succeeded Randall Arney as artistic director.Ms. Lavey was an actress by training. She appeared in more than 30 productions at Steppenwolf, where she became a member of the ensemble in 1993 and later succeeded Randall Arney as artistic director.
It was a period of painful transition. The brilliant talents who established the theater’s reputation in the 1970s — John Malkovich, Gary Sinise and Laurie Metcalf among them — had gone on to careers in film and television. Steppenwolf seemed increasingly directionless, riven by internal dissent and tarnished by a series of lackluster productions.It was a period of painful transition. The brilliant talents who established the theater’s reputation in the 1970s — John Malkovich, Gary Sinise and Laurie Metcalf among them — had gone on to careers in film and television. Steppenwolf seemed increasingly directionless, riven by internal dissent and tarnished by a series of lackluster productions.
Ms. Lavey got off to a flying start. One of the first productions on her watch, a revival of Sam Shepard’s “Buried Child,” later opened on Broadway. Soon after, she lured Mr. Malkovich back to the theater to take the leading role in the Stephen Jeffreys play “The Libertine.”Ms. Lavey got off to a flying start. One of the first productions on her watch, a revival of Sam Shepard’s “Buried Child,” later opened on Broadway. Soon after, she lured Mr. Malkovich back to the theater to take the leading role in the Stephen Jeffreys play “The Libertine.”
Looking forward, she commissioned new plays; brought in up-and-coming playwrights like Tracy Letts (“August: Osage County”), Tarrell Alvin McCraney (“In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,” adapted for the film “Moonlight”) and Bruce Norris (the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Clybourne Park”); and created new workshops and experimental performing spaces.Looking forward, she commissioned new plays; brought in up-and-coming playwrights like Tracy Letts (“August: Osage County”), Tarrell Alvin McCraney (“In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,” adapted for the film “Moonlight”) and Bruce Norris (the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Clybourne Park”); and created new workshops and experimental performing spaces.
During her tenure, Steppenwolf presented a long list of critically praised productions. Several transferred to Broadway, winning nine Tony Awards. The theater’s restagings of Ken Kesey’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” both won Tonys for best revival.During her tenure, Steppenwolf presented a long list of critically praised productions. Several transferred to Broadway, winning nine Tony Awards. The theater’s restagings of Ken Kesey’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” both won Tonys for best revival.
Mr. Letts’s “August: Osage County” was developed at the theater and had its world premiere there. After moving to Broadway, it won five awards at the 2008 Tonys, including best play. Mr. Letts went on to win a best-actor Tony in 2013 for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”Mr. Letts’s “August: Osage County” was developed at the theater and had its world premiere there. After moving to Broadway, it won five awards at the 2008 Tonys, including best play. Mr. Letts went on to win a best-actor Tony in 2013 for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Steppenwolf’s production of Mr. Letts’s “Superior Donuts” opened on Broadway in 2009 and was developed into a television series, with Judd Hirsch and Jermaine Fowler, that had its premiere on CBS in February.Steppenwolf’s production of Mr. Letts’s “Superior Donuts” opened on Broadway in 2009 and was developed into a television series, with Judd Hirsch and Jermaine Fowler, that had its premiere on CBS in February.
Martha Ann Lavey (rhymes with navy) was born on Feb. 20, 1957, in Lawrence, Kan., where her father, Robert, was a graduate student at the University of Kansas and was later recruited by the C.I.A. as a Russian specialist. Her mother, the former Patricia Colchin, was a homemaker.Martha Ann Lavey (rhymes with navy) was born on Feb. 20, 1957, in Lawrence, Kan., where her father, Robert, was a graduate student at the University of Kansas and was later recruited by the C.I.A. as a Russian specialist. Her mother, the former Patricia Colchin, was a homemaker.
When Martha was 11, the family moved to Detroit. She attended Immaculata High School, where, her sights already set on an acting career, she appeared as Annie Sullivan in “The Miracle Worker.”When Martha was 11, the family moved to Detroit. She attended Immaculata High School, where, her sights already set on an acting career, she appeared as Annie Sullivan in “The Miracle Worker.”
She studied drama at Northwestern University, graduating with a bachelor of science degree from its School of Communication in 1979. She then enrolled in an acting class taught by Mr. Malkovich, who cast her as a Brazilian Indian in Christopher Hampton’s “Savages” at Steppenwolf, which he was directing.She studied drama at Northwestern University, graduating with a bachelor of science degree from its School of Communication in 1979. She then enrolled in an acting class taught by Mr. Malkovich, who cast her as a Brazilian Indian in Christopher Hampton’s “Savages” at Steppenwolf, which he was directing.
The play is remembered as one of the theater’s most spectacular disasters — Mr. Malkovich later called it “the worst production of a play in the history of Chicago theater” — but Ms. Lavey emerged unscathed.The play is remembered as one of the theater’s most spectacular disasters — Mr. Malkovich later called it “the worst production of a play in the history of Chicago theater” — but Ms. Lavey emerged unscathed.
A marriage in the early 1980s ended in divorce. In addition to her brother Jim, Ms. Lavey is survived by her parents; a sister, Michele Dragisity, and four other brothers: Kevin, Matt, John and Patrick.A marriage in the early 1980s ended in divorce. In addition to her brother Jim, Ms. Lavey is survived by her parents; a sister, Michele Dragisity, and four other brothers: Kevin, Matt, John and Patrick.
Ms. Lavey returned to Northwestern for a master’s degree, awarded in 1986, and a doctorate in performance studies, awarded in 1994. Frank Galati, one of her teachers, cast her in her breakthrough role, as a fragile recluse in Wallace Shawn’s “Aunt Dan and Lemon,” which Mr. Galati directed at Steppenwolf in 1987.Ms. Lavey returned to Northwestern for a master’s degree, awarded in 1986, and a doctorate in performance studies, awarded in 1994. Frank Galati, one of her teachers, cast her in her breakthrough role, as a fragile recluse in Wallace Shawn’s “Aunt Dan and Lemon,” which Mr. Galati directed at Steppenwolf in 1987.
“The exquisitely beautiful Lavey, with her flawless, hypnotic diction and dreamy grace, captures the girl’s ghostly quality — turning her into a kind of cracked porcelain doll,” the critic Hedy Weiss wrote in The Chicago Sun-Times.“The exquisitely beautiful Lavey, with her flawless, hypnotic diction and dreamy grace, captures the girl’s ghostly quality — turning her into a kind of cracked porcelain doll,” the critic Hedy Weiss wrote in The Chicago Sun-Times.
Ms. Lavey appeared in productions at other Chicago theaters, most notably at the Goodman, where Mr. Galati directed her in Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale” in 1990.Ms. Lavey appeared in productions at other Chicago theaters, most notably at the Goodman, where Mr. Galati directed her in Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale” in 1990.
“If there is one performance that dominates the production, it is Ms. Lavey’s tremendously affecting Hermione,” Frank Rich of The New York Times wrote. “To testify in the trial scene, she rises from her prison through a trapdoor in a gray smock and bare feet, then argues against her husband’s false accusations.“If there is one performance that dominates the production, it is Ms. Lavey’s tremendously affecting Hermione,” Frank Rich of The New York Times wrote. “To testify in the trial scene, she rises from her prison through a trapdoor in a gray smock and bare feet, then argues against her husband’s false accusations.
“As she does so,” the review continued, “Ms. Lavey stands completely still, her arms dangling at her side, her raven hair streaming down her back, her eyes glassy with grief but never pleading. She offers the simple dignity of a true martyr, not the melodramatic piety of the self-martyred.”“As she does so,” the review continued, “Ms. Lavey stands completely still, her arms dangling at her side, her raven hair streaming down her back, her eyes glassy with grief but never pleading. She offers the simple dignity of a true martyr, not the melodramatic piety of the self-martyred.”
Ms. Lavey continued to act after taking over as artistic director, usually appearing in one Steppenwolf production each year. In 2005 she appeared opposite Mr. Malkovich in “Lost Land,” by Mr. Jeffreys.Ms. Lavey continued to act after taking over as artistic director, usually appearing in one Steppenwolf production each year. In 2005 she appeared opposite Mr. Malkovich in “Lost Land,” by Mr. Jeffreys.
Her commitment to new plays and new writing was evident in her sponsorship of Mr. Letts, to whom she gave carte blanche after seeing “Killer Joe,” his first play. Mr. Letts recently told The Chicago Sun-Times: “I went to her with ‘August: Osage County’ before I had written it — and told her I have a three-act, three-and-a-half-hour play, with 13 characters in it, and there’s a three-story set — and she said, ‘Great! Go write it. We’ll do it.’”Her commitment to new plays and new writing was evident in her sponsorship of Mr. Letts, to whom she gave carte blanche after seeing “Killer Joe,” his first play. Mr. Letts recently told The Chicago Sun-Times: “I went to her with ‘August: Osage County’ before I had written it — and told her I have a three-act, three-and-a-half-hour play, with 13 characters in it, and there’s a three-story set — and she said, ‘Great! Go write it. We’ll do it.’”
Under Ms. Lavey’s leadership, Steppenwolf doubled the size of its ensemble and opened the Garage Theater, whose annual Garage Rep series presents works by small local companies. Ike Holter’s play about the Stonewall uprising, “Hit the Wall,” which opened at the Barrow Theater in Manhattan in 2013, came out of the Garage Rep program.Under Ms. Lavey’s leadership, Steppenwolf doubled the size of its ensemble and opened the Garage Theater, whose annual Garage Rep series presents works by small local companies. Ike Holter’s play about the Stonewall uprising, “Hit the Wall,” which opened at the Barrow Theater in Manhattan in 2013, came out of the Garage Rep program.
Ms. Lavey also created an experimental series for the Studio Theater, a former rehearsal hall that she turned into a permanent theater, Steppenwolf Upstairs.Ms. Lavey also created an experimental series for the Studio Theater, a former rehearsal hall that she turned into a permanent theater, Steppenwolf Upstairs.
And she created Steppenwolf for Young Adults, a series serving the public schools with plays aimed at teenagers; the School at Steppenwolf, which offers training residencies; and First Look Repertory of New Work, a program presenting new plays in development.And she created Steppenwolf for Young Adults, a series serving the public schools with plays aimed at teenagers; the School at Steppenwolf, which offers training residencies; and First Look Repertory of New Work, a program presenting new plays in development.
Ms. Lavey stepped down as artistic director in 2015, shortly after two of her productions, Lisa D’Amour’s “Airline Highway” and Kenneth Lonergan’s “This Is Our Youth” made the leap to Broadway.Ms. Lavey stepped down as artistic director in 2015, shortly after two of her productions, Lisa D’Amour’s “Airline Highway” and Kenneth Lonergan’s “This Is Our Youth” made the leap to Broadway.
She was succeeded by Anna D. Shapiro, the Tony-winning director of “August: Osage County.” Ms. Shapiro had been hired to run the New Plays Lab, a workshop for developing new writers and works, in 1995, the same year Mr. Lavey became artistic director. She was succeeded by Anna D. Shapiro, the Tony-winning director of “August: Osage County.” Ms. Shapiro had been hired to run the New Plays Lab, a workshop for developing new writers and works, in 1995, the same year Ms. Lavey became artistic director.