RANCH TRIANGLE — Martha Lavey, a Steppenwolf Theatre guiding light for decades as an actress and later as artistic director, died Tuesday.
The company announced her death late Tuesday afternoon after she had suffered a stroke last week. Lavey, 60, first suffered a stroke almost two years ago, "from which she had been struggling to recover," Steppenwolf said in a statement signed by Artistic Director Anna Shapiro, who succeeded Lavey late in 2015, and Executive Director David Schmitz.
"She spent her last days as she lived, in the company and comfort of family, ensemble members and people who love her deeply," the statement read.
Lavey was an actress first and appeared in "Endgame," "Love-Lies-Bleeding," "Aunt Dan and Lemon" and "Savages," among many others. She also appeared at the Goodman, Victory Gardens, Northlight and Remains theaters.
Lavey joined the ensemble in 1993 and became artistic director two years later. Under her direction, the company added Shapiro, Tracy Letts, Alana Arenas, Kate Arrington, Ian Barford, William Petersen and Tarell Alvin McCraney, and produced Letts' "August: Osage County" and "Superior Donuts," to name only a select few high points.
She graciously stepped aside for Shapiro after it was announced late in 2014 that she'd be succeeding her following that theater season.
"Chicago owes a debt of gratitude to Martha Lavey, ensemble member and former artistic director at Steppenwolf Theatre Company," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement. "While leading one of the most acclaimed theater companies in the world for more than 20 years, she helped put Chicago theater — and the gritty, gutsy Chicago-style theater for which we’re known — on the map. Martha will forever be remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of Chicago theater."
Services will be held at Lavey's parents' home in Virginia, but the company plans a memorial "to celebrate her life and her impact on Steppenwolf and the Chicago community," with a date to be determined.
Shapiro and Schmitz invited all members of the Steppenwolf community including the audience to share their memories of Lavey online.
