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News & ArtsThursday, November 15, 2012
Death / Theater RIP, Andrea Allen
Posted by Brendan Kiley on Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 8:56 AM
- Andrea Allen
Andrea Allen, a longtime stalwart of Seattle theater, passed away in her sleep last night after a long struggle with cancer.
She was a company member of Annex Theater for a decade and its artistic director for two years. She had been at the Seattle Repertory Theater for almost 20 years, serving as its director of education while writing and directing plays. (Recent directing credits at the Rep include Circle Mirror Transformation and Speech and Debate.)
As a director, playwright, occasional actor, and local leader in arts education—she created several programs, both for high-school students and teaching artists, and was co-chair of the board of Washington Alliance for Arts Education—Allen was a creative force in the theater world for many years.
Condolences to everyone, especially her husband (designer Matthew Smucker), her twin boys, and the rest of the family.
2
So awfully sad. Andrea has been a tirelessly inspired cog in the Seattle theater machine for as long as I've been here. A couple years ago we collaborated on writing a project for students at Seattle U, and she was such a pro, with a deep, genuine love for Theater-Making that I couldn't come close to replicating. (I love theater when it's good, but Andrea just loved theater, in all its great and messy promise, and she helped so many other people love it the same way.)
4
Thank you for acknowledging this loss, Brendan. Andrea has truly done more for the local theater scene (and for so many local artists) over the past two decades than ever gets recognized. I will miss her more than I can express.
5
I first met Andrea when I stumbled into an education outreach internship as an undergrad. She was the kind of teacher who could awaken classrooms full of apathetic high schoolers into artists whose voices mattered. Watching her use theatre as a tool of empowerment made me want to follow in her footsteps. Our community grieves the loss of one of our lights as we strive to continue what Andrea began.
7
I worked at the Rep for nearly four years, both in an administrative capacity and as an artist. Andrea was always warm and kind to me; I was awed by her intelligence and the sheer prolific nature of her ongoing contributions to the Seattle theatre scene. I wanted to be like her. I am so saddened to hear this. RIP, Andrea, and all my condolences to Matthew and family.
9
Andrea was one in a million. She was the head of the intern program at the Rep when I was there in the 90's. She always kept in touch & championed & cheerleaded my successes. She will be missed. Love to her family.
10
I didn't know Andrea well, but we worked together as baristas at a Starbucks 22 years ago and I still remember the impression she made upon me: she was whip-smart, funny as hell, passionate about the Annex Theater she was involved in, thoughtful and kind. I'm sad thinking about the loss of a person I really only barely knew; I can only imagine that those who really knew and treasured her are devastated.
12
As a long absent 4th Ave Annex Theatre alum, I appreciate Andrea's contribution to the lives of so many artists I know, myself included. We'll all strut and fret awhile longer, and better, thanks to her.
14
I met Andrea when we were both studying at Antioch in the early 00s. She was so smart, kind, and engaged with everyone she encountered. I have followed her work with interest since then and was stricken when I just read in an Antioch email that she had passed away. We've lost a bright light, and too soon. Blessings to her family, and may her boys know what a potent person their mother was.
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