In the winter of 1988 I was cast in a production of Wesley Brown’s Boogie Woogie and Booker T. The Off-Off Broadway company, Blue Heron Theatre, was new on the scene but their mission—providing theater that “stimulates audiences to think about the crucial dilemmas of our time – political and economic oppression, racism, and the struggle of individuals to find freedom and fulfillment”—was one that, thanks to its artistic director Ardelle Striker, resulted in thought-provoking experiences for their audiences and opportunities for actors underserved by the mainstream.
I was lucky enough to participate in eight of Blue Heron’s productions, in works that spanned the range of classic and contemporary world theater. They stretched my modest talent while offering the pleasures of working alongside other actors who cared about the work as much as I did. After each show Ardelle would enclose a little note with a stipend check that always closed with, “looking forward to our next one.” So did I: some of the happiest hours of my life were spent either on Blue Heron’s stages (for years they were at the Mazur Theater on the upper East side, before they inaugurated their new home on 24th Street, a block from Madison Square Park) or in the audience, held rapt by challenging, involving drama that never pandered or talked down.
I won’t soon forget those golden years, or Ardelle’s willingness to take a chance on me again and again. Her support extended beyond the theater, though—when I expressed a desire to return to college, she not only encouraged it, but wrote glowing a letter of recommendation. That was her way.
Ardelle left us on Dec 3 after a battle with MDS. My condolences to her husband John, and her children, Liz and David. Thank you, Ardelle—I’m grateful for the lovely gifts you gave. RIP.