Martha Lavey

As a young girl growing up in Michigan, Martha Lavey (1957 - 2017) set her sights on becoming an actress. After earning undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern, Lavey performed in Chicago theaters receiving stellar reviews. She became a member of the ensemble at Steppenwolf Theater where she appeared in over 30 productions and in 1995 became its artistic director. In that position, Lavey commissioned new plays by lesser-known playwrights. Steppenwolf productions were critically praised and many transferred to Broadway winning Tony Awards. As Steppenwolf’s artistic director, Lavey did not give up acting totally—she appeared in one production each year.

Martha Lavey, considered to be one of the most important influencers in the history of Chicago theater, died in 2017 from a stroke. Theaters in Chicago and its suburbs honored her by dimming the marquee lights and observing a moment of silence.

Why this stop? The Red Line North/Clybourn stop is less than a block from the Steppenwolf Theater.

Learn more as Martha Lavey shares insights on one of Steppenwolf’s productions.

Photo courtesy of Steppenwolf Theater Company (Joel Moorman, photographer)