Remembering Kathleen Davies

Kathleen Davies’s son, Brian, reached out to let us know that two years after her cancer diagnosis, Kathleen died at home, at peace, surrounded by family on Sept. 1. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her family.

Kathleen will be lovingly remembered at Elmwood not only for the range of her talent, but for her spirit and her dedication to theatre in general and Elmwood in particular.

She arrived at Elmwood in 1975, having moved to Nyack from Fairbanks, Alaska. After being cast in Man of La Mancha, she earned the famously difficult to earn trust of costumer Beth Lynch, and Kathleen was soon using her sewing skills to help create the costumes for the production in which she was performing. Kathleen and Beth forged a lifelong friendship over their shared interests and love for Elmwood.

Kathleen’s service to Elmwood is threaded throughout much of Elmwood’s history. She edited the newsletter, produced, served as Board President, and directed. As the director of Antigone in 1987, she cast current Board President Derek Tarson  in his first Elmwood role!

As a performer, Kathleen could do it all–from broad comedy to Shakespeare and opera. Following Man of La Mancha, she appeared in at least one Elmwood production in all but two seasons from 1975 through 1989. Some of her favorite roles at Elmwood  included Agnes and Maggie in The Shadow Box, and Dora Strang in Equus, and Mrs. Webb in Our Town and at Antrim Playhouse, Barbara Jackson in Pack of Lies,  Sara Rosensweig in The Sisters Rosensweig, and Clairee in Steel Magnolias. She was back on the Elmwood stage in 2003 to play a powerful Kate Keller in All My Sons.

Kathleen’s final onstage performance at Elmwood was in Les Miserables (2013), bringing her full circle. The “newbie” from Fairbanks who earned the costumer’s trust in 1975 once again served on the “costume crew” on a musical in which she was performing.

Kathleen was multi-talented, and always ready to share whatever talents were needed. Even following her diagnosis, she returned to Elmwood briefly to share her decades of directing experience with our Director Development Committee.

Her son Brian expressed it best: “The tale of her death pales in comparison to the tale of her life.”

We are honored that Kathleen chose to share so much of her talented, beautiful life with Elmwood.