Debra Rodkin (1952-2023)
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Debra Rodkin -- prolific actor, founding member & managing director of Stage Left Theatre and longtime ensemble member of Redtwist Theatre -- passed away in November of 2023 of cancer, at the age of 71.
A graduate of the Theatre School at DePaul (when it was still called the Goodman School of Drama), Rodkin worked with a wide range of companies during her career, including the now-defunct feminist-oriented Footsteps Theatre, Shattered Globe, AstonRep, 2nd Act Players, Citadel, and Raven. She also worked as a talent agent with Stavins Talent Agency and also had a flourishing career in voiceover and corporate work. Debra was one of the first artists to join the Redtwist Ensemble in 2003, joining her friends Jan Graves and Michael Colucci on their bold new adventure. Over the next two decades, Debra would be a mainstay at Redtwist, always bringing her irreverent sense of humor and incredible passion to the rehearsal hall and the stage. She appeared in a dozen shows in Bryn Mawr’s tiny black box theatre, gracing the stage in almost every season since its founding. Debra took her final bow as Mother Superior in John Pielmeier’s “Agnes of God” (while undergoing cancer treatments, unbeknownst to her castmates). Through her many performances at Redtwist, Michael Colucci recounts one in particular -- her powerhouse performance in 2012’s “The Cripple of Inishmaan”, “This role was right in her sweet spot. Deb portrayed an earnest, hard-working, sassy woman filled with snide comments and sarcastic remarks. Deb’s performance was both hilarious and heartbreaking, combining wicked humor and deep humanity. It will always be one of my favorites.” Beloved daughter of the late Glen and June; fond stepdaughter of Jane Hall Rodkin; dear sister of Loree Rodkin; former wife of Duane Sharp. Debra’s love of dogs was equal to her love of theater . Memorial contributions can be made to PAWS Chicago (pawschicago.org) or Redtwist Theatre (redtwisttheatre.org). |