Lorell Wyatt (1953-2025)
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Lorell Wyatt, former Chicago actor and co-founder of City Lit Theater, passed away on May 21. In 1979, Lorell, David Dillon and Arnold Aprill pooled $210 to start City Lit. At the time, it was the only theatre in the nation devoted to stage adaptations of literary material. She is best known for her performances in City Lit’s production of THE GOOD TIMES ARE KILLING ME (1990 Jeff Citation, principal actress) and THE BAD SEED with Cloud 42.
Born on Sept. 21, 1953, to William W. Wyatt and Corrine Creasy, Lorell grew up in Berwyn and graduated from Berwyn High School. She attended Columbia College in Chicago, focusing on acting. She also attended DeVry Institute of Technology in Chicago, where she received a bachelor's degree in computer information systems and met her future husband, Andrew Robert "Bob" Voorhees. Eventually, Lorell joined Bob in Champaign, and they were married in 1993. Lorell is survived by Bob, her husband of 31 years; son Abraham; nephews Carl and Mark; and niece Claudia. She was preceded in death by her brother James; sisters Patricia and Judy; and niece Lynn. Per City Lit: “The paradox of live theatre is always that, though it vanishes as it occurs, its soul lingers. Lorell lingers with City Lit today and into the future. We carry on her work.” Per David Dillon: “She was one in a million. We had such fun forming City Lit. Her smile and wicked sense of humor were everything.” |