Thomas Joyce

Thomas Joyce, actor, stage manager, director, producer and former Equity councilor passed away on June 12, just after his 85th birthday.

Joyce, who went by Tom, was born June 10, 1940 to Bridget Alice Doolan and Thomas Edward Joyce, and grew up in Peoria, Illinois. He earned his undergraduate degree from St. Ambrose University and his master's degree from Bradley University.

As an artist, Joyce was rooted in the Central Region, and Illinois in particular. While his involvement in Equity governance would ultimately be as an actor, he wore many hats in the theatre, and in particular later in his career was primarily a stage manager. He was a founding member of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Joyce joined Equity in 1981, and first joined the Central Regional Board in 1986, which he chaired for many years. He served on National Council as a Central principal councilor from 1993 to 2013, devoted to issues that affect members nationally but particularly focused on the needs of his own Region. His committee and negotiating work included the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, the National Public Policy Committee, the Stage Managers Committee, the House Affairs Committee, the Chicago Area Theatre Agreement, the Council of Stock Theatres Agreement, the Production Contract and many more.

In addition to his service on council and the CRB, Joyce was also a trustee for the Equity-League Pension and Health Trust Fund and a board member of the Actors' Equity Foundation. He was also a voter for the Tony Awards.

His accolades included Equity's Kathryn V. Lamkey Award in 2014, honoring members in the Central Region who focus on diversity and inclusion.

Joyce was pre-deceased by his wife, Margaret, his high school sweetheart to whom he was married for nearly 60 years. He is survived by their 6 children, 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

— Equity News Staff

Thom was a special sort of Stage Manager. Many of us called him Papa Bear. And like a bear, he would put up with shenanigans for only so long before you heard over the mic "Company meeting back Stage Right before the show." Uh oh. We pushed him too far- we disappointed him because we weren't smart or skilled enough to hide our hijinks from the audience....

He mixed a mean martini- at the Drury Lane South he would pop behind the bar after the show and make them for us. It's amazing we are all alive.

We shared a birthday, he called me to sing every year.

His service to the Union was vast and no nonsense- he'd would tell you to your face you were an idiot, but there was no more fierce defender, of actors, of stage managers, of our staff.

— Ariane Dolan

Robert-Bruce Brake

Robert-Bruce Brake was one of the first actors I met after moving to the Twin Cities in the mid-1990s. We were both hired as ensemble extras in Babes in Arms at the Guthrie Theater in 1996. It was my first winter in Minnesota, and it was a doozy – ice storms, cars that were frozen shut or wouldn't start, slogging through snow to rehearsal. Befriending Robert-Bruce and his husband Todd helped me get through that winter. Robert-Bruce went on to work with Park Square Theatre in St. Paul; he was Mr. Van Daan in The Diary of Ann Frank from 2000 to 2018, playing hundreds of performances to thousands of students. In addition to performing, he and Todd formed DASH Productions and produced plays written by Todd. Robert-Bruce was also an accomplished cook and gracious host at parties. He is truly missed by our local theatre community.

— Delta Rae Giordano

Gretchen Evans

Gretchen Evans was a beloved actor at the Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC) in Santa Barbara from 1991 to 2005, performing a wide range of roles. She was a fine dramatic actor and had a wonderful flair for comedy. I had the pleasure of working with Gretchen in two productions and seeing many of her other performances while I was with ETC from 1991 to 95. She was hilarious and appropriately fusty as Mrs. Malaprop when we did The Rivals, and she was delightful as Judith in Hay Fever. Gretchen and the late, great Sylvia Short made a formidable pair in several productions together; I enjoyed seeing them in Gertrude Stein and a Companion, Lettice & Lovage and A Perfect Ganesh. I moved to Minnesota in late 1995, so I didn't have the opportunity to work with Gretchen again, but her versatility and professionalism continue to inspire me.

— Delta Rae Giordano

Michael James Leslie

Michael James Leslie was one of my dearest friends. We met on the national tour of Beauty and the Beast, and for almost 30 years, we spoke on the phone almost every day. We talked frequently even when one of us was working, or towards the end of his life as he valiantly fought against a long illness. He was my daughter's godfather and one of the best friends that my husband and I ever had.

He will be remembered for his performances on Broadway, in Hair and The Wiz, and for unforgettable turns as Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, and as the Judge in Sweeney Todd at The Barrow Street, not to mention countless productions in regional theater.

Michael attended Rutgers, and he earned a law degree from Cornell before the theater called to him. While we spoke of our lives in the theater, our lively conversations included politics, law, philosophy, friendship, raising children, the state of the world, and just about any topic you can think of.

Michael will be remembered, not only for his beautiful voice and his acting, but for the way in which his love and friendship extended to so many. He will be sorely missed.

— Catherine Fries Vaughn

Susan Barnes

It is with deep sadness that I write of my beloved friend Susan Barnes' passing on Sunday Sept. 14, 2025. 

Our long friendship began when we worked together in several plays in Los Angeles in the 1970's. (https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/342618-susan-barnes)

Susan pursued acting with passion and grace.  She moved to L.A. at the encouragement of Agnes Moorehead, became an Academy member, was an early figure at Sundance Institute, and appeared in the very first workshop performances of "Angels in America". Over the course of her career, she brought depth and authenticity to every role she inhabited, whether on stage, screen or television. (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0055794/).

Colleagues & friends remember her for her remarkable talent, her dedication to her craft, and the generosity with which she encouraged others. Beyond her work as an actor, Susan was known for her warmth, humor and unwavering kindness. She touched the lives of many with her spririt, leaving behind both memorable performances and lasting personal connections. 

I'll miss the fun times and laughter that we shared over the years. She'll always be in my heart. 

My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy go to her family and friends. 

— James Dybas

Robert-Bruce Brakke

There are some people you meet in life who leave an indelible mark, not because of grand gestures, but because of the quiet, steady depth of who they are. Robert-Bruce Brakke was one of those people.

I had the privilege of working with Robert in a production of 33 Variations – a show that, for me, stands as one of those rare, profoundly moving experiences that only come along once in a great while.

The play itself was layered and demanding, but what made those months unforgettable was the group of artists gathered in that room. Each of them were and are gifted and detailed actor, designers, producers, craftspeople and administrators who carried a deep respect for the work and for everyone around them. Generous, thoughtful, and committed, we were a company fully committed to the story we were telling – every rehearsal, every late-night discussion, every detail poured over with intention. Robert embodied that spirit completely and he inspired me to dig deeper, listen harder, and connect more honestly.

Those months remain etched in my memory. Robert's presence was essential to that experience. Hearing of Robert's passing reminded me how fleeting our connections can be, even when they feel timeless in the moment. It's the bittersweet gift of theatre: we come together, intensely, passionately, for a finite period of time, and then we scatter. But the echoes of those collaborations – the shared laughter, the quiet discoveries, the nights when the work transcends the stage – they stay with us.

Here's to my friend and colleague. Robert-Bruce Brakke.

— James Rocco