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On his way to a perform a matinee of Stage Left’s “Prairie Lights” at Theatre Building Chicago, Michael Dice, Sr., died from heart failure. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and his children Sara and Mike, Jr.
Mike was born in South Bend, IN, on March 8, 1946. Mike received his B.S. in Theatre/Speech from Illinois State University (with a distinguished Alumnus award from the ISU Theatre Department), and his M.Ed. from National-Louis University He recently resumed his performance career after a 30-year hiatus, time he spent teaching acting and English while directing plays at Lake Park High School in Roselle, IL. While at Lake Park, Mike directed over 100 productions, including three IHSA State Drama-winning plays, and he served as Lake Park Education Association’s Union President for many years. Mike taught hundreds of wonderful kids in his career, including Famous Door’s Dan Rivkin.
Performance credits include his son’s “Jenny Died” at the Mary Arrchie Hoffman Festival XIII, and Coleman understudy in “The Lonesome West” at Famous Door. Other roles he played included Daddy Warbucks in “Annie,” McMurphy in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Judas/John the Baptist in “Godspell,” and Prospero in “The Tempest” at Elgin Community Theatre; Pasquale in “The Most Happy Fella” and Pirate King in “The Pirates of Penzance” at Hemmens Auditorium; Herbie in “Gypsy” at Woodstock Opera House; roles in “She Loves Me,” “A Funny Thing Happened…,” “The Lady’s Not for Burning” and “Brigadoon” at Timber Lake Playhouse; and “The Hostage” and “Tartuffe” at Illinois State University.
“Prairie Lights” was canceled on Saturday, Dec. 14, the 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. performances, while the cast and Stage Left staff held an impromptu wake at Theatre Building Chicago. Stage Left Managing Director Kevin Heckman went on very successfully as Mike’s character, Frank Pringle, to a sold-out show on Sunday, Dec. 15. Amid many tears, the cast made it through the show, and have dedicated the rest of the run to Mike’s memory. Stage Left held a more official theater community wake at their offices on Dec. 21, after the show at 10 p.m. Notes or letters for the family may be sent to the theater, 3408 N. Sheffield, Chicago, IL 60657.
Memorial services have been held. Donations are being accepted for The Michael Dice Memorial Fund, scholarship money for Lake Park high school students who are interested in pursuing theater in college. For further information on how to donate, please contact michaeldicejr@aol.com.
The run of ‘Prairie Lights’ will continue as planned through Jan. 4, running Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., at Theatre Building Chicago, (773) 327.5252. Veteran actor Rob Skrocki took over the role of Pringle beginning Dec. 20. |
On his way to a perform a matinee of Stage Left’s “Prairie Lights” at Theatre Building Chicago, Michael Dice, Sr., died from heart failure. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and his children Sara and Mike, Jr.
Mike was born in South Bend, IN, on March 8, 1946. Mike received his B.S. in Theatre/Speech from Illinois State University (with a distinguished Alumnus award from the ISU Theatre Department), and his M.Ed. from National-Louis University He recently resumed his performance career after a 30-year hiatus, time he spent teaching acting and English while directing plays at Lake Park High School in Roselle, IL. While at Lake Park, Mike directed over 100 productions, including three IHSA State Drama-winning plays, and he served as Lake Park Education Association’s Union President for many years. Mike taught hundreds of wonderful kids in his career, including Famous Door’s Dan Rivkin.
Performance credits include his son’s “Jenny Died” at the Mary Arrchie Hoffman Festival XIII, and Coleman understudy in “The Lonesome West” at Famous Door. Other roles he played included Daddy Warbucks in “Annie,” McMurphy in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Judas/John the Baptist in “Godspell,” and Prospero in “The Tempest” at Elgin Community Theatre; Pasquale in “The Most Happy Fella” and Pirate King in “The Pirates of Penzance” at Hemmens Auditorium; Herbie in “Gypsy” at Woodstock Opera House; roles in “She Loves Me,” “A Funny Thing Happened…,” “The Lady’s Not for Burning” and “Brigadoon” at Timber Lake Playhouse; and “The Hostage” and “Tartuffe” at Illinois State University.
“Prairie Lights” was canceled on Saturday, Dec. 14, the 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. performances, while the cast and Stage Left staff held an impromptu wake at Theatre Building Chicago. Stage Left Managing Director Kevin Heckman went on very successfully as Mike’s character, Frank Pringle, to a sold-out show on Sunday, Dec. 15. Amid many tears, the cast made it through the show, and have dedicated the rest of the run to Mike’s memory. Stage Left held a more official theater community wake at their offices on Dec. 21, after the show at 10 p.m. Notes or letters for the family may be sent to the theater, 3408 N. Sheffield, Chicago, IL 60657.
Memorial services have been held. Donations are being accepted for The Michael Dice Memorial Fund, scholarship money for Lake Park high school students who are interested in pursuing theater in college. For further information on how to donate, please contact michaeldicejr@aol.com.
The run of ‘Prairie Lights’ will continue as planned through Jan. 4, running Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., at Theatre Building Chicago, (773) 327.5252. Veteran actor Rob Skrocki took over the role of Pringle beginning Dec. 20. |
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