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William "Lewis" Routh, 59, was quietly called back in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 23rd, 2008, while sleeping at his home in New Orleans.
Lewis is most fondly remembered as a playwright, producer, director and performer in theatrical companies in New Orleans and around the nation. He was also an accomplished short story writer, digital graphic designer and artist in the medium of acrylics on canvas.
He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on May 18th, 1949, of his parents, Sam Routh and La Una "Lee" Ferguson Routh. His childhood was also greatly influenced by his maternal grandmother, Jewel "Dede" Brandt, of Texarkana, Texas.
Lewis’ one true passion in life was theatre. Whether as a performer, director, producer or playwright, his commitment to the excellence of theatrical art was his driving force in life. He began his professional theatrical life at an early age as a ventriloquist, folk singer and dancer. He continued in his mid-teens touring the country professionally and performing in plays, musicals, cabarets and nightclubs. The first production of one of his own plays opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and starred the now-famous Alfre Woodard in her first performance. He also toured the United Kingdom in a production of West Side Story in the role of Riff.
Later work included melodrama and vaudeville performances at the Iron Springs Chateau in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and at the Heritage Square Opera House in Golden, Colorado, as well as at the Goldenrod Showboat in St. Louis, Missouri. Other professional and community theatre work was accomplished in Eureka Springs and Bull Shoals, Arkansas; Atlanta, Georgia, and Orlando, Florida, where in each city he owned his own theatre company; San Francisco, California; Galveston, Texas; and New Orleans.
Other highlights of his professional career of which he was most proud were being the Director of the 1998 May Fine Arts Festival in Eureka Springs, and receiving the Orlando Spectrum award for Entertainer of the Year in 1995.
Lewis is survived by his life partner of thirty years, Marlin Haindfield, and by his mother, Lee Routh, both of New Orleans; a brother, Sam Routh, Jr., of Galveston, Texas; a half-brother, Ron Routh, of Houston, Texas; a half-sister, Mary Ellen Routh Bowman, of Little Rock, Arkansas; an aunt, Mary Routh Dickson, of Little Rock; an aunt, Laneda Routh, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; a niece, Heather, of Nashville, Tennessee; 2 nephews, Eli and Lucas, of Nashville; a niece, Shannon, living abroad; 2 nephews, Michael and Isaac, of Houston; 2 nieces, Mary Ann and Sheryl, of Little Rock; and 5 grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
In accordance with his wishes, Lewis’ body was donated to the LSU School of Medicine. In lieu of a funeral service, a Celebration of Life gathering of family and his numerous friends is being planned.
A memorial fund has been established to assist his partner and mother with final expenses. Donations are being accepted online at LewisRouth.com, or by mail at Lewis Routh Memorial Fund, 3628 Franklin Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122. Any residual funds will be used to benefit the New Orleans theatrical community. Your generosity of any amount is greatly needed and most appreciated.
Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.
We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away
My labor, and my leisure too,
For his civility.
We passed the school, where children strove
At recess, in the ring;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.
Or rather, he passed us;
The dews grew quivering and chill,
For only gossamer my gown,
My tippet only tulle.
We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.
Since then 'tis centuries, and yet each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity.
--- Emily Dickinson
NEW ORLEANS THEATRE
Who is Playwright/Director, Lewis Routh and what has he done in New Orleans, Louisiana, to add to New Orleans' wonderful theatre community?
WHAT THE NEW ORLEANS CRITICS SAID:
"[PEOPLE COME & GO is]...a relentlessly raunchy riot ...a tour-de-force ... Routh proves himself a clever, adept writer-actor, who gets laughs with just about everything he does ...and my God, is it funny!" —David Cuthbert, Theatre Critic, New Orleans Times-Picayune
"...the witty and wicked script... splashy comic gear (costumes) by Bernadette Klotz... The inventiveness comes in the details, the surprises, the twists on the expected... Routh has inventiveness to spare... he softens the sting of his satire with an infectious sense of fun." Dalt Wonk, Theatre Critic, New Orleans Gambit Weekly
"... very very finely toned wit ...an amazing show of perfect timing... a stand up comedic show piece... a bright, subtle wit that saturates his inventions and creations like acid on etched glass ...Don’t miss it. You won’t see his kind of comedy again, unless he gives us the pleasure of a return performance... His is a class act from beginning to end." —Roy Patrick Shannon III, Theatre Critic, Crescent City Chronicles, and Ambush Magazine
"...Routh as the lite-on-his-feet Mr. Lew LaRoux delectably encapsulates the entire [Wizard of] Oz in 4 1Ž2 minutes. Fabulous!" — Brian Sands, Ambush Magazine
“I'm not just a ham, I'm the whole hog, honey!”) -- Lewis Routh
Lewis Routh Productions seeks to offer new voices to New Orleans amazing theatre community. "I just want to fit-in," said Routh, "along with the other wonderful playwrights, directors and actors in New Orleans.
SPONSORS & PLAYBILL ADVERTISERS:
To advertise in future playbills
e-mail LewisRouth using the form below right
Our past sponsors and advertisers have allowed us to bring a new voice to a New Orleans audience. We proudly and humbly thank them all -- without them, Lewis Routh Productions would not exist. The advertisers listed below have continued to support Lewis Routh Productions.
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Please support our advertisers and thank them for their assistance in bringing alternative theatre to New Orleans!
Lewis Routh's BLOG
These one act plays are perusal copies only. Rights to produce must be obtained from the playwright, Lewis Routh by using the message form below.
BAR ANGEL
A Christmas play.
3 men simple set.
A gay IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.
A WALK IN THE PARK
Simple set, 1 man, 3 women Different perspectives on the same event.
AIRIN' OUR DIRTY LAUNDRY
Set in a laundry, deals with prejudices. Writtten as monologues for two actors.
BLOODY MARY SUNDAY
3 men 1 woman
simple set - bar table 3 stools
Homosexuality and religion.
COLD FEET & HOT COFFEE
2 women 3 men
simple set - dining table & chairs
Is the bride groom gay?
1 woman, 2 men
no set - scrim wall
Woman loves Elvis to the point of murder.
LOL
2 men 1 woman
Box set (living room)
Finding love on the internet.
QUEERLY SPEAKING
One man show about gay life. Simple set. Furniture defines space
THE MORTAL BED
Two one acts for 2 men. Simple set - a bed.
"We haven't opened a play yet," said playwright director Lewis Routh, "which hasn't been a fund-raiser for a community organization."
