Everyman Theatre to Host Memorial for Legendary Actress Tana Hicken, 9/15

Everyman Theatre has announced that on Monday, September 15 at 7PM, actors, directors, designers, family members, friends, and audience members will gather at Everyman to remember the incredible life and work of actress Tana Hicken, who died August 17th at her home in Sparks, MD.

Ms. Hicken's stage career spanned nearly 50 years. Her distinguished body of work as an actress has been seen on regional theatre stages throughout the country. She came to Baltimore's Center Stage from Hartford Stage in Connecticut in the 60's. She appeared in the famous production at Arena Stage of The Great White Hope, which propelled James Earl Jones to Broadway. After that she would join the resident company at Arena Stage and performed dozens of roles there for the next 14 years.

Best known for her luminescent and penetrating ability to transform onstage, losing herself completely in her roles, her performances were hailed as transformative and truthful. She was highly esteemed by fellow artists, directors, critics, and audiences alike. After her work in the company at Arena Stage she performed in productions at The Shakespeare Theatre, Center Stage, Studio Theatre, Theatre J, Roundhouse Theatre, and Everyman Theatre, among others.

Everyman Theatre audiences remember her fondly for her work in the theatre's formative years on Charles Street. It was there that she wowed audiences with performances as Eleanor of Acquitane in The Lion in Winter, Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie (which won 2 Helen Hayes Awards; she was nominated for 20 in her lifetime), Fanny Farrelly in Lillian Hellman's Watch on the Rhine, and Miss Helen in Athol Fugard's The Road To Mecca. When Everyman Theatre was struggling financially in its early years, she donated performances of her acclaimed portrayal as poet Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst to help the theatre stay solvent.

Theatre artists are the best at coming together to remember their own. Join the artists, family, and audiences who loved Tana Hicken to celebrate her life at this special memorial tribute on Monday, September 15th.

For those who cannot attend the memorial at Everyman, another memorial will be held at Studio Theatre in Washington, DC on September 22nd.

Everyman Theatre is supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. An agency of the Department of Business & Economic Development, the MSAC provides financial support and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, units of government, colleges and universities for arts activities. Funding for the Maryland State Arts Council is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Everyman Theatre is a proud member of the Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District.

Everyman Theatre is a professional Equity theatre company celebrating the actor, with a resident company of artists from the Baltimore/DC area. Founded in 1990 by Vincent Lancisi, the theatre is dedicated to engaging the audience through a shared experience between actor and audience seeking connection and emotional truth in performance. Everyman is committed to presenting high quality plays that are affordable and accessible to everyone.