Celebration of Life for Lou Tyrrell

In April 2026, shortly before the opening of the second annual Owl New Play Festival, Theatre Lab, the South Florida Theatre Community, and the American Theatre industry at-large, suffered an immense loss with the sudden and unexpected passing of our Founding Director and Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in the Arts, Louis Tyrrell.

From the beginnings at The Theatre Club of the Palm Beaches to Florida Stage, which would grow to become a national powerhouse in the new play movement, Theatre at Arts Garage, and, finally, establishing Theatre Lab, the professional resident company at Florida Atlantic University, Lou was an undeniable force in both the South Florida Theatre Community and the American Theatre ecosystem for nearly five decades.

As an actor and director, Lou was recognized extensively. Awards include several acting and directing Carbonell Awards from the South Florida Critics' Association, the Ubertalli Award for Artistic Excellence from the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, a Florida Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship, the Fallon Award for Excellence in Professional Theatre, the Florida Atlantic University Palm Beach County Cultural Leader Award, and the George Abbott Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement.

A tireless champion for new plays and the artists who help create them, the list of titles and careers which Lou helped to launch into the world is nearly innumerable and, quite frankly, staggering in scope. In the countless testimonials following his untimely passing, a common thread emerged: Lou was both enthusiastic and steadfast in his commitment to helping aspiring artists of all kinds get their start in the industry and continuing to support them as they advanced their careers. The ripple effect of his impact on the national theatre scene will, no doubt, be felt for decades to come.

In honor of Lou’s profound impact, Theatre Lab is planning to create the Louis Tyrrell Legacy Excellence Fund. We invite you to make a gift to honor Lou’s amazing contributions. Your contribution will help to create opportunities for the next generation of theatre artists.

To learn more about Lou's Legacy, click here.