S. Marshall Obituary

S. Lowry Marshall CHARLESTON - Lowry Marshall, a beloved professor, mentor, and a leader in the world of theatre arts, passed away on October 8th at the age of 79. Her life was marked by a profound dedication to the theatre arts, to education, and to her family. Lowry was born on May 20th, 1944. She first took the stage at 16 as Sally Cato McDougal in Auntie Mame at the Dock Street Theatre. And just as she took the stage by storm from an early age, her entire life was marked by a fierce commitment to social activism and community engagement. Lowry was a 1961 graduate of St. Andrew's High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre from the University of South Carolina in 1966. She later completed her Master's in Theatre there in 1975 and earned an MFA from The Asolo Conservatory of The Florida State University, in 1981. In addition to being an accomplished director, writer, and educator, Lowry tirelessly shared her knowledge and insights with students at Brown University, where she served as a dedicated professor in the Department of Theatre, Speech, and Dance for more than two decades. Her commitment to her students and to the art of theatre left an indelible mark on educational and artistic communities, helping to create programs at Brown that, in turn, produced works that would go on to win Tony awards, Drama Desk awards, and Pulitzer Prizes. In addition to fostering the success of countless students, she co-authored and directed numerous acclaimed theatrical productions of her own, including Filler Up and Waiting for the Termite Man, which garnered praise not only in the United States but also on international stages. Trinity Rep named her a Pell Award honoree for Excellence in Performing Arts in 2013. During the last four years of her life, Lowry lived with Stage 4 cancer, showing remarkable resilience in the face of a terminal diagnosis. She loved spending time with family and friends, and is survived by her two sons, Taylor and Logan; her daughter-in-law; and five grandchildren; as well as her sisters, Emily Turner, Jane Marshall, and Della Jo (Dodie) Marshall; her aunt, Jane; her many cousins; and her beloved nieces and nephew. Lowry Marshall's legacy is felt not only in her artistic achievements but in the thousands of lives she touched and the minds she enriched. Her influence on the world of theatre and education will continue to resonate for generations. There will be no memorial service at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the National Endowment for the Arts in Lowry's name.