In Loving Memory of Mary Ann Thebus

1932-2022
Mother, Grandmother, Actor, Teacher, Friend

“I met Mary Ann 45 years ago in acting class with Ed Kaye- Martin at Wisdom Bridge Theatre. Ed was our mentor. He was tough and at times, could be less than kind but his observation skills were incredible. She adored him and he her but she never let him intimidate her as he did so many of us and it was because Mary Ann knew herself.  Studying alongside her, she taught me how to trust myself through her fearless example. It was the first of many gifts she would give me. Ed died of complications from AIDS in 1989 and I still remember the day we spread his ashes over Lake Michigan up in New Buffalo. I still see Mary Ann’s strength and love standing on that bluff in that wind. Such clear-eyed strength.

The years that followed at Center Theatre is where she established herself as a teacher in the mold of Ed Kaye who demanded truth in acting of her students to the point of sometimes only letting a word or two of the scene out before you heard, stop. She could recognize truth or falseness instantly and never settled for a false move. I began teaching under Mary Ann’s tutelage. I can’t tell you how often I watched her teach. I worried that I wouldn’t see the truth or the falseness or anything for that matter. But she threw me in the deep end and said “trust what you see” because you will see.  Another gift.

Shortly after my husband John and I established The Artistic Home Studio, I knocked on Mary Ann’s door for help and as always, every time I ever knocked on her door, she opened it, wide.  I invited her to teach with us.  She taught her master class at Artistic Home for almost 20 years. And for those years I along with her students gleaned guidance, immeasurable support and fierce loyalty. Many of her students were hand-picked by her after maybe seeing them in a show or referrals of which there were many; some came through curriculum at Artistic Home if they were ready for her.  She always said they had to be ready for her. And yes, they had to be ready for her. Many of you studied with her for years, coming back time and time again because she demanded nothing less than your best efforts, and led from the belief that you had it in you to deliver the exceptional.  And you studied alongside the best actors in the city because that’s where they were, in Mary Ann’s class. She loved actors. She loved the process. She loved to teach.  She never stop teaching. Her last class was in her home. Her legacy is alive through all of the incredibly talented actors who trusted her and gave themselves to her through the years. You will all grace our stages for decades to come and she will continue to live through you.

You always knew when Mary Ann was in the theater - the words "Mary Ann is in the house" invariably sent waves of adrenaline (and occasionally panic) throughout a cast. Her keen gaze, fully immersed, watching from the front row was a common sight and will live on with us for as long as we are here to remember and pass it on. Thanks Mary Ann. Rest to your liking in your forever fiery glow, knowing that wherever we go, whatever we do, you will always be in the house, watching us, encouraging us, and keeping us honest.”

-Kathy Scambiatterra

 Mary Ann Thebus Past Bio: Mary Ann Thebus has been an actor for about 40 years, the last 20 on Chicago stages with an occasional foray onto stages in other cities such as New York, Madison, Sacramento and San Francisco. She has worked locally at the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Northlight, Court and The Next, among others. She is an 11 time Jeff nominee and won an After Dark Award in 2002. 

She has been active in film and TV shot locally and has been a teacher of acting for about 15 years -- previously at the now defunct Center Theatre, at The Steppenwolf Summer Program and currently here at The Artistic Home. She studied Meisner technique with the late Edward Kaye-Martin at the Wisdom Bridge Training Center, and coaches privately in her home.