Steppenwolf Theatre Company Blog – Chicago Theater, World-Class Ensemble

On Friday, February 15, 2008 at 4:20 pm, we lost a very dear friend and integral part of our Harriet Jacobs team. Kim Forbes, our assistant stage manager, died suddenly from complications associated with a previously undiagnosed case of leukemia. Kim was kind, generous, always smiling, always helpful, with a great sense of humor, and probably the cutest naturally blushed cheeks I’ve ever seen.

As a cast, we’ve been sad. Lots of us have cried. But tears aren’t enough. This young woman had just turned 30 only weeks ago, and seemed to be at the beginning of her life. The weekend of shows following the official announcement of her death were sad for us. It seemed like every moment of each performance was pregnant with a deeper sadness. Every time I’d turn a corner or pick up a prop, I’d see Kim’s shining face.

And then on the final performance of the weekend, I reached the closing monologue, which says:

I have always wanted to believe that everything happens for a reason. It comforts me to think that maybe horrible things happen so that they will never happen again. But no, that is too easy. I think horrible things happen because they do. But I believe we find a way. That we are human, and so we must find a way.

And then I got it. I understood something so profound about Harriet Jacobs, the woman. I understood something so powerful about Kim Forbes, the woman. I realized that both of these women lived and loved and died, and that their legacy was both simple and profound: we get to remember them. We get to remember their laughter, their joy, their kindness, their sacrifice, their tireless and unending commitment to life. And, what a gift that is to all of us left behind to commemorate them.

As I stood there on stage having this powerful moment move thru me, I realized that I would not be standing there were it not for either one of these women. I remember Harriet, because I am an African-American woman, and her sacrifices paved the way for me to stand here today. I remember Kim, because I was one of her actors, and she always made sure I had extra handfuls of cotton in my pockets for every show.

That little extra bit of kindness…made me feel alive.

This entry was posted by Nambi E. Kelley on Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 at 12:54 am and is filed under Harriet Jacobs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.