Alma Becker

Alma Becker

(1945-2013)

Alma Becker, nationally recognized theater director with numerous affiliations in the Bay Area, beloved wife and friend and influential mentor to many theater students, died at her home in Saratoga Springs, NY on June 2, 2013 after a long illness.

As a professional director, Becker specialized in the development of new plays and her commitment to American playwriting was the main focus of her career for many years. Her earliest productions took place in the Bay Area at the Julian Theater at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, The Eureka Theater in its original location at 16th and Market in SF, and Bay Area Playwrights Festival of Marin County.

Alma spent her childhood in Southern California, where she trained as an actress at the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse before apprenticing in summer stock on the East Coast in the late 1960s. She studied with Lloyd Richards, Olympia Dukakis and Joseph Chaiken. With her first husband, Ed Weingold, Alma moved to San Francisco, where she discovered a blossoming theater community. She quickly became an integral part of it. She discovered her passion for directing while acting in Robert Woodruff's production of Mark Medoff's WHEN YOU COMIN' BACK, RED RYDER? at the Eureka and Little Fox Theaters. With his encouragement and inspiration, she began her directing career at the Julian Theater.

Alma was the recipient of an Outstanding Direction award from the Bay Area Theater Critic's Circle and L. A. Drama-logue Award for her production of DADDIES by Douglas Gower, produced at the Julian and LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY by John Guare at the Eureka Theater. Her five-year association as Resident Director of the Eureka Theater ended when she returned to NYC in 1981.

Alma directed in regional theaters across the US: Primary Stages; The Women's Project; American Place Theater in NYC, as well as theaters in Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.. She was also Resident Director at New Dramatists in NYC where she received the National Endowment for The Arts Directing Fellowship and the Jerome Foundation Directing Grant. She traveled extensively with her second husband, actor-director Steve Coats, working with theater companies in Kenya and developing an on-going relationship with the Moscow Arts Theater. Among the writers she collaborated with on original work were August Wilson, Mac Wellman, John Patrick Shanley, Oyamo, Sherry Kramer, Phil Bosakowski and Steve Carter.

In 1987, Ms Becker was invited to direct and teach at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, which began a 26-year relationship with the campus.

Alma Becker is survived by her husband of 33 years and nieces, Donna Jean Holmes of Washington and Elizabeth Dillon of Sharpsburg, GA.; nephews James Schmitt of Kentucky, Jeff Schmitt of Port Townsend, WA and Joey Schmitt of Sharpsburg, GA. and their families. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of mentoring, community service and a lifetime of devotion to the Theater Arts.