David Warren
(March 28, 1956 — July 17, 2022)
David Warren was Development Director at Metro Theater Company from 2008—2016. Former MTC Artistic Director Carol North and Education Director Karen Bain share some beautiful memories of David.
“The planet shifted perceptibly this week when David Warren died.
That’s the way Nick and I felt when we learned of David’s untimely death. He left an indelible mark on every space he occupied. And for a while, just a while ago, we shared one with David.
When David joined our staff, the space was humble, to say the least. David loved it. Next door to a car wash and down the street from the fish market, Metro Theater Company’s organizational home in University City suited David perfectly because we were all so connected. He loved the paper-thin walls that enabled him to track Nick’s set construction. He relished peeks into rehearsal while he was washing his coffee cup in the paint sink. He jumped for his journal to capture stories when the cast tumbled out of the van after a day in the schools. He approached our communal lunch gatherings around the big green worktable as if they were special occasions. With David, they were special. Every single day.
Finding him was like winning the lottery. That’s the way Managing Director Katy Kaufman and I felt when David responded to our job posting. He was prepared. He’d studied MTC’s history. He was conversant about our current programs and asked juicy, challenging questions about our vision for the future. He held a doctorate in 19th century British Literature. He’d taught at the college level and had worked in corporate philanthropy. Now, he yearned for mission-centered work. MTC was the right fit for him, and he was the right one for us.
David Warren contributed significantly to Metro Theater Company in his tenure as Development Director. As much as he loved our funky industrial home on Olive Boulevard, he was all in when we made the move to Grand Center. He saw the growth potential of a visible presence in St. Louis’ cultural hub and helped capitalize on new avenues for support. Among his many accomplishments, perhaps most notable was the Community Honoree Program that David launched to complement each of our mainstage, non-touring productions.
The memory of David that I shall cherish forever was forged the day before we premiered Baby Garden, our first-ever, experiential theater piece for very young children. With a lovely group of collaborators (Roger Sams, Dru Caldwell, Roxane McWilliams, Leah Stewart, Amanda Pintore, and Sarah Rugo), Nick and I conceived, designed and built a magical installation in the large rehearsal hall of our new home in Grand Center. It was a special component of a weekend New Works Festival that included new play readings and feedback sessions. Baby Garden was for little ones and their adults. The creative team needed a final run-thru. I asked the staff to move through our garden and respond to the experience on their own terms, exactly as they felt inclined to do so. David Warren entered Baby Garden with all the wonder and delight of his timeless child-spirit. He shoveled dirt, planted flowers, and toted vegetables from here to there in a garden pail. He slid and leapt and clomped from painted shape to painted shape on the floor, responding to the dynamic shifts of Roger’s and Dru’s four-hand piano music. And when he discovered the final cozy corner of the garden, David nestled into the mound of bean bag chairs under the big canopy, cradling a soft sculpture baby with all the tenderness that he gave to his own children. I can see David’s eyes now, watching in awe as twinkle lights lit the dark blue sky overhead.
David Warren embraced the mission and values of Metro Theater Company with his entire heart and soul. His curiosity was insatiable. His standards were uncompromising. His passion was unbridled. How could we not love this man?
We did.”
— Carol North, Former MTC Artistic Director
“Quite simply, I adored David. Trying to find my words to describe the quirkiest, most remarkable, brilliant, and at times ridiculous (and I say ridiculous in the best possible way) person feels nearly impossible. When I moved to St. Louis in 2011, I didn’t know anyone besides my new co-workers. David helped make St. Louis and Metro Theater Company feel like home. We bonded quickly over being birthday twins, and he was like an incredibly surprising and hilarious extension of my Jewish family back in Michigan. David was so very kind, full of love, and you could feel his passion literally reverberating off of him when he spoke. Whether he was talking about donuts, his beloved family, or had a differing viewpoint on a topic – David had a way about him that invited you into his storytelling. Storytime up in the education office with David is a favorite memory for many. We would all cozy up on the floor and David would read to us, mostly Dr. Seuss. It was like a front row seat to the best performance in town. When David read to us, nothing else mattered. What a gift he gave us to feel such joy and forget about the chaos of life for a short while. He welcomed me and so many others into his home for holidays such as Passover and Hannukah – and I remember one Hannukah where they had so many menorahs lit in the house, it was a wonder that the smoke detectors didn’t go off. It feels like the world is a little less vibrant without his amazing laugh, sharp wit, and kind eyes.
He was such a wonderful person. May his memory be a blessing.”
—Karen Bain, MTC Education Director