Steven Hale Lovett's Obituary
Steven Hale Lovett: Longtime playwright, actor in Dallas By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News Steven Hale Lovett’s day job in telephone-company customer service allowed him to pursue his passions: writing award-winning plays and performing in nearly 100 productions. Honored as a playwright and respected as an actor, he specialized in writing spoofs, like Drack in the Saddle Again, a Dracula western. In 1995, the vampire western received the first of his two Leon Rabin award from the Dallas Theatre League. Mr. Lovett, 57, died June 11 at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, where he was recovering from heart surgery. A memorial will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pocket Sandwich Theatre, with an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. to accommodate the schedules of his actor friends. Mr. Lovett’s intelligence was obvious in the wit, observational humor and humanity he displayed in his writing, said director and longtime friend Bruce R. Coleman of Dallas. Most of his plays premiered at the Pocket Sandwich Theatre in Dallas, where audiences are known to throw popcorn and hiss and boo at melodrama villains. “A lot of times they get pretty rowdy,” Mr. Coleman said. “More often than not – with Steve’s plays – there wasn’t all that rowdiness involved, because the audience really wanted to hear what was being said. It was so funny and it was so incredibly entertaining that they got more wrapped up in what was going on on the stage than what was going on in the audience.” Mr. Lovett spoofed everything from science fiction to Mexican soap opera novellas. His titles included Atomic Cavegirls of Island Zero and Unrequited Love is a Bore. His most recent play, Hopelessly Puccini, was performed at WaterTower Theatre’s 2009 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival. “He had an excellent sense of humor,” said Joe Dickinson, a friend of 25 years who had directed and produced Mr. Lovett. Mr. Lovett performed in Dallas for more than 35 years. His last role was as chief detective O’Halleran at the Theatre Three production of Look What’s Happened to Dixie DeCosta in November. “A very, very funny performance,” Mr. Coleman said. While many playwrights are often frustrated actors, Mr. Lovett was an exception. “It may be unusual that they are good at both,” Mr. Dickinson said. “He certainly was.” Mr. Lovett was born in Dayton, Ohio, but moved nine weeks later with his family to Texas City, Texas, where he grew up. He discovered drama as a high school junior, said his sister, Karen McNatt of Houston. “He found that he came alive on stage,” Ms. McNatt said. Mr. Lovett had been collecting musical soundtracks when he was 13 years old, when his parents gave him a stereo. “He was hooked from then on,” his sister said. Mr. Lovett had a catalogued collection of more than 2,500 musicals. “He probably has a copy of almost every musical that’s been done in almost every language that it’s been done in,” Ms. McNatt said. After graduating from high school in Texas City, Mr. Lovett earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University and a master of fine arts degree from Trinity University in association with the Dallas Theater Center. “Right after college, he did the standard actor thing, working for Neiman Marcus and this and that,” Ms. McNatt said. “He said he had the epiphany one day when he decided he really wanted to have matching silverware in his drawer.” Mr. Lovett was an active supporter of the Legacy Counseling Center, a nonprofit agency that helps people with HIV or AIDS cope with the mental health issues. As chairman of annual Legacy Founders Cottage fundraiser, Mr. Lovett got items from stars of stage, television and movies for the group’s annual silent auction. “It was just amazing the kinds of things he got in for this silent auction,” Mr. Campbell said. In addition to his sister, Mr. Lovett is survived by his brother, Allan Lovett of Albuquerque. Memorials may be made to the Legacy Counseling Center, 4054 McKinney Ave., Suite 102, Dallas, Texas 75204.
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