Dr. R. Keith Michael

Dr. R. Keith Michael, 94, Professor Emeritus of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance at Indiana University Bloomington, died peacefully in Bloomington on October 19, 2025. His wife of 71 years, Marion Bankert Michael died shortly after on October 23rd. Keith is survived by his nieces, Karen Nafzinger Moore (Tom) and Nancy Jo Carter (James) and his nephew, James R Michael (Cathy J) and by the many colleagues, friends, and students whose lives he touched throughout his remarkable career.

He was preceded in death by his father, James R. Michael; his mother, Lena Ruth Synder Michael; his brother, Kay D. Michael and his nephew, Lloyd K. Michael.

Born in Pennsylvania in 1930, Keith’s lifelong devotion to theatre began early and deepened through his education and professional pursuits. He earned a B.S. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1952, an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa in 1958, and a Ph.D. from the University of Bristol in England in 1970.

Before entering academia, he built an accomplished professional career in theatre, beginning as an actor and stage manager with the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. He went on to co-found Theatre L’Homme Dieu in Alexandria, Minnesota, serving as producer and artistic director during the 1960s, and later held the same roles at the Brown County Playhouse in Nashville, Indiana.

In 1971, Keith joined Indiana University as the first chair of the Department of Theatre and Drama. During his twenty-five years as chair, he expanded the faculty, directed or oversaw more than four hundred productions, and played a key role in planning the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center, which opened in 2002.

He served as president of the National Association of Schools of Theatre, received the Indiana Governor’s Arts Award (1997), was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre (1999), and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Indiana University (2002).

Before his academic career, Keith served four years in the United States Navy as an anti-submarine warfare officer aboard the USS Thaddeus Parker, a destroyer escort.

Keith and Marion shared a lifelong love story that began when he cast her as the lead in a university production. Together they traveled widely, read on sunny beaches, and shared a devotion to their long-haired dachshunds–beginning with Rommel and followed by four more beloved companions. Annual trips to the Westminster Dog Show with friends, and frequent visits to New York City to see Broadway performances, were among their greatest joys. Keith was also a painter whose work reflected his appreciation for light, story, and the beauty of everyday life.

Dr. Michael will be remembered for his passion for theatre, his generosity as a mentor, and his enduring belief in the power of art to enrich the human spirit.

Memorial contributions may be made to the R. Keith Michael and Marion Bankert Michael Visiting Artist/Scholar Fund for Theatre and Drama at the Indiana University Foundation: https://give.myiu.org/iu-bloomington/P370013006.html

Celebration of Life Open House for Keith and Marion to be held at Meadowood Retirement Community on December 20, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Arrangements are being handled by Allen Funeral Home, Bloomington, IN.