Lynn joined the Folger Board of Governors in 2006, adding her unique loveliness and wisdom gained from a lifetime of experience in public life to the board’s deliberations. We valued her engagement and interest in all aspects of the Folger, especially Folger Theatre.
She graced the Folger stage several times, as actress and playwright. She debuted Shakespeare for My Father here in 1991, an evening of Shakespeare dedicated to her father Sir Michael Redgrave which she later developed and toured as a one-woman show. It would earn her a Tony nomination. In spring 2009, she again shared the legacy of her family with another one-woman show, Rachel and Juliet, about her mother, the great actress Rachel Kempson.
Lynn starred with Sir Derek Jacobi and Richard Clifford in the Folger Consort’s 2007 production of The Fairy Queen, where—to the audience’s great amazement and delight—she performed roles as varied as Titania and Francis Flute. Finally, she was the commandingly beautiful voice of Apollo at the end of Folger Theatre’s Orestes this past winter.
She graciously added star power to Folger Galas, often appearing on stage and in 2009 serving as co-chair with fellow board member Lou Cohen and his wife Bonnie Cohen. Lynn even appears in the Folger’s visitor video, ceremoniously and enthusiastically cutting a large cake in the Old Reading Room for a Shakespeare’s Birthday Open House while singing "Happy Birthday, dear Will.".
Shakespeare’s words about Cleopatra describe Lynn Redgrave well, in life and death: “Age cannot wither nor custom stale her infinite variety.”
We extend our deepest sympathies to Lynn’s family at this sad time.
We will miss her very much.
Performances by Folger Consort of The Tempest, in which Lynn was to star with Sir Derek Jacobi and Richard Clifford on June 10 and 11, will be dedicated to her memory.
