The body of Brad Nelson Winters, the 38-year old Artistic Director of Terrapin Theatre Company, was found Tuesday, August 19 in his Lincoln Park apartment.
According to the Chicago Police Department, Winters failed to show up for work at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. Coworkers called his building manager, who then notified police. Police arrived at 12:30 p.m. and found Winters' body in the bedroom with evidence of strangulation and stab wounds to the left side of his neck, his right shoulder and right chest. No signs of forced entry were apparent. Winters was pronounced dead by the medical examiner at 4:30. No arrests have been made.
"Brad was an inspiration and a joy to work with in the theatre and in life," said Terrapin Company and Board member Susie Griffith. "His insight and humor gave Terrapin a vision and a sense of community that launched us forward."
Jimmy Freund, Managing Director of Terrapin Theatre said, "Brad's enthusiasm for his art was absolutely contagious and irresistible. This act is unfathomable." Brad's leaving takes with him only our Brad, his love and passion will remain strong in the community of theatre and life."
Winters began his professional acting career with the Indiana Repertory Theatre and received additional training with the Second City Training Center and Shakespeare Repertory Theatre. At Terrapin, he was responsible for all facets of the artistic health of the company, including mission, season selection, new plays submission procedures, artistic quality of Terrapin's productions and projects and outreach efforts. He was also a member of the acting ensemble and the Board of Directors.
Winters, who became Terrapin's Artistic Director in 1997, was also responsible for Terrapin's recent decision to focus its energy on new plays. He had directed latest production, "The Go," by Chicagoan Brett Neveu, which closed on June 8 and received a Joseph Jefferson Recommendation. He was to begin rehearsals for Kevin Crowley's "disgruntled employees," in which he would perform.