Richard Alan Nichols

Richard Alan Nichols, 87, passed away on May 12, 2022. He was born on July, 10, 1934 to Allan and Ruth Nichols in Kensington CT. He began his formal study of theatre at Boston University in 1953 then moved to New York where he studied under the tutelage of Uta Hagen at the HB Studios for 5 years. He and his wife Joanna gave birth to their son Peter in 1958. They moved to St. Louis in 1967, when as a member of the Second Story Players company, Richard Alan was commissioned to work on a project involving teaching and performance. At this time, he taught at Washington University and created with Joanna an improv group “Saturday Nite Leftovers”. In 1978, now single, he moved to Kansas City to work as an actor, teacher, director and writer. He has performed with Missouri Repertory Theatre (now KC Rep), Unicorn Theatre, The Coterie Theatre, Actors & Artists Against Aids, American Heartland Theatre and Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. He has directed at the Unicorn Theatre, KC Fringe Festival, Rockhurst University, Park University and Johnson County CC Theatre. Alan also performed in a TV movie and several film. In 1980 he met, while dancing, his life partner and friend of 40 years – Atif Rome. In 1985 Richard started his own acting studio, Actor’s-Craft Studio where he continued teaching two weeks before his death. (actorscraftstudio.com) In 2018 his book “T0 ACT IS TO DO” was published and at the time of his death his story theatre play “Cat Hole Road” was and continues to be in rehearsal.

Richard Alan was preceded in death by his father Allan, mother Ruth, brother Robert and ex-wife Joanna and is survived by Peter his son, his son’s wife Susan and his life partner and friend Atif Rome. A memorial event will be announced at a later date.

Richard Alan’s commitment to his art/craft was practiced up to the end.