photo by: Theatre Lawrence

From left, Frankie Haynes (Janet), Louise ImMasche (Frank-N-Furter) and Colton Smith (Brad) rehearse "The Rocky Horror Show" at Theatre Lawrence.

The theater community is in mourning after an area actor was killed in a car crash Friday night after a performance in Lawrence.

The 41-year-old actor, Louise ImMasche, of Kansas City, Missouri, has starred in numerous shows at Theatre Lawrence, including “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “The Rocky Horror Show.”

ImMasche had played Dr. Frank-N-Furter numerous times at Theatre Lawrence since 2016 and was reprising the role in this weekend’s run. The theater canceled both of Saturday’s performances of the show after learning of ImMasche’s death.

According to a Facebook page, ImMasche worked at Padgett Productions, a Kansas City entertainment company, and also at GoodLife Innovations, a Lenexa nonprofit providing housing and day services for adults with disabilities.

In a Sept. 28 Facebook post, ImMasche discussed being “so happy to be in rehearsal for Rocky Horror again,” and mentioned that the role had come about 10 years ago when so many meaningful things, such as the GoodLife job and a marriage had come about.

“I had no idea how full my life was about to become,” ImMasche wrote. “Don’t dream it, be it,” the post concluded — a reference to a lyric in “The Rocky Horror Show.”

Around noon Saturday, the music director of “Rocky Horror” said on Theatre Lawrence’s Facebook page: “Out of respect for the family, we are not releasing additional information, however, we are devastated by the loss of one of our cast members, due to a collision on K10 after last night’s show. Your thoughts are very much appreciated at this time.”

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the collision occurred after a 23-year-old driver who was westbound in a Chevrolet Tahoe on U.S. Highway 40 crossed the center and struck ImMasche, who was traveling eastbound, head-on.