photo by: Theatre Lawrence

Louise ImMasche as Hedwig in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."

A celebration of life for an actor who was killed in a car accident Oct. 24 is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Theatre Lawrence.

The actor, Louise ImMasche, 41, died when their car was struck head-on in southwest Lawrence after a performance of “The Rocky Horror Show.”

Theatre Lawrence, which canceled remaining performances of the sold-out show, said in a statement Tuesday that the theater family was “deeply saddened by the loss of our friend.”

“Louise was an immensely talented performer who lit up every room and filled the stage with remarkable energy and charisma,” the statement read. “They were kind, generous, and caring — making anyone they shared the stage with feel welcomed and accepted for who they are.”

ImMasche had appeared in numerous productions at Theatre Lawrence, but was “particularly proud to have played Hedwig in last year’s production of ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch,’ and was currently appearing for the fifth time as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show,” the statement said.

The theater said it had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from individuals and organizations across the country: “It is often said that theatre is a family, and we have truly felt the embrace of our extended theatre family during this difficult time.”

ImMasche’s family invites all those who would like to pay their respects to attend the celebration, and ImMasche’s obituary said that ImMasche would want folks “to don their brightest sequins and their tallest heels, and to dance under the lights in their honor.”

ImMasche’s husband, Zachary Grant, has worked with Theatre Lawrence to create a special “Starving Artist’s” fund to help make resources available for independent artists like Louise to allow them to develop and produce art. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Theatre Lawrence to help establish that fund.