She was as uncommon and elegant as many of the terms used to describe her: impressario, doyenne, bon vivant. The words evoke the grace of a bygone era, as did Adele “Louise” Mills, 87, who passed away Nov. 27.
“Louise’s passing leaves an enormous emotional hole in the arts community,” Kathleen Thorne said. “She was like an elegant fairy godmother to so many organizations.”
An advocate and organizer of music, theater and fashion events, Mills would enlist conspiratorially, like a mischievous child suggesting something a little naughty, but delicious.
“Throughout the years, a lot of us fell into one (or more) of her traps,” Thorne said. “In my case, it involved her extensive vintage clothing collection. She’d lure me into her apartment because ‘I have a couple of new arrivals in small sizes and I just need to see how they look on someone.’ The next thing I knew, I was parading down the runway in one of her benefit fashion shows!”
“I’m very good at getting people to do things they didn’t know they wanted to do,” Mills was fond of saying.
She gained the respect of her community, literally by putting others in the spotlight.
“Louise helped me have faith in my own talent and abilities to carry a song and a moment on my own,” said Marijane Milton, part of Ovation! Musical Theatre’ productions.
“Louise was always there in the wings – when art was being created, when people were taking chances; there was always a sense of adventure about Louise,” remarked poet, actor/director Bob McAllister.
Buoyed by the commercial success of a 1956 production of “Down in the Valley,” she and her friend, pianist Corinne Berg, formed the island’s first community theater, Bainbridge Light Opera Association, which later became Bainbridge Performing Arts. She was a founder of Island Theatre in 1994, and instrumental in the creation of Ovation! Musical Theatre in 2003.
A travel agent for 40 years, Mills had an insatiable curiosity about people and cultures.
She was known for her love of costume – interwoven with a love of story. She learned to sew at 10 and continued a lifelong affair with the drape and details of the functional art form called fashion.
Her 200-plus piece collection of fine and period garments was used in many performances and fashion shows on the island.
Mill also enjoyed a few curtain calls: In 2008, the performing arts community came out in force for what is now revealed as her final production, “Louise Mills Presents: What Is This Thing Called Love?,” a musical revue set in a fictitious Parisian nightclub, “Chez Louise.”
She was feted at BPA’s 50th anniversary celebration, and in a 2009 film created by Island Theatre member Steve Stolee called “A Portrait of Louise,” shown at BPA in July.
“Really, three generations of people have been inspired by Louise to get up on stage,” Stolee said. “They were able to experience the joy and artistic expression they might not have without her encouragement.”
“We will miss seeing her smiling face in the front row opening night,” said Ron Milton, Ovation!’s artistic director.
Her contribution will reverberate for years to come. For now, the arts community contemplates how to say, “Adieu” one last time.
