Bob Webster was a most-beloved member of THE NEW PLACE. His contribution to Elizabeth Rex went beyond his considerable theatrical experience to a very personal support and friendship that he was not afraid to show. Bob, how I dearly wish we could have done that musical version!
- RJ

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Bob Webster, attorney with love of theater
By Ben Cohen, Star Tribune

Bob Webster, an attorney, editor and community theater veteran who brought his passion for classic theater to stages across the Twin Cities, died of cancer in Oakdale on May 31.

He was 56.

"He was a wonderful actor who had a great sense of history, and a sensitivity with language. He was the kind of actor who had a great understanding of literature," said John Townsend, former president of the Minnesota Association of Community Theaters.

A theater and journalism major in college, Webster spent two semesters in England.

"He loved everything English, and he loved Shakespeare," said his law school classmate Lori-jean Gille of Minneapolis, adding that Webster decorated his home with Elizabethan furnishings.

Webster won the best actor award for portraying John Merrick (the Elephant Man) in "The Exhibition" at the Minnesota Association of Community Theatres' annual festival in 1995.

Among the community theaters for which he acted, directed or served as set-builder are the Community Theatre of Burnsville, the Corcoran Park Players and Lakeshore Players.

Classic theater "was his love and passion. He just lived for it," said Webster's life partner, Michael Justin of St. Paul.

Scott Bilodeau of the Minnesota AIDS Project said that Webster was one of the group's largest fundraisers. "He carried his skills from the theater into his work here," Bilodeau said.

Webster is a 1979 graduate of St. Paul's William Mitchell College of Law and worked as an editor at Thomson West, a legal publisher, for 26 years.

In addition to Justin, he is survived by his mother, Iva Berg of Banning, Calif.; and two sisters, Deb of Banning, Calif., and Donna Thom of Chugiak, Alaska.

Services have been held.

Ben Cohen • bcohen@startribune.com