Teri Furr, a veteran of three Broadway shows, died Sunday, May 26 after a 14-month battle with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Originally from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Ms. Furr was an original cast member of the Tyne Daly鈥搇ed 1989 revival of Gypsy, as well as its pre-Broadway tour. In 1994, she joined the cast of Beauty and the Beast at the Palace Theatre, spending several years in that company before embarking on the 1997 Tony Stevens鈥揹irected tour of Dreamgirls. In 2000, Ms. Furr joined the touring company of Les Mis茅rables, moving to the Broadway company after the birth of her daughter, Annie.
Offstage, Ms. Furr later served as Director of Education for the Montclair, New Jersey鈥揵ased Luna Stage, and was also a member of the Board of Directors for the Glen Ridge, New Jersey鈥揵ased Gas Lamp Players.
Ms. Furr received her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University. In later years, she returned to school to complete her Master鈥檚 Degree in School Counseling at Montclair State University, embracing a second career as a high school counselor. She was intensely committed to her students' well-being and success, and particularly enjoyed guiding students and their families through the college process.
She was also passionate about working with LGBTQ students (she was a volunteer with Bloomfield Pride early in its existence), as well as helping economically-disadvantaged students connect with programs which helped them obtain the tools and resources to succeed academically.
Ms. Furr is survived by her husband of 20 years, actor Rusty Reynolds, whom she met in the York Theatre鈥檚 1993 revival of Carnival!, and their daughter, Annie Reynolds, as well as a sister, Cherilee Fisher, and two brothers, Durand Furr and Laurence Furr. A celebration of Ms. Furr鈥檚 life is being planned, and details will be announced once finalized.
