Anne Sullivan worked as a lighting assistant to Jean Rosenthal and later as an assistant stage manager. Her first success was Inherit the Wind, which after 19 months garnered her enough money to pursue her second love, world travel.

Upon her return, her production credits accelerated: A Taste of Honey, The World of Susie Wong, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Barefoot in the Park and To Broadway With Love among them.

She stage managed for Martha Graham on Broadway and on tours of Europe and Israel and for Lena Horne's traveling productions.

In 1970, while still stage-managing traveling productions, Sullivan purchased a small adobe house in Lemitar, N.M. She continued to work for 17 more years, returning to New Mexico in between productions. When she retired in 1987, she acquired a 40-acre ranch.

Sullivan was born in New York City and came of age on Manhattan's East Side, graduating from Smith College in 1952 with a major in drama.

She won the 1987 Del Hughes Award for lifetime achievement and excellence in the art of stage management.

Source: Variety.com