Actress Libby Howes Vanished After Wooster Group Stardom

Howes, a rising star of the avant-garde theater scene in the 1970s, disappeared from public view in 1981 and lived an isolated life in Vermont until her death in 2025.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:07am

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Libby Howes, a young actress from Michigan, joined the pioneering experimental theater group the Wooster Group in the mid-1970s and gained acclaim for her performances, especially in the group's landmark production "Rumstick Road." However, in 1981 Howes had a psychotic break and disappeared from the theater world, eventually settling in Vermont where she lived an isolated life until her death in 2025. Though largely forgotten by the theater community, Howes remained a beloved local figure in Vermont, where she was known for her eccentricity and kindness to the homeless.

Why it matters

Howes's story sheds light on the challenges faced by artists with mental health issues, as well as the ways in which the avant-garde theater world of the 1970s both nurtured and sometimes failed its most vulnerable members. Her disappearance and subsequent isolated life in Vermont also raise questions about how society cares for those struggling with severe mental illness.

The details

Howes joined the Wooster Group in 1975 after interning with the group's predecessor, the Performance Group. She became known for her intense, physical performances, including a memorable "house dance" sequence in "Rumstick Road" that critics praised as both mesmerizing and dangerous. However, in 1981 Howes began exhibiting signs of mental distress, including trying to board a plane to Amsterdam without a ticket. She was admitted to Bellevue Hospital, and her family eventually took her back to Michigan, where she finished her college degree. But Howes soon abandoned treatment and became increasingly erratic, leading to conflicts with her family. She eventually moved to Vermont, where she lived an isolated life for decades, refusing most contact with the outside world. Despite her mental illness, Howes remained a beloved figure in her Vermont community, known for her kindness, eccentricity, and fierce independence.

  • In 1975, Howes joined the Wooster Group and began performing with the avant-garde theater collective.
  • In 1977, Howes starred in the Wooster Group's landmark production "Rumstick Road."
  • In 1981, Howes had a psychotic break and disappeared from the theater world.
  • In the 1990s, Howes moved to Brattleboro, Vermont, where she lived an isolated life until her death in 2025.

The players

Libby Howes

A young actress from Michigan who gained acclaim for her performances with the Wooster Group in the 1970s, before having a psychotic break in 1981 and disappearing from the theater world.

Wooster Group

A pioneering experimental theater collective that Howes joined in the mid-1970s, known for their genre-blending, multimedia productions.

Spalding Gray

An actor and writer who collaborated with the Wooster Group and whose personal story of his mother's mental illness and suicide was the basis for the group's production "Rumstick Road," in which Howes starred.

Elizabeth LeCompte

The director and co-artistic director of the Wooster Group, who worked closely with Howes and other members of the ensemble.

Candace Howes

Libby Howes's older sister, who helped arrange for Libby to be admitted to Bellevue Hospital in 1981 after her mental health crisis.

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What they’re saying

“To me, I see, with both Spalding and Libby, that the work gave them a place to live.”

— Kate Valk, Co-artistic director, Wooster Group

“She was more than willing to talk to anybody. There are lonely people out there everywhere, but she was interested in them, and they were interested in her.”

— Curtis Carroll, Libby Howes's friend

What’s next

The Wooster Group is planning a retrospective of its work that will likely include a tribute to Libby Howes and her contributions to the ensemble.

The takeaway

Libby Howes's story is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by artists with mental health issues, and the ways in which the avant-garde theater world of the 1970s both nurtured and sometimes failed its most vulnerable members. Her isolated life in Vermont also highlights the need for better support and care for those struggling with severe mental illness.