Departures of note

Ronald G. Davis was an American mime artist and theatre director who founded the San Francisco Mime Troupe in 1959. Despite the company's name, the troupe did not perform silent mime but instead created original musical comedies combining commedia dell'arte, melodrama, and broad farce with topical political themes. Under Davis's leadership, the group became known for its pointed satire of American militarism, racism, and bourgeois values.

During the height of the psychedelic era in the 1960s, Davis guided the troupe through its most influential period. The company performed free shows in various parks throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and gained notoriety for numerous altercations with law enforcement, often performing at benefits to raise money for legal fees. The troupe became associated with the counterculture movement and shared members with the Diggers, a radical community-action group.

The San Francisco Mime Troupe earned lasting recognition for its contributions to political theatre, receiving the Regional Theatre Award at the 41st Tony Awards in 1987. Davis remained associated with the organization throughout his life, establishing a legacy of using theatre as a medium for social and political commentary.