Michael "Big Mike" Morlee, [age], the producer and director of numerous local theatrical productions, died of [cause of death} [date] at [place of death]. Mr. Morlee was a fixture in the suburban Cincinnati theater community since his arrival from Ontario in 1983. He was the founder of the Keneshaw dinner Theater in Cheviot and served as its artistic director until his death.

Mr. Morley was born in Tuswakta, Michigan and attended Kenosha High School, where he appeared in numerous productions. His original one-act play, "Mosquito Madness," won numerous awards throughout Michigan. He chose not to attend college and ventured to San Francisco to pursue a career in theater. While there, he teamed with Terrence Thomas in the long-running hit, "Gabrielle," at the Collins Theater. His acting career soon took a back seat to directing responsibilities at local dinner theaters. His specialty was satire. Among his productions were " A Street Car Named Desire," "The Thomas Crown Jewels Affair," and "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down", which he also wrote. In 1981 Mr. Morlee was invited to assume total artistic control of the DeClive Theater in Toronto. He moved there and produced and directed several critically-acclaimed one-act plays featuring actors with Downs Syndrome.

Mr. Marlee moved to southern Ohio in 1983 and quickly established himself in improvisation theater. He was responsible for nurturing the careers of many local actors, most notably Ted Torbutt, who later starred on Broadway in "Kiss Me, Karl." Mr. Marlee was a member of numerous Cincinnati philanthropic organizations, including Topper Tots and Rug Rooters, both aimed at assisting disadvantaged youth to attend professional sporting events and theater productions. The Cincinnati Children's League awarded Mr. Marlee its Pioneer Award in 1998.

Mr. Marlee's survivors include his father, Tex Marlee, of Clearwater, Fla., and his companion of twenty-two years, Laurence Shomgun, of Florence, Ky.