Photo courtesy of Erik Lindquist Kevin Teed stands above his fellow Oddvarks, from left to right: Lissa Diaz, Suzi List, Matthew Copley, Delani Cody, Brian Hullfish and Hilary Pursehouse. The comedy troupe honors Teed tonight at O'Malley's.

A team of local performers is bringing a man back to life.

Kevin Teed, University of Arizona communications alumnus and local artist, was the victim of an untimely death on New Year's Eve this past year at the age of 37.

Teed's livelihood as an entertainment artist had roots in the communications department and is the subject of a tribute tonight at O'Malley's, 247 N. Fourth Avenue.

The Oddvarks, the local, still-operational comedy troupe that Teed co-founded, will perform the artist's classic and never-before-seen sketches at the function.

"(His death was) extremely unexpected," said Erik Lindquist, Teed's close friend and production collaborator. " Kevin had a congenial heart defect, supposed to be a very minor thing controllable with medication. One morning, he wasn't feeling real well and he just collapsed."

An accomplished artist, Teed found success exhibiting his production talents to Tucson in a variety of ways.

For starters, Teed co-founded the AKA Theater, which was located on Congress Street in the late 1980s. The theater company promoted original productions.

"There was some controversy about (AKA's) old venue being turned into what is now a tattoo shop," Lindquist explained. "Many felt the location was still capable of being host to more reputable art."

The "Book Pals" program was another of Teed's favorite ventures. The program is a Screen Actor's Guild organization of professional actors who read aloud to children, promoting literacy in public schools. Every week, Teed read to kids at Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden Street.

In the spirit of influencing young Americans, Teed also developed a theater company aimed at introducing teens to professional theater. His goal was to instruct participants to act in, direct and produce their own shows.

Lindquist described how he and others plan to take that plan further.

"We hope to offer young adults workshops in an on-the-job-training kind of atmosphere, like an internship, only they run the show," he said.

Teed also directed and produced two of his three original movie screenplays in Tucson, and last fall began yet another local theater company, Sparrow and Cicada Theater Works.

Lindquist directed the tribute and arranged a program to be distributed at the show. The following is a sample from the program, illustrating Teed's memorable lifestyle:

"Every time someone close to us passes on, it makes us realize just how fleeting life can be. That realization was magnified many times over by the way (Teed) lived. Not only did Kevin plant the seed, but he nurtured the plant, harvested it, and then inhaled deeply."

"We think the show will bring in a great early crowd," said O'Malley's general manager Steve Gutbub. "Some of these guys used to work for us and we think it will be a good draw."

This evening's tribute show begins at 7 p.m. and is entitled "What Would Kevin Do?" The public is invited. Another commemoration will be next Friday. Although there is no cover, a suggested donation of $10 is greatly appreciated, as all proceeds benefit Teed's various artistic programs.