Orr, Richard K. (1942-) | University of Illinois Archives

Richard K. "Rick" Orr (1942- ) is a florist and theater director. Orr grew up in St. Joseph, IL. He earned a bachelors of fine arts in theater and speech and communication in 1971 from the University of Illinois. He earned a masters degree in theater the following year. After attempting a career as an actor, Orr began directing plays. Orr began using the the historic Peoria and Eastern Railway passenger train station to present theatrical productions in 1970 with a company that was called The Depot. At the time, several theatrical groups were using the space to present their productions. However, in 1972, Orr formed the Celebration Company and purchased the railway station, limiting building access to Celebration Company productions.

In the 1980s, Orr began financing the Celebration Company by opening Rick Orr Flowers in Champaign. While this helped defer some of the costs of operating the theater, Orr had to sell the Station Theater back to its original owner in 1990 in order to pay off the mortgage. Orr closed his first flower business in the early 2000s and opened Flourish in downtown Champaign in 2011.

Boswell Hutson, "Five Years Ago, Fleurish Opened in Downtown Champaign," Smile Politely (August 16, 2016) online at: https://www.smilepolitely.com/splog/five_years_ago_fleurish_opened_in_downtown_champaign/

Dave Hinton, "Name Dropping, Orr to Be Honored for 50 Years at the Station Theatre," Champaign News-Gazette (June 2, 2022).