Evelyn L. Zifcak (1928–2022) was the founder of Theatre Works, Woonsocket's first nonprofit community theatre company. Born in January 1928 in the Western Hotel in Nasonville, RI, she grew up surrounded by music, performance, and a family tradition of entertainment. Her grandfather Benjamin Whitaker operated the hotel and restaurant, and the upstairs dance hall had a small stage where young Evelyn performed from childhood.

After participating in local church theatricals, she co-founded the Burrillville Civic Theatre and the Assembly Players in Harrisville, RI. She wrote, produced, and directed musicals at Our Lady of Victories Church in Woonsocket before founding Theatre Works in 1983 — the city's first nonprofit community theatre company.

Theatre Works produced drama, comedy, and musicals for 32 years across three venues: a church basement on Clinton Street, the First Universalist Church on Earle Street, and the Masonic Temple on Clinton Street. Evelyn served as founding president and guided the organization through its earliest decades before passing leadership to Connie and Mark Anderson.

Beyond the stage, Evelyn had a distinguished career in business — as a telephone operator/supervisor at New England Telephone for eleven years, and later as a real estate broker. She and her husband Anthony P. Zifcak (who died in 1988) were generous supporters of Theatre Works, donating a church building on Greene Street to the organization and funding early production equipment.

Evelyn passed away peacefully on July 5, 2022, at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation and Care Center in Pascoag, RI, at the age of 94. She is survived by her son Marc Zifcak, grandchildren Jacob, Grace, and Benjamin Zifcak, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.