A dozen years later, she supervised contruction of the theatre's permanent Arts Center home at 123 East 24th Street. Her mission was to provide a "thinking person's theatre, dedicated to presenting issue oriented works drawn from diverse cultural traditions and historical milieus, thereby creating provocative artistic statements."

The Blue Heron produced more than 50 Off-Off Broadway plays in 20 years. The theatre won several awards, most notably three Audelcos. The Blue Heron's debut production was On The Tightrope, or the Ballad of the Phantom Train by Fernando Arrabal (translated by Mrs. Striker). It was followed by such productions as viva cummings!, We Are Your Sisters, The Rescuers (written by Mrs. Striker with her daughter Elizabeth), Bee Luther Hatchie, Medal of Honor Rag, Harlem Duet, Two Rooms and most recently Bartleby the Scrivener (2005) and The Puppetmaster of Lodz (2007).

Of Bartleby, the Times wrote, "R. L. Lane's stage adaptation remains true to the spirit - and much of the language - of the original. But it has been respectfully fleshed out, teasing melancholy strands of humor from Melville's prescient absurdist premise."

Among the myriad of playwrights produced at the Blue Heron were Wesley Brown, Ray Arahna, David Henry Hwang, Djanet Sears, Thomas Gibbons, Seamus Heaney, Anne LeGault and Lee Blessing.

Mrs. Striker is survived by her husband John, her son David and daughter Elizabeth Nowells.