Allen Wayne Lyndrup

Allen Lyndrup was an inspiring teacher, a knowledgeable, hard-working lighting and scenic design practitioner, a strong director and a good guy. He was also a dear friend, which I want to write about. I originally met Allen when Department Head Don McConkey introduced him as someone he had just signed up for the new theatre program, despite previously promising me I could do the hiring. Don told I wouldn´t be sorry. I wasn´t sure at first what to make of this big, goofy, always smiling guy...

I met Allen at the beginning of the Fall 1973 semester at James Madison College (now University) in Harrisonburg, VA. It was my freshman year. It was also Allen´s first year at Madison, and I believe his first year as an instructor anywhere. At Madison, I was part of a work-study program, which made Allen my manager. Like most young adults entering the theatre, I wanted to be on the stage. I quickly found out that I did not possess the skills in this area that many of my peers did. Through...

My name is Bonnie Tholen Mayo. I met Alan long before knowing each other at school because we both went to St. John's Lutheran Church in Danforth, Illinois. We also were in the same confirmation class. So by the time we got to high school, we were acquainted. I remember him as always being so kind to everyone.

For the first few years at Madison, the theatre was understaffed. We all had to do double and triple duty. Allen and I took turns designing and supervising the shop. One semester Allen would direct while I designed scenery and ran the shop. The other semester I would direct while Allen designed and ran the shop. When I started at Madison, Allen had already been around for a year and had begun to know the ropes. The first time I worked in the scene shop, I soon noticed that we needed but...