In Memoriam: BILLIE ALLEN
December, 2015
Billie Allen, a beloved co-founder of The League, passed away from us a few days ago. We recently experienced her wonderful energy and wisdom as a founding President in the Networking Committee’s “Meet the Presidents” session. She began the discussion by explaining why we need a supportive League of our own in a world that doesn’t recognize women in theatre sufficiently.
She spoke with a verve and commitment that clearly hadn’t flagged, and a message that was remarkably sharp and on target today. Billie was interviewed for our Oral History at the NYPL Bruno Walter Auditorium’s first standingroom-only event. She filled the stage with the grace of an actress who understands and appreciates the love of an audience, come to see her on stage.
Betty Corwin, a long cherished member of The League and the curator and founder of our Oral History Program and of The New York Public Library’s Theatre on Film and Tape Archive, said the following when she heard the news of Billie’s passing:
“I am devastated. Billie was a dear friend and a remarkable woman. She was dedicated, giving, active, liberal and her mind and memory were as sharp as someone half her age. She was so pleased to be interviewed for our Oral History which is preserved for posterity and captures her grace and warm personality… oh how she will be missed.”
We all miss you, Billie! We all appreciate who you have been and what you have done to inspire us to be the best we can be.
~ Maxine Kern, former Co-President of the LPTW
