  On September 10, 1998, we at Tupelo Community Theatre lost one of our own, one of our best, one who
was, in many ways, the heart of the Lyric theatre. B. J. Huddleston never stopped working in the theatre from the first
set he designed and built for our production of On
Golden Pond, and was often the first to arrive and the last to leave.
He served on our Board of Directors from 1986 until 1998, when he was one of two to be recognized as Director
Emeritus. B. J. could be persuaded to make cameo appearances on stage
from time to time, but he was our primary source and inspiration for set design and construction, scenic design, and for enhancing and
improving the Lyric building and stage.
Whether constructing a huge set-piece for an elaborate musical such as
Showboat, or designing and implementing what can only be
termed works of magic and art, such as his set in Amahl
and the Night Visitors, B. J. proved his devotion to our audiences, our actors, our crew and the higher callings of
the dramatic arts.As stated when he was selected as one of the first Directors Emeritus, "B. J. established the standard of excellence that every TCT set person must
strive to meet. And between productions, he spent endless hours working around our old building. It is impossible to
look in any direction inside the Lyric without seeing things that B. J. improved and made better. And yet this consummate
artist and craftsman managed to raise our standards without ever once raising his voice."We will truly miss him. |
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