Hennessy Theatre Memories

Alumni Willard Hinkley '63 Remembers the Hennessy Theatre

"As a student, I was the first person to ever light a show in the Hennessy Threatre. We called in "Theater in The Round" back then and the audience could be seated completely around the performance space. I discovered that the wiring diagram left behind by the electrical contractor was wrong and had to make a new map of the outlets and the plugs they were connected to on the patch panel in the control room. It was interesting learning how to light a performance space in three dimensions. The first project was to light an entire program of student-directed one act plays. The next year there was a complete student-directed and produced production of "Bye, Bye, Birdie" on which I also did the lighting. Those were fun times."

Images below from UNH production of "Bye, Bye, Birdie" (1962/1963)