Audrey Needles

Audrey Needles was born December 12, 1919 in Wichita, Kansas to William R. and Elsie (Randall) Needles. She died at her home at Via Christi Georgetown on Friday, October 18, 2013. Memorial Service will be Sunday, October 27, 2 p.m., at Mosley Street Melodrama, 234 N. Mosley, Wichita, KS. Audrey retired as emeritus professor of theatre after 25 years at Wichita State University where she was Director of the Experimental Theatre and Speech Education Departments. She received her BA and MA in Speech/Theatre from the University of Denver and did doctoral work at the University of Minnesota. Her early teaching years were at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. During that time she also authored the book, “An Angel Blushed and All Heaven Broke Loose.” (Wake-Brook House 1964) Amongst her many achievements, she directed more than 200 shows including operas and the Midwest premiere of Bernsteins “Mass.” Additionally, she directed shows with Music Theatre of Wichita, Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita Summer Theatre and Cowtown. She was a member of the WSU Womens Association, American Association of University Professors, Association of Kansas Theatre, Kansas Speech Communication Association and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. She was also a contributing member of many animal rights/sanctuary organizations including D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, the Kansas Humane Society, the Sedgwick County Zoo, Defenders of Wildlife, the Nature Conservancy, and The Gorilla Foundation. She was a great supporter of many theatrical groups and individual artists. She is survived by friendscalling them “the closest thing to family”Tom Frye and Robin Rives McAdoo; cousins; many other friends and former students with whom she still corresponded. In lieu of flowers, the Audrey Needles Memorial for the Audrey Needles Scholarship Fund has been established with the WSU Foundation, 1845 Fairmount, Box 2, Wichita, KS 67260-0002. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.