Woburn, MA -

William B. “Bill” Allsbrook, 63, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center.  He was a well-known Broadway performer, entertainer, and local business owner. During those years, his work on Broadway flourished as he appeared in a number of productions including “Cabaret,” “Half-A-Six Pence” and “Illya Darling.”

In 1970, in his final performance of “Applause” with Lauren Bacall, he was awarded a Tony Award as Most Promising Newcomer. Mr. Allsbrook was the consummate performer, appearing on Broadway at night and rehearsing during the day for the Ed Sullivan Show, which he did live for six years on Sunday nights. In between his performances, he also did club acts with legendary entertainers: Liza Minnelli, Carol Lawrence, Carol Channing, Richard Chamberlain, and Cyd Charisse. He appeared on the Dean Martin Show and performed on Hollywood Palace, which was a variety show on the West coast. He always considered himself fortunate to have constant employment in a difficult, competitive, and demanding profession.

In 1972, while performing in “Sweet Charity,” Mr. Allsbrook reunited with an old college friend, David Gilgun, whom he had met while attending graduate school at Temple University. Mr. Gilgun, who owns an appraisal business in Woburn, offered Mr. Allsbrook a position and the rest is history. Mr. Allsbrook once stated in an interview, “There’s nothing glamorous about working on Broadway, it‘s a hard, hard life.” He subsequently left performing, relocated to Woburn, and forged a new career partnering with Mr. Gilgun in David Gilgun and Company that operates throughout New England.

Twenty years later, the performing bug struck again, only this time his former vocation became his avocation.  Someone suggested to him that he audition for a local theatre group, the Arlington Friends of Drama. His intention this time was to have fun. Over the next 10 years his regional theatre credits include Buddy in “Follies,” Eddie Ryan in “Funny Girl,” Wizard in “The Wiz,” the King in “The King and I,” and the plant in “The Little Shop of Horrors.” Mr. Allsbrook was presently directing a play in Lowell before he was stricken.

At home he enjoyed flower gardening and listening to music, that was always on in his home, at work, or in his car, as he knew all the words to every Broadway show. He was the cantor for the weekly Mass at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center for over six years and for Our Lady of the Good Voyage Church in Boston. He loved attending the theatre and traveling extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He also belonged to Stage Source, a professional theatre organization in Boston.

He is survived by his longtime friend and business partner, David Gilgun of Woburn; his sister, Neal Stanfield in North Carolina; his niece, Gail Stanfield in Florida; and his nephew, Vic Stanfield in North Carolina. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a requiem Mass at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, in St. Charles Church, 280 Main St., Woburn.

For those who wish, contributions in Mr. Allsbrook’s memory may be made to the William Allsbrook Scholarship, c/o The Woburn High School Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 202, Woburn, MA 01801-0302.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main St., Woburn.

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