Company of Fools Artist John Glenn Receives Excellence in the Arts Governor's Award

Company of Fools and Sun Valley Center for the Arts are pleased to announce that Core Company Artist John Glenn is among the 2016 recipients of the Governor's Awards in the Arts. Governor C. L. Butch Otter and First Lady Lori Otter announced this year's honorees in August. Glenn received the Excellence in the Arts distinction. This is the third award from Idaho's Governors in Company of Fools' 21 year history - Denise Simone, Core Company Artist, received the 2014 Excellence in the Arts and in 2004 Company of Fools was awarded the same distinction.

"I am so very honored to receive this Governor's award for Excellence in the Arts. How wonderful to be recognized for the work you love.," said Glenn.

Glenn is a founding member and Core Company Artist of Company of Fools, which is now a part of The Sun Valley Center for the Arts. During his almost-40-year career in professional theatre, he has worked on over 250 productions in 41 states. He has either directed, acted in, or been integrally involved with the design aspects of almost every Company of Fools production since 2000. Directing favorites at COF include Grey Gardens, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Syringa Tree, Shipwrecked!, Bus Stop, The 39 Steps and Violet. Favorites onstage include Vanya in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Michael in God of Carnage, Company Member in The Laramie Project, the Man in The Man Who Came to Dinner and the Snail with the Mail in A Year with Frog and Toad.

In addition, John's gift for lighting, set and costume design has enhanced most of the Company's shows over the past 21 years. John relocated to Hailey, in 2000, after several years as company manager/stage manager for John Davidson in national tours of State Fair and Bully! Long recognized as a leader in regional theatre on the East Coast, John served as the artistic director of the Barksdale Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. During his tenure, he not only directed acclaimed productions of a variety of diverse plays and musicals including Molly Sweeney, Once on This Island, Falsettos, and the world premiere of the Charles Strouse/Sammy Cahn musical Bojangles, but also led the organization through a capital campaign which culminated in the design and construction of a new theatre. Prior to his service for Barksdale Theatre, John spent ten years as the associate artistic director for Theatre IV (now Virginia Repertory Theatre. John's vast talents were tapped as he was involved in all aspects of the operation, serving as director, performer, producer and designer. During this time he also oversaw the creation of more than 20 original scripts. As a freelance artist, John's work has been seen at LaMama ETC, Mill Mountain Theatre, James River Chamber Opera, TheatreVirginia and as a panelist for the Virginia Commission of the Arts. He was also a longtime faculty member for the School of Performing Arts in Richmond.

"John is an enormously talented actor and director as well as a consummate arts professional. This award is honors his contribution as a leader at Company of Fools and The Sun Valley Center. We are thrilled for him." said Kristin Poole, Artistic Director at The Center.

According to Denise Simone, Core Company Artist and Glenn's colleague, the Governor's Excellence in the Arts Award is a most fitting and well-deserved honor for Glenn. "In my 35 years working in professional theatre, I have never encountered an artist with such expansive talent as John Glenn." she explained, " Day after day, year after year, he gives whole-heartedly of himself and shares his many gifts as a service to our community, to our great state and to the national arts dialogue. John is, quite simply, the definitionof Excellence in the Arts. Plus he's the best friend anyone could ever ask for!"

The awards ceremony will take place on the afternoon of Thursday, November 10, 2016 in the Capitol rotunda in Boise. Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter and First Lady Lori Otter will be on hand to present silver medallions, designed by Liz Wolf, to the 2016 recipients. The event is free and open to the public.

The biennial Governor's Awards in the Arts were established in 1970 by the Idaho Commission on the Arts to elevate recognition and awareness of Idaho arts and artists. Idaho was among the first in the nation to establish such a program. The Idaho Commission on the Arts is a state agency dedicated to making the arts available to all Idahoans.

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