Company of Fools
Description
Company of Fools, a proud part of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, is an award-winning professional theatre . Company of Fools (COF) is an award-winning professional theatre in Idaho and is located in the mountain resort community of Sun Valley. Under the leadership of Artistic Director John Glenn, COF produces the work of today’s greatest playwrights, augmented by occasional productions of classics. COF’s work is marked by an emphasis on the connection between theatre and community, a commitment to excellence in acting and design, and the signature intimacy of our theatrical home, the Liberty Theatre, which seats fewer than 245 patrons.
The Company was founded in 1992 in Richmond, Virginia, as a response to an essay by the visual artist Cecil Collins entitled “The Vision of the Fool.” In Collins’ essay, the fool embodies truth, joy, creativity and a childlike wonder of all that is magical and mysterious. The response took the form of a question: "What would it be like to have an acting company that embodies the qualities of the fool?"
In November 1996, Company of Fools relocated to Hailey, Idaho. Twenty years later, COF has grown and evolved into an award-winning theatre that produces a full season of plays while providing substantial arts-in-education programming for the community. In November 2012, the Company merged with Sun Valley Center for the Arts (The Center), becoming part of a 45-year-old organization that is now the largest arts institution in Idaho.
Complementing the Main Stage Series are the collaborative offerings of The Center’s BIG IDEA projects (two or three annually). For more than 15 years, The Center has focused on creating original programs and exhibitions that consider themes that are topical, immediate and artistically muscular. These multidisciplinary projects are designed to stimulate the imagination, promote conversation, provoke thought and engage the community.
Beyond our work onstage, COF and The Center also provide dynamic arts-in-education programming targeted primarily to grades K-12. In addition, all of COF’s productions and programs are embedded with a highly tuned understanding of the unique community they serve.
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facebook.comLife Sucks
From the mind of award-winning playwright Aaron Posner comes a celebratory work of the foibles of humanity. In this fiercely playful reworking of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, a group of old friends, ex-lovers, and estranged family gather over a weekend to grapple with life’s thorniest questions, each other and you. What could possibly go wrong? Heartfelt, but never sentimental; full of endless amazement and wonder; and always, always tipping toward more love, hope, passion and perseverance. Never has unhappiness been so much fun. “I’m head-over-heels in love with this play. We all know the pain of age or overwork or of desperately loving someone with whom you could never share a kiss. It aches and it sucks. But all that aching and sucking is what makes you feel alive, and the unfulfilled longing that you feel so deeply lets you know that your feelings run that deep.” —Alan Katz, DC Theatre Scene Recommended for ages 13 and up. Contains sexual themes and strong language.
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As Artistic Director of Company of Fools, John Glenn selected the 22nd season and was keen on Life Sucks as part of a group of plays that focus on our connection to community. John’s unexpected death was a significant loss for the Wood River Valley, The Center and the family that is Company of Fools. We are grateful to Ilana Becker, COF Associate Artistic Director, for agreeing to step up and in to direct the play with John’s vision. As we grieve the loss of our amazing colleague, friend and mentor, we are enormously grateful to the actors, designers and managers whose courage and commitment to John Glenn, Company of Fools and this valley affirms the essential nature of community. We hope to honor John's memory through this production and the rest of the 22nd season. We look forward to welcoming you on Thursday, July 6th for our opening "Pay What You Feel Night" or on any of the other shows of the production. Hug your loved ones, Kristin Poole, Artistic Director, Sun Valley Center for the Arts #sunvalleycenter #companyoffools
It is with profound sadness that we share that our colleague and friend John Glenn passed away early Friday morning with his husband, R.L. Rowsey, and his family at his side as he transitioned. While we grieve as friends, colleagues and a community, we also celebrate our extraordinary good fortune to have had him in our lives. John loved his work, he loved the theatre, he loved this community and he treasured his Company of Fools’ family. When you were near him you could not help but feel that love and be inspired by it. John’s way of being in the world not only provided us with exceptional theatre but also a remarkable example of how to live with passion, truth and commitment to community. He created a space at The Liberty Theatre that made everyone feel welcome and valued. John was a driving force in our theatre world. As an actor, director, designer and artistic director, he selected and told stories that were purposeful and meaningful. He knew his audience and, with Denise Simone and Rusty Wilson, he built a theatre company that brought this community together over and over again. John was a man who lived through his heart honestly, openly and with abundant kindness. We hope his kindness can guide us as we celebrate the moments of joy and heartbreak, insight and wonder that he gave us on the stage and off. The Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Company of Fools remain committed to creating theatre at The Liberty in John’s vision, which is driven by the power of the theatrical experience to connect artist and audience, telling stories that engage, inspire, entertain and transform. We welcome you to share here your memories of John Glenn as an artist, a professional, a friend and a truly remarkable human being.
Hello dear friends, We know so many people have been wanting to show their support for John and R.L. and John’s family. Your prayers and love have been flooding in and holding them up – please know that THAT support is the most powerful and the family is so very grateful. It is not yet time for dog walking, lawn mowing or casserole making – but if you would like to make a donation to help with the myriad of expenses you will find four ways to do that below. Know you are loved and cherished by our boys. Please feel free to share this – With Love and Gratitude, The Fools 1. Venmo – Download the free app and it will guide you the set up and it will allow you to deposit money directly into R.L.’s account (@RL-Rowsey) 2. Washington Federal – You may simply walk into either branch (Hailey or Ketchum) and say you would like to deposit money into R.L. Rowsey’s account. 3. Sending your loving gift to me – You may mail your donation to me at – Denise Simone, PO Box 675, Bellevue, ID 83313 (please include your email so I can let you know I received it) and I will deposit it directly into R.L.’s account. 4. Light on the Mountains – you may also make a donation to the Glenn/Rowsey family thru Light on the Mountains by simply: a. Going to their website at lightonthemountains.org b. Clicking donate on the top bar and making your donation c. Then you must email office@lightonthemountains.org to say you just made a donation for the Glenn/Rowsey family – please include your name, date of gift and amount d. Since this is going through Light on the Mountains and they are set up to handle charitable donations – you will receive a receipt of your gift as it is tax deductible. If you have any questions regarding this option please contact Reverend John Moreland at revjohn@lightonthemountains.org
Dear Company of Fools and Sun Valley Center for the Arts Family: You may have heard that our dear friend and artistic director, John Glenn, is currently in the hospital. We invite you to join us at the Liberty Theatre tomorrow - Friday, June 2nd - from 4:30-5:00PM. We'll gather to hold each other close, share loving thoughts, and send our positive wishes John's way as a community. ❤️
Photos from Company of Fools's post
Check out Resident Scenic Designer, Joe Lavigne, and COF Company Member, Rich Rush, working hard to put up our wonderful pop up park again this summer! We hope you’ll stop by and enjoy this little community gathering space as much as we do.
Company of Fools's cover photo
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Getting ready for our 22nd season and our opening summer show, Life Sucks! We definitely don’t think Life Sucks because Nef, one of our awesome student volunteers from WRHS is helping us spring clean our dressing rooms and receiving community service hours for National Honor Society. Thanks, Nef!
Photos from Company of Fools's post
Seeing the wonderful Denise Simone in THE CLEAN HOUSE at BCT! She was TERRIFIC!!!! And very clean!
Sun Valley Center for the Arts
I VOLUNTEER!
Volunteers are essential to the work of Company of Fools and The Sun Valley Center for the arts. Volunteers help in so many capacities: Concerts, lectures, Wine Auction, Arts & Crafts Festival, Company of Fools Plays, Mailings, Gallery Docents, Gallery Walks and more! If you want to make a difference by helping to enrich our community through transformative arts and educational experiences, while having a fabulous time, visit our website to sign up to volunteer! http://sunvalleycenter.org/get-involved/volunteer/ Or email Kris at KOlenick@sunvalleycenter.org!
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We took a little field trip to see the wonderful Denise Simone in Boise Contemporary Theater's production of THE CLEAN HOUSE by Sarah Ruhl!
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