Glenn Bickle Award

Glenn Bickle served the University Theatre as its Stage Manager from 1958 - 1987 and became an invaluable mainstay of the KU Theatre for Young People’s touring company for twenty of his thirty years. He came to KU to study electrical engineering but, soon after his graduation, his love of theatre led him to stage manage productions in old Fraser Hall and then Murphy Hall when it opened in 1957. When first hired in 1958, he became the first civil service scenery construction supervisor and stage manager for the State of Kansas as a salaried employee.

In addition to his regular University Theatre duties, Bickle also served the Concert and Chamber Music Series for the Music Department in both Murphy Hall and old Hoch Auditorium, while sharing his technical expertise through workshops for community theatres and regional conferences. In 1976, he served as a professional lighting technician with ABC-TV during its broadcast of the Republican National Convention in Kansas City, and he also traveled extensively to work with the Winter Olympics in 1980 and the Summer Olympics in 1984.

Throughout his career, Bickle mentored countless KU students in technical theatre, and as a member of the Kansas City Local I.A.T.S.E. Union, afforded them the opportunity to work their first union jobs. Upon his retirement, he continued working his backstage and front-of-house magic at the Lawrence Community Theatre. 

The Glenn Bickle Award was created in 1988 to honor a technical theatre student who has made a significant contribution to the department. It is presented by nomination and vote of the faculty of the department.

Past Recipients