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

YearRecipient
2023Connor L. Maloney
2022Knox McClendon
2021Trevor Rodgers
2020Kayleigh Shaffer
2019Kayleigh Shaffer
2018Martha Keslar
2017Kate Smeltzer
2016Jake Dutton
2015Connor Lumpkin
2014Megan Lethbridge
2013Julia Ubert
2012Hilary Surface
2011Sara Aurin Finney
2010Kristina Banton
2009Beth Zupek
2008Ann Sitzman
2007Ann Sitzman
2006Nicholas Kostner
2005Nicholas Mosher
2004Joel Luber
2003Mike Hill
2002Mike Hill
2001Jennifer Woods
2000Penny Laden
1999Tony Fuemmeler
1998Heather Coiner
1997Tony Fuemmeler
1996Daisey Hethcoat
1995Thomas Harmon
1994Sandy Saltzstein
1993Michael Head
1992Michael J. Reese
1991Kirsten Vaughn Fitzgerald
1990Trisha Farnsworth
1989Karla Penechar
1988Lora Hull