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Company of Fools proudly announces its 22nd season, featuring four main stage productions, two play readings and a newly commissioned mini-musical on bees and pollinators that will be a part of one of The Center’s 2017–2018 BIG IDEA projects. The four main stage productions in the Company’s 2017–2018 lineup include Life Sucks, Bright Half Life, Striking 12 and Clybourne Park. The 2017–2018 Play Reading Series includes Pal, The Diary of Anne Frank and a Bee Mini-Musical.
“We’ve had a grand time putting together the 22nd season,” said John Glenn, Company of Fools Artistic Director. “We think it’s one that truly crisscrosses a wide spectrum of exciting storytelling. Each of the stories we chose this season spoke to us of community. They are stories that ask challenging and enriching questions—stories that help us create deeper and more lasting connections with one another. We’re in the process now of building the artistic teams that will tell these amazing stories. And we’re thrilled to be able to share them with OUR amazing community.”
LIFE SUCKS
June 27–July 19, 2017
Liberty Theatre, Hailey
By Aaron Posner
Direction by John Glenn
Sponsored by Jeri Wolfson
Never has unhappiness been so much fun. From the mind of Aaron Posner comes this brash and revelatory reworking of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. A group of old friends, ex-lovers, estranged in-laws, and lifelong enemies gather to grapple with life’s thorniest questions—and each other. What could possibly go wrong? Incurably lustful and lonely, hapless and hopeful, these seven souls collide and stumble their way towards a new understanding that LIFE SUCKS! Or does it?
BRIGHT HALF LIFE
September 27–October 14, 2017
Liberty Theatre, Hailey
By Tanya Barfield
Direction by Ilana Becker
Vicky and Erica navigate the peripatetic present through a lifetime of courtship and marriage, kids and parents, death and divorce, Ferris wheels and skydiving, in a moving story that spans decades in an instant. Bright Half Life is a stunningly human and humorous depiction of a life in love.
STRIKING 12
December 12–30, 2017
Liberty Theatre, Hailey
by Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkin, and Valerie Vigoda
Direction by Ilana Becker
Music Direction by R.L. Rowsey
Sponsored by Arrow R Storage
Inspired in part by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl,” Striking 12 tells the story of an overworked New Yorker who resolves to spend New Year’s Eve alone, when an unexpected visitor brings him much-needed hope and cheer. Co-written by Tony Award-winning book writer Rachel Sheinkin (25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee) and Valerie Vigoda and Brendon Milburn of the indie band, GrooveLily, this uniquely musical urban fairytale springs to life through an eclectic score combining rock, jazz, pop, show tunes and more to weave three stories and settings—contemporary New York City, 19th century Denmark, and the very room in which the show is presented in Hailey!—into one magical, rock-tastic, playful, family-friendly holiday event.
CLYBOURNE PARK
February 21–March 10, 2018
Liberty Theatre, Hailey
By Bruce Norris
Direction by John Glenn
Sponsored by Carol & Len Harlig and Marcia & Don Liebich
Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize and the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play, Clybourne Park explodes in two outrageous acts set fifty years apart. In 1959, white community leaders anxiously try to stop the sale of a home in their neighborhood to a black family. In the same house in the present day, the now predominantly African-American neighborhood battles to hold its ground in the face of gentrification. This razor-sharp satire, spun from the fringes of Loraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, pulls no punches.
COMPANY OF FOOLS 22nd SEASON MAIN STAGE PRICING
$35 member / $40 nonmember / $35 senior (62 and over) / $15 student (with student ID) / $35 group (8 or more) / “Second Night 22” $22 Full Price all tickets on the second night of the performance run (new for 2017–2018 season) *Ticket prices do not include taxes or processing fees.
COMPANY OF FOOLS 2017–2018 PLAY READINGS/SPECIAL PROJECTS
Pal*
By Tasha Gordon-Solmon
Friday, October 27, 2017, 6:30pm
Liberty Theatre, Hailey
FREE ($10 suggested donation, advance seat reservation recommended)
Company of Fools invites you to join in the new play development process! Playwright Tasha Gordon-Solmon will visit the Wood River Valley to begin development of her new play, Pal. Two best friends share their favorite movies, their deepest wishes, their greatest fears, and grow up together—all through written letters—in a world in which reality and imagination aren’t so simply delineated.
Tasha Gordon-Solmon’s plays have been developed and produced at Actors Theater of Louisville and The Humana Festival, Clubbed Thumb, Ars Nova, Northern Stage, The Perry Mansfield New Works Festival, Dixon Place, New Georges, INTAR, and the Flea. She is a lyricist in the BMI Workshop and an alumna of the Clubbed Thumb Early Career Writers Group and the Ars Nova Playgroup. Tasha received her MFA in Dramatic Writing at NYU and is a proud 52nd Street Project volunteer.
Dramatist Guild Fellowship Recipient
Member of the Project Y Playwrights Group
A New Georges Affiliated Artist
*Part of The Center’s BIG IDEA project The Unreliable Narrator
The Diary of Anne Frank*
by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman
Thursday, January 25, 2018 (Student Matinee)
Friday, January 26, 2018 (Student Matinee)
Saturday, January 27, 2018, 7pm
Sunday, January 28, 2018, 2pm
Liberty Theatre, Hailey
FREE ($10 suggested donation, advance seat reservation recommended)
In this transcendentally powerful new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman, Anne Frank emerges from history a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl, who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit, and determination. An impassioned drama about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence—their fear, their hope, their laughter, their grief. Each day of these two dark years, Anne’s voice shines through: “When I write I shake off all my cares. But I want to achieve more than that. I want to be useful and bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!” This is a new adaptation for a new generation.
*Part of The Center’s BIG IDEA project Refugees: This Land is Whose Land?
Bee Mini-Musical*
April 2018 (dates TBD)
Liberty Theatre, Hailey
FREE ($10 suggested donation, advance seat reservation recommended)
Company of Fools commissions an award-winning musical theatre-writing team to create a short musical for young audiences inspired by the visual artwork in The Center’s BIG IDEA project, Bees. We’re pleased to offer student matinees for K–4th grade students, as well as a limited number of public performances.
*Part of The Center’s BIG IDEA project Bees
COMPANY OF FOOLS 22ND SEASON ON-SALE DATES:
ALL TICKETS on sale: Friday, April 14, 10am
As Company of Fools gears up for its 22nd season, the Company invites local performers of all ages, genders, and ethnicities to an open audition to be held on Saturday, April 15th, between 10:00am–1:00pm & 2:00pm–6:00pm at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. A pianist will be available to accompany singers beginning at 2:00pm.
Auditions are appointment only. Please contact casting@sunvalleycenter.org to make an appointment*.
A monologue is not required, as sides from this season’s productions and readings will be available at the audition. If participants would like to sing as part of their audition, please prepare two brief contrasting contemporary pop or musical theatre songs. If participants play an instrument (particularly violin, keyboard, drums, guitar, bass, cello) please let us know when contacting Company of Fools via email to schedule the audition. Auditions will be held at the Liberty Theatre at 110 N. Main Street, Hailey.
Company of Fools’ 22nd season includes Life Sucks (June 27-July 19), Bright Half Life (September 27-October 14), Striking 12 (Dec. 12-30), and Clybourne Park (February 21-March 10). Staged readings coincide with the Center’s Big Idea Projects and will include Pal (October 27), The Diary of Anne Frank (January 25-28), and a Bee Mini-Musical in the spring (additional details TBA).
*This is an Equity Principal Audition. All performers are encouraged to attend. Actors Equity members will be given preference in selection of an audition time-slot.
On Saturday, April 1, 2017, Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Company of Fools continues its tradition of hosting the annual Fools Day Celebration by inviting the community to gather at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. This fun, free community event will feature sneak peeks of the dynamic upcoming programming at The Center, including Company of Fools’ exciting 22nd season and The Center’s 2017-2018 BIG IDEA projects, concerts, lectures and more! It also is an opportunity for The Center and Company of Fools to celebrate the importance of its members and supporters, of community-building, the arts and of giving back to our community and neighbors.
The Fools Day Celebration will take place from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. The public is invited to this free celebration (one need not be a member to attend!) that will feature homemade desserts, refreshments and festivities, and an opportunity to win COF 22nd season tickets, Center schwagg and more! At 5:45pm, The Center and COF will announce sneak peaks of their upcoming seasons in true Fools Day style.
In addition, in the vein of giving back and community-building, COF and The Center are partnering with our local libraries, The Hunger Coalition, and the CSI Refugee Center for an even broader “Day of Giving Back!” We are asking attendees to consider bringing children’s books (ages 3-5 years), binders, or new socks to the event to donate and to consider signing up to volunteer in the Hope Garden and Bloom Community Farm. Together we connect to one another and strengthen the fabric of our community.
“Fools Day is one of my favorite days of the year,” said John Glenn, Company of Fools Artistic Director. “Since its beginning in 2005, it’s been a time when we get to celebrate and thank our community for its incredible support. We’ve always considered it to be a day of saying thank you and giving back. As community is at the center of our 2017-2018 season—this year we’re excited to include some great ways we can help do that with other organizations as well. We hope everyone will come and celebrate with us.”
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS. Amidst the celebration, announcement and giving back opportunities, Fools Day really is about the importance of our members. Thanks to our members’ commitment and generosity, we continue to deliver on our mission of enriching our community through transformative arts and educational experiences. Membership support enables us to present world-class artists, actors, writers and thinkers of our time and engage children in the Blaine County schools through the arts education programs throughout the year. Becoming a Center member makes the strong statement that the arts are essential in our lives and community.
“More than ever before we need to celebrate arts and culture,” said Christine Davis-Jeffers, Executive Director. “In our community it is how we connect. The arts and community go hand in hand and we are so grateful for this community of members and supporters. We are excited to share a little sneak peek at the incredible year ahead.”
Every year the Fools Day celebration elicits tremendous enthusiasm and excitement. We look forward to sharing our gratitude and the exciting things ahead! No one will want to miss out on this year’s festivities!
No tickets or registration are necessary for this free community event.
The Center’s new Contemplative Practice BIG IDEA project does more than explore the connection between art, meditation and mindfulness in today’s world—it also serves as an example of how collaboration between nonprofit organizations can bring a concept to fruition in unique, powerful and multidimensional ways.
A series of special events during the months of April and May will complement the Contemplative Practice visual arts exhibition in Ketchum and serve as a springboard for a discussion about the intersection of the arts, meditation, spirituality, religious practices and mindfulness. To conceive and present these events, The Center has collaborated with two other local nonprofit organizations—the Flourish Foundation and the Sun Valley Wellness Festival.
The Flourish Foundation
With its mission of promoting contemplative practices to inspire personal well-being, benevolent social action and environmental stewardship, the Flourish Foundation was a natural partner for The Center’s BIG IDEA project. In response to Dana Lynn Louis’ reflective meditation space in The Center’s Contemplative Practice exhibition, Ryan Redman of the Flourish Foundation created a guided meditation audio tour to enhance the visitor experience.
“The practice of meditation is ideal for exploring the interdependent relationship between ourselves, the viewers of art, the creation of art shared by an artist and the emergent experience that arises between the two,” commented Redman, who serves as Executive Director of the Flourish Foundation. “This project invites us all to bring more awareness and intentionality into this interplay that is at the heart of our human experience.”
In addition, members of the Flourish Foundation’s Compassionate Leaders program (high-school students trained in mindfulness practices) will lead several meditation sessions at The Center in Ketchum on the following dates:
The 20-minute meditation sessions are free and open to the public.
“These students are really our hope for the future,” said Redman. “Over the past year, they have all embarked on the courageous journey to positively change the world from the inside out.” In recognition of the students’ participation in the project, The Center is making a donation to support the Compassionate Leaders’ international service trips, which provide opportunities for local youth to positively engage with the world.
The Sun Valley Wellness Festival
The Center also partnered with the Sun Valley Wellness Festival—host of the annual Sun Valley Wellness Festival—to bring extra star power to the Contemplative Practice BIG IDEA project. Together, the two organizations will present the 2017 Sun Valley Wellness Festival’s keynote address by Arianna Huffington—the author of 15 books and the co-founder, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group. Huffington’s lecture on Friday, May 26, will open the four-day festival of talks, performances and workshops that focus on mind, body, spirit and the environment; it will also be the third and final event in The Center’s 2016–2017 Lecture Series.
“Partnering with other nonprofits allows us to inspire and deepen our relationship with the community,” said Katelyn Foley, The Center’s Director of Education and Humanities. “With Contemplative Practice, we planned from the beginning to work with Sun Valley Wellness Festival. We hope to expand on the experience that the Wellness Festival offers our community by including the arts as part of the conversation.”
The Center has commissioned artist Dana Lynn Louis (whose works are featured in The Center’s visual arts exhibition) to install projected images of her drawings outside the Sun Valley Inn, which serves as the site of the Sun Valley Wellness Festival. Louis will also be speaking at the Festival.
On Thursday, May 25, The Center will be open to the public from 5 to 6:30pm for a reception kicking off the Sun Valley Wellness Festival. The reception will conclude with a clearing ceremony led by Dana Lynn Louis. Visitors to the exhibition are invited to write something they’d like to clear from their lives or the world on a card that will be sealed in an envelope; Louis will burn the envelopes during the ceremony. Envelopes and cards will be available at The Center and at Friesen Gallery in Ketchum, where Louis will be the subject of a solo exhibition, stream, beginning March 31.
Dr. Courtney Gilbert, Curator of Visual Arts at The Center, believes the collaborative approach underpinning the Contemplative Practice BIG IDEA project offers exciting opportunities for viewers to interact with and experience art in new and unusual ways. “The Flourish Foundation’s audio tour and guided meditation sessions will give viewers opportunities to engage with the art in the exhibition while slowing down, contemplating and meditating on the artwork itself,” she said. “Dana Lynn Louis’s installation of projected drawings at the Sun Valley Inn during the Sun Valley Wellness Festival will allow Festival participants and others to encounter art in an unexpected place—under the porte-cochère at the Inn—and to make a visual connection between Louis’s work, the themes and ideas behind the Wellness Festival, and the exhibition at The Center.”
The Contemplative Practice exhibition and its associated events will run through June 23, 2017.
Building on the Blaine County School District’s mission of inspiring, engaging, educating and empowering every student, Company of Fools announces the 20th year of Stages of Wonder—an in-school dramatic arts program that has served as the theatre curriculum in local elementary schools since 1997. This year’s Stages of Wonder program will take place in February and March at elementary schools across the Wood River Valley.
Company of Fools created Stages of Wonder to engage children in individual and collective creativity through the medium of theatre. The dynamic, innovative program seeks to address the absence of an ongoing theatre experience in the elementary schools by introducing theatre as an essential component in the 
development of the whole child. To date, the program has served more than 24,000 students.
Stages of Wonder encourages elementary-school-age children (grades one through five) to explore creativity expressed through the theatrical arts. For many students, the program is their first contact with the dramatic arts. Facilitated by specially trained Company of Fools artists, Stages of Wonder brings together storytelling, role-playing, theatre games and exercises designed for each grade level. These activities are both structured and improvisational, allowing children the opportunity to express themselves in their own personal way without the worry of getting it “right” or “wrong.”
Stages of Wonder creates an equal playing field for all children, regardless of their personality or background. Any potential barriers observed by facilitators—such as language, self-judgment, shyness or lack of self-esteem—are addressed. The environment of physical and emotional safety created by Stages of Wonder allows students to experience and celebrate the success of their own unique creativity.
Stages of Wonder currently operates in four public elementary schools across the Blaine County School District. In recent years, Company of Fools has also brought the program to child-focused nonprofit organizations such as Higher Ground, Y-On-Wheels, YAK!, the Magic Valley Boys and Girls Club and Camp Rainbow Gold. These special partnerships have enabled Company of Fools to impact groups of children with different and specific needs.
Perhaps the best proof of Stages of Wonder’s effectiveness is the consistently positive feedback it receives from teachers:
I think of all the opportunities to come into our school, Stages of Wonder is at the top of the list of most beneficial and rewarding for the kids. – Physical Education Teacher, Hailey Elementary
Sun Valley Center for the Arts’ commitment to educational programs like Stages of Wonder is founded on the understanding that arts education is critical for future generations—especially as we prepare to face new challenges in this century and beyond. Together with Company of Fools, The Center offers the following arts-in-education programs:
Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts are thrilled to announce that they have received a donation of the historic Liberty Theatre on Main Street in Hailey, Idaho, from Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, who have owned the property since 1995.
For the past two decades, Company of Fools (COF) has enjoyed a “gentleperson’s agreement” with Moore and Willis regarding the use of the Liberty Theatre. In the mid-1990s, Moore and Willis—longtime friends of COF founding members Denise Simone and John Glenn—encouraged the young theatre company to consider relocating from Richmond, Virginia, to the Wood River Valley with the promise of access to a historic theatre in the heart of the community—the Liberty Theatre.
In November 1996, Simone and COF founder Rusty Wilson acted on that suggestion, leaving Richmond to embark on a new chapter for the Company. Other COF members soon followed, and the Company has based its operations at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey ever since.
“Bruce and Demi originally envisioned the Liberty as a place for the community to gather and be inspired by stories of the heart,” says John Glenn, Artistic Director of Company of Fools. “I am so proud of the work we have accomplished so far, and Bruce and Demi’s belief in our work is demonstrated in this unbelievable gift. Their generosity brings their original vision full circle as we continue to tell stories that touch the heart, inspire and entertain.”
Moore and Willis’ generous donation formalizes the Liberty Theatre as COF’s theatrical home and provides a permanent anchor for The Center’s programming in Hailey. With this gift, the building becomes an important real estate asset for the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, and The Center will assume full responsibility for its future upkeep and maintenance.
Going forward, COF will continue to be the primary user of the Liberty Theatre. The theatre will also continue to serve as a perfect south-valley venue for The Center’s wide array of music, film and humanities programs. When not in use by COF or The Center, the Liberty will be available for rent by other groups.
“This is an important gift for our community,” says Christine Davis-Jeffers, Executive Director of Sun Valley Center for the Arts. “Not only does it allow us to extend and enhance our programming capacity but it also cements The Center’s commitment to the City of Hailey and the entire south valley community. There are a myriad of exciting possibilities ownership of the Liberty Theatre offers and we are grateful to the donors for their commitment to the arts.”
History
The original Liberty Theatre was built in the early 1900s, located directly across Main Street from its present location. The owner of the building, Sam Brooks, brought silent films to Hailey in 1917, and one could often find him giving out free candy to the eager children attending the films.
The present-day Liberty Theatre was built in 1938 on the site of an outdoor ice-skating rink. Jack Rutter, a local contractor known for his exceptional craftsmanship, envisioned a modern building to hold community events and screen “talking movies.” Cinder bricks from Burley, Idaho, were used to form the walls of the building, and glazed tiles enhanced the façade. Scaffolding built in the form of a spiral allowed workers to transport the finished materials up to the ceiling in a wheelbarrow.
The Liberty was sold in 1973 and then again in 1994 to Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, who worked to restore the historic theatre—along with several other buildings in downtown Hailey—to its original glory. Company of Fools took up residence at the theatre in November 1996 and has operated from there ever since.
Sun Valley Center for the Arts is currently accepting applications for the 2017 Scholarship Program. The deadline for these scholarships is February 22, 2017. Blaine County students and educators who are interested in furthering their education in the arts and humanities are invited to apply at sunvalleycenter.org.
Comprised of four different scholarships, the program is made possible through funds raised at The Center’s Annual Wine Auction and private donations. Awards are based on artistic merit, application materials and financial need.
The Center offers scholarships in the following categories:
The Center’s Scholarship Committee reviews applications to determine recipients. The committee is an independent group, and members change yearly.
CLICK HERE to apply or for more information.
The Center will contact applicants once applications have been processed. For additional information and questions, please contact Sarah Stavros, Education Coordinator, at 208.726.9491 x 121 or sstavros@sunvalleycenter.org.
Artists are invited to apply for the 2017 Sun Valley Center Arts & Crafts Festival, to be held August 11–13 at Atkinson Park in Ketchum. Starting December 1, applications are now available online at www.zapplication.org.
Applications for the Festival are due by midnight Tuesday, February 28, 2017. Through a competitive blind jury process, approximately 130 artists will be chosen to exhibit in this summer’s show. The application fee is $35.
Join the Sun Valley Center for the Arts as they present the 49th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival. This Festival is a juried fine arts and crafts show, held outdoors in beautiful Ketchum, Idaho with an annual attendance of over 10,000 during the three-day event. The Ketchum/Sun Valley area is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and is also brimming with culture and nightlife. Check out the fly fishing scene, learn about the latest art gallery exhibits, hike in the Sawtooth Mountains, listen to an outdoor concert and of course visit the Sun Valley Center Arts and Crafts Festival.
In 2013 the City of Ketchum was ranked #3 in America’s Top 12 Small-Town ArtPlaces. This mountain resort town is a year-round home to a well-educated, sophisticated community. Each summer Ketchum’s population swells to accommodate a large number of second homeowners, who come for the season, as well as summer tourists, who come for a week or weekend.
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts values and honors the work made by the individual artists. No commercial agents are allowed. A full list of rules and descriptions of categories is available at www.sunvalleycenter.org. This popular community event also includes artists’ demonstrations, live music, food vendors and a children’s activity area.
Full-time Blaine County residents will be granted an extra point in their favor during the jurying process to encourage local participation.
Artists who need help with or have questions about the application are invited to contact Sarah Stavros, Festival Director, sstavros@sunvalleycenter.org or 208.726.9491 ext 121 for more information.
The Center is excited to announce the new addition of a fourth concert to the lineup for its 2016–2017 Winter Performing Arts Series. Bringing his own special star power to the popular series, celebrated singer-songwriter Brett Dennen will light up the Sun Valley Opera House at 7pm on Tuesday, January 24, with his upbeat folk/pop originals.
“When I got a call a few weeks ago about the opportunity to offer the community a concert with Brett Dennen, I was thrilled. Not only is he a super talented performer our audience will love, he’s going to spend extra time in the valley working with local students,” said Kristine Bretall, The Center’s Director of Performing Arts. “The Center is deeply committed to arts education, and bringing a professional artist like Dennen to work directly with students is an experience that makes a huge impact,” she added.
The Center’s Winter Performing Arts Series begins on December 9 with a concert by Korby Lenker—a singer, writer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Twin Falls. Dennen’s performance on January 24 will be followed on February 14 by International Guitar Night—North America’s premier acoustic guitar festival. The series will conclude on April 7 with a performance by Las Cafeteras, an East-L.A. band whose unique genre-bending music and electric live performances fuse spoken word with traditional Son Jarocho sound and zapateado dancing.
Brett Dennen is a nationally known musician and songwriter who has performed at Austin City Limits, Newport Folk and Telluride Bluegrass Festivals and appeared on CBS This Morning, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. His songs are carefully crafted and often woven through with wry humor, reflecting his experience of being homeschooled and given free creative rein by his parents.
In addition to his skill as a musician, Dennen is a philanthropist, environmentalist and avid skier. His stop in Sun Valley is part of his “Ski Town” tour, which combines his love of skiing with a deep concern about the environment and the future of resort towns in the face of climate change. During his stay in the Wood River Valley, Dennen will work with students at Community School’s art and ski academies as a part of The Center’s commitment to bringing professional artists to local schools.
TICKET INFORMATION
From November 18 to December 1, tickets to the Performing Arts Series will be available for purchase by members of The Center. Members can choose from two ticket packages:
Starting December 2 at 10am, individual tickets for Brett Dennen’s concert will go on sale to the public. Standard seating is $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers. Premium seating is $55 for members and $65 for nonmembers.
The 2016–2017 Performing Arts Series is generously sponsored by Wood River Inn.
ARTS EDUCATION
Every artist in the 2016–2017 series will perform in local schools as a part of The Center’s ongoing commitment to arts education. International Guitar Night and Las Cafeteras are supported by public funding for the arts through the National Endowment for the Arts, WESTAF, the Idaho Commission on the Arts and the Idaho Legislature.
The Center’s 2016–2017 Artist Residencies are supported by Gayle Marie. Additional support for The Center’s educational outreach programs is provided by Cox Communications, Robbins de Beaumont Foundation, Heart of Gold Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation, The Richard K. & Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation, The Donald and Gretchen K. Fraser Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation and the U.S. Bancorp Foundation.
It’s with mixed emotions that on Monday, October 31, The Center and Company of Fools witnessed Denise Simone’s last official starring role as Core Company Artist of Company of Fools (but it will certainly not be her last time on the Liberty stage). After 25 years helping to lead Company of Fools, founding member Denise Simone has stepped down from her full-time staff position. Simone is leaving to refocus her professional life away from day-to-day management in favor of more artistically focused projects.
On Monday, as Harpo Marx, Denise generously herded over 200 kids in Halloween costumes on and off stage for costume contests at the Liberty Theatre. Her role as Harpo was ironic because for 25 years of leading Company of Fools Denise was never silent in championing professional theatre in Hailey, and unlike Harpo (who played the silent role because he couldn’t memorize lines) the characters she inhabited often required prodigious feats of memory and acting—in The Syringa Tree, a one woman show, Denise played 23 different characters.
In one way or another, Denise has been integrally involved in nearly every Company of Fools production since the Company’s inception in 1992. Local theatre fans will remember her stellar performances at The Liberty Theatre in so many roles including Shirley Valentine, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, The Syringa Tree and Other Desert Cities. Denise also directed more than 20 plays and readings including Proof, Almost, Maine, Doubt, The Glass Menagerie, Distracted, A Christmas Carol, Frankie and Johnnie in the Clair de Lune and Dead Man’s Cell Phone.
Over the years, Simone has touched the lives of innumerable Wood River Valley residents as an arts educator. Thousands of elementary schoolchildren throughout Blaine County have benefited from her instruction in Company of Fools’ groundbreaking Stages of Wonder theatre arts and creativity program, and countless others have enjoyed her dynamic teaching style in the Company’s adult acting classes and workshops.
We applaud all that she is and all that she has given to us and to this valley. We will miss her daily presence and leadership but know that she is just around the corner—and that we’ll get to see her on the stage for years to come. Some of Simone’s near-term projects include directing Company of Fools upcoming February 2017 production of Constellations and appearing in Boise Contemporary Theatre’s April 2017 production of The Clean House.
On this transition, Simone reflected, “One thing that doesn’t change is my deep gratitude and love for this community and for this family that is Company of Fools. For me, it has been a life—rather than work.”
With gratitude and appreciation,
—All of us at The Center