GLENN, Robert “Bob” Robert “Bob” Glenn was born September 13, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois, to Walter and Rose Goethals. He passed away on December 25, 2018. Bob was an actor, director, author and producer in the theater for more than 40 years. He directed plays in New York, St Louis, Houston, Atlantaand internationally in Canada and at the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italyand played featured roles in films such as “The Last Picture Show”. The primary focus of his career, however, was in Dallas theatre. After serving as officer with the WWII U. S. Army Air Corps, Bob received dramatic training at Columbia College of Drama in Chicago. He came to Dallas in 1949 and was active in the post-war revival of the Dallas Little Theatre, serving as Actor-Director for many years. He also acted at the Margo Jones Theater and in the Dallas Summer Musicals. Bob later directed at the Dallas Black Theater, Courtyard Theater in Oak Lawn and the Pearl Chappell Playhouse on Knox Street, where he brought to Dallas first-time productions of “The Three-Penny Opera,” “The Fantastiks,” and “A View from the Bridge,” featuring a young Brenda Vaccaro. As a result of his pioneering work in Dallas theatre, Bob was recipient of a Ford Foundation grant which took him to New York to work with Cyril Ritchard and Noel Coward. His off-Broadway credits include “Shakespeare in Harlem,” “The Legend of Charlie Parker” and “The Long Valley”each of which he adapted for the stage and directed to critical acclaim. While in New York, Bob also appeared on national television in several episodes of “The Guiding Light.” After serving as the Artistic Director of the Citadel Theater in Edmonton, Canada, for two years, Bob returned to Dallas, where he founded Shakespeare Dallas in 1972. He served as its Producer for 17 years, bringing such actors as Peter Donat, Michael Learned, Earl Hyman, Sigourney Weaver, Patrick Stewart, Ron Leibman, and Morgan Freeman to act in the free summer festival and in other festival productions such as “The Hollow Crown” and Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Between 1952 and 1990, Bob directed the Junior League Follies for 17 years and 35 Gridiron Shows for the Press Club of Dallas. In 1998, Bob received the Key Bryant “Creative Vision Award” from the 500, Inc. He received the 2000 Leon Rabin “Standing Ovation Award” for lifetime achievement in theatre. Bob will be ever missed by his beloved wife of 53 years, Sigrid Glenn of Denton, their daughter, Brittany Glenn of Dallas, and his four children from a previous marriage: Christopher Glenn and wife Barbara of Austin, Tricia Glenn of Greensboro, NC, Phillip Glenn and wife Liliana of Boston, MA, and Paul Glenn and wife Irene of Norway. Additionally, Bob is survived by four grandchildren: Kristin Glenn of Carbondale, IL, and Christina, Richard and Benjamin Glenn of Norway. Bob was predeceased by his parents, and his sister, Phyllis Hamm of Ocala, Florida. A celebration of Bob’s life will occur at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Shakespeare Dallas by visiting www.shakespearedallas.org.
Published in Dallas Morning News on Dec. 30, 2018
