Spencer Museum of Art Spring Arts and Culture Festival review by Meagan Thomas

The weather may have been dreary, but the inside of Spencer Museum of Art was lively with music, dance and art during the annual Spring Arts and Culture Festival on Saturday.

more at the Lawrence Journal World

Theatre Lawrence closes doors on old building as it prepares to move

It must seem awfully strange to Mary Doveton to be moving into a building designed specifically for theater. Theatre Lawrence’s executive director has been adapting other facilities to her needs since helping found the organization in 1977. “We just rolled with the punches of whatever we had,” she says, reminiscing on 36 years of community theater productions.

more at lawrence.com

Jeff Tamblyn "Kansas vs. Darwin" preview

Jeff Tamblyn's award-winning 2008 documentary, Kansas vs. Darwin, has led to further work in the area of science's relationship to the public.

 more at Infozine

Lied Center 2013-2014 Season preview by Robert Trussell

The Lied Center of Kansas will mark its 20th anniversary season with an eclectic mix of musical theater, world music and classical performances — including the legendary Hal Holbrook, who returns to the area with his signature performance of “Mark Twain Tonight.”

more at the KC Star

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/27/4202211/hal-holbrook-memphis-and-addams.html?utm_source=feedly#storylink=cpy

Barn Players 2013-2014 Season preview by Bob Evans

In a suburb of Kansas City, nestled just off Johnson Drive in a stand-alone, nondescript building, The Barn Players perform some of the biggest shows to grace the American stage, year after year; and next year’s season appears to be as stellar as season’s past.

more at examiner.com

KC Repertory "American Buffalo" review by Steve Wilson

The critically acclaimed play, “American Buffalo” written by David Mamet, directed by Jerry Genochio and produced by the Kansas City Repertory Theatre opened Friday night April 26 at the Copaken Stage in Kansas City. The play first took the stage in Chicago in 1975 at the Goodman Theatre Stage Two. In 1977 it opened on Broadway, with Robert Duvall as Teach, and was nominated for two Tony Awards and four Drama Desk Awards. In 1983 Al Pacino under took the role of Teach, and with the direction of Arvin Brown made the character less violent and frightening to the audience.

more at examiner.com

Lied Center 2013-2014 Season preview by Sara Shepherd

The Lied Center on Saturday announced its 20th anniversary season lineup, featuring an array of performers from acrobats to award-winning concert pianists, some new and some returning to Lawrence. Executive director Tim Van Leer said the variety reflects one of the Lied’s most important traits — there’s something for everybody.

more at lawrence.com

Lyric Opera "Mikado" photos by Karen Almond

Production photos from Lyric Opera of Kansas City's production of THE MIKADO, April 2013.

Wakarusa Trio wins MTNA national competition

The Wakarusa Trio, comprised of clarinetist Puyin Bai, violist Shokhrukh Sadikov and pianist Kai Yin Crystal Lam, won the Chamber Music Performance division at the Music Teachers National Association National Competition during the MTNA’s national conference March 9-13 in Anaheim, Calif.

more at the Lawrence Journal World

Free State Film Festival preview by Eric Melin

When actress Ann Dowd won the Best Supporting Actress award from the National Board of Review last year for her riveting performance in the independent drama “Compliance,” it probably took all of Marlo Angell’s strength not to scream “I told you so!” at the top of her lungs.

more at the Lawrence Journal World

Lied Center 20th anniversary by Sara Shepherd

In the not-so-distant past, Deb Kraushaar had to hire off-duty school buses to transport elegantly dressed patrons of the arts up the hill from parking lots by Allen Fieldhouse to performances at Hoch Auditorium. For shows she couldn’t schedule in Hoch after it burned — and there were many — Kraushaar, secretary of Kansas University’s Concert Series, juggled churches and other venues across town, and even Topeka. Not to mention stage equipment rentals. In 1993, things changed in a huge way.

more at lawrence.com

Annie Tedesco "Granite Flats" interview by Sara Shepherd

Plenty of pretty, talented actresses auditioned to play Beth Milligan in the new TV series “Granite Flats.” Most played it safe with the 1960s female lead, the show’s director says. What stood out about Annie Tedesco is something she probably brought with her from Kansas.

more at the Lawrence Journal World

Lawrence Arts Center visiting artists

Africa World Documentary Film Festival preview by Giles Bruce

Kansas University students and the Lawrence community will be able to take a journey through Africa without leaving Kansas at the upcoming Africa World Documentary Film Festival.

more at the Lawrence Journal World

Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission meeting by Sara Shepherd

Collecting public input to help draft a strategic plan for the new Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission was the goal of a meeting Thursday night in Lawrence. Not surprisingly, “Go back to the way things were when Kansas funded the arts” was a common theme.

more at the Lawrence Journal World

Theatre Lawrence "12 Angry Men" preview by John Phythyon

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense: A lawyer directing a play about a jury deliberation. “This one seemed to be a good fit for me,” Charles Whitman said of directing “12 Angry Men,” which opens Friday night at Theatre Lawrence. The classic play, based on a 1954 television drama, tells the story of a jury in a murder trial that appears to be open and shut at first glance. But a single man has doubts.

more at lawrence.com

Lawrence High School Focus Film Festival preview by Eric Mellin

For the past school year, high school students from across northeast Kansas have written, acted in and produced their own original short films in anticipation of this weekend — and now there’s nothing to do but wait.

more at lawrence.com

Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission meeting in Lawrence

The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission is organizing a public input session this week in Lawrence. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Those wishing to attend are asked to register online at kansascommerce.com.

more at the Lawrence Journal World

Turning Lawrence into an arts town

Being an artsy town is one thing. Sculpting that into a concrete concept that will win grant money — over hundreds of other artsy towns vying for the same prize — is another.

more at the Lawrence Journal World
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Lied Center director Tim Van Leer to retire

The executive director of the Lied Center in Lawrence is stepping down after 12 years with the venue. Tim Van Leer, whose knowledge of the arts was praised by peers in a news release Thursday, will retire at the end of the year.

more at the Topeka Capital Journal