University Daily Kansan, August 18, 1983
Page 9
Community theatres use local playwrights, local talent
By KYLE RITCHEY Staff Writer
The house lights dim.
The orchestra slowly begins to play, as colored light illuminates the stage.
Backstage, feet scurry and hearts beat in last minute excitement and anxiety. The curtain rises slowly and dramatically — showtime has arrived.
At least, that's how the traditional theatre works.
WHEN IT COMES to theatre in the Lawrence area, however, very little is traditional. Instead, the theatrical area is original, unique and surprising.
The Lawrence Community Theatre,
established in 1976, makes an effort to
produce local playwrights, according to
the theatre's board of directors.
of the theatre's board of directors.
This season, which runs from September through April 1984, the troupe is doing an evening of three one-act plays written by local talent on Nov. 17, 18, 19 and 20. They also will be producing another one-act play on Nov. 2, "The Dresser" on Jan. 26, 27, 28 and 29 and "I Remember Mama" on March 29, 30 and April 1.
ALL PERFORMANCES WILL BE in
the Lawrence Arts Center, Ninth and
Vernacular
Patton said that there was a lot of interest in theatre in the community.
"There are a lot of people in Lawrence who are interested in theatre who aren't connected with the University," she said.
The Community Theatre is a great outlet for people who want to direct, act and do the technical of theatre, she said.
"We try to pick plays that appeal to a broad spectrum of people throughout the country."
ALTHOUGH SHE MIGHT be a little biased, Patton said, the quality of the shows is good because there is so much talent in Lawrence.
Tickets for the Lawrence Community Theatre are available for $4, Patton said. Season tickets can be purchased for $2 off the total cost.
Imagination and good acting are two things that have made the Seem-To-Be-Players, a Lawrence children's theatre group, so successful.
Under the direction of Ric Averill, the group is based at the Lawrence Arts
"WE USE A MINIMUM of sets, props and costumes," said Averill, who has been involved in local theatre for the past 15 years.
"We play the way kids play and we we
it so much, it lots up to the imitation," he said.
The group will put on four productions throughout its season, which begins the last weekend in October and runs through late spring. They also will tour with their final production of the year, "The Last Lost Goldmine," through six Midwest states this spring, Averill said.
The Seem-To-Be-Players performs only original works, Averill said. The plays are written by Averill with help from wife, Jeanne, and another teacher.
The music played during the performances also is original. Averill said.
ALTHOUGH THE SHOWS are geared toward children, Averill said, adults also enjoy the shows.
"The home shows in Lawrence are frequented by a great number of adults," he said, and many of those adults do not bring children.
There is a **£2** admission price to see the plays and season tickets are available at a reduced price, Averill said.
music hall and a third barn, which is the playhouse.
During the summer season the Averillis keep busy with the Apple Valley Farm Theatre, a playhouse at Lake Perry.
Apple Valley Farm consists of an old farmhouse that has been converted into a restaurant, a barn that has arts and crafts, another barn that is a bluegrass
APPLE VALLEY FARM is a great place to spend an entire evening because there is so much to do, Averill said.
The Apple Valley Farm Theatre, which opened in 1970, was been maintained in 2004.
Six actors and a few musicians present an evening of comedy acts, songs and plays in the classic vaudeville style. Haid. Once again, all material is orational.
The theatre also has singing waitresses that serve beer, soft drinks and pies.
The players present one show at 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from early May through Oct. 1. The tickets are $6. Made by calling 843-6222 or 1-476-2114
THE VASSAR PLAYHOUSE, near Lake Pomona, is another dinner playhouse, however, its performances are more traditional than those of Apple Valley Farm.
The playhouse was first opened in 1970 by Bruce and Veda Rogers because they thought this area was a summer theatre, Mrs. Rogers said.
"At that time there was no live theatre in this area during the summer except at KU," she said.
They found the 10 acre plot, which is 30 miles west of Ottawa at the intersection of Kansas highways 288 and 368, and decided that the area was large enough to support summer theatre because it would draw people from Emporia, Topeka, Ottawa and Lawrence, she said.
WHEN THE ROOGERS first purchased the land, it had only a "barn, a shed and a rock house," Rogers said. Over the years they have added mobile homes to house the actors, four renovated turn-of-the-century boxcars, four passenger cars and a caboose, she said
The restaurant is housed in the passenger cars and the caboose has been turned into a bar. Rogers said. The car provides room for storage, she said.
Rogers said that Vassar hired a resident company each summer comprised of about 12 actors and a few apprentices.
The playhouse is repertory in nature, because as Rogers said "everyone has to do everything."
The actors also must help with the costumes, sets, music and makeup, she said. "When you come to Vassar, you go away educated," she said.
EACH SEASON, which runs from late May or early June through early
September, the troupe presents about five plays. Rogers said.
Earlier this summer, they presented "Brigadoon," "A Streetcar Named Desire," and "West Side Story." Aug 9 to 21 the playhouse will stage a mystery called "Wait Until Dark" and their final show of the season, "Working," will be presented Aug. 23 to Sept. 11, Rogers said.
The plays are presented every night of the week except Monday. There is a pre-show at 8 p.m. and the feature play begins at about 8:17 p.m. Rogers said.
THEERE IS NO SET menu at the restaurant because it is adapted to each show, Rogers said. During the summer showing of "West Side Story" they enjoyed the two groups of foods because one of the two gangs in the plasy was Puerto Rican, she said.
Certain items on the menu are available all the time, such as prime rib and steak diane, however those items cost a little extra, she said.
The play and dinner together cost $13.50 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and thursdays, $14 on Fridays and Saturdays, and $15 on Saturday evenings, Rogers says.
Admission price to the play alone is $4.50 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, $5.25 on Fridays and Sundays, and $6 on Saturdays, she said.
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