8
University Daily Kansan
Campus/Area
Wednesday, August 20, 1986
Artists blend old and new
By Grant W. Butler
Arts editor
KU's performing arts season is a morgasgord of entertainment: rich Greek drama; spicy, avant-garde plays; tender opera and searing rock music.
Charla Jenkins, public relations director for University Theatre, said yesterday that it was important for students to experience classical as well as modern performances to get an idea of the variety in the performing arts.
"Many of the groups that were popular when I was young are now considered old and established," Jenkins said. "Students need to keep in mind that some of these younger groups are going to be the established groups of the future."
Jack Wright, artistic director of University Theatre, said this year's theater season was a combination of old and new material that would appeal to students.
"We try to balance our season," he said. "We try to pick material that will challenge our students."
The Theatre season kicks off with the annual Theatre Rally at 7 p.m. Sunday on the stage of the Crafton-Preeyer Theatre in Murphy Hall. The
rally will encourage student involvement and introduce them to audition procedures. Wright said.
Open call auditions for Theatre productions are scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre. All KU students enrolled in six or more hours are eligible to audition.
"One of my great hopes is that you can find a way to get the word out to students to either audition or attend the events," Wright said.
"The percentage of students who attend is very low. But once they get here they'll love it."
Jackie Davis, director of the Concert and Chamber Music Series, said the series would include modern music again this year in addition to classical music.
"We like to present modern music if we can do so within the guidelines of the series – without going into pop or rock." Davis said.
"You want to present programs that will stimulate students and extend their knowledge of what is modern."
Two performance groups in the series, the King's Singers and the Kronos Quartet, feature modern music in their concerts.
Davis said the popular appeal of the groups would attract students to the concerts.
But the series does not cater exclusively to the needs of students. Davis said. The entire Lawrence community is considered in the scheduling of performances.
"We're making sure that what's mainstream in the U.S. also is presented in Lawrence," Davis said.
The KU Jazz Festival, Feb. 5-7, with feature performances by three important jazz musicians, said Ron McCurdy, director of the festival.
Ida McBeth, blues vocalist; Bill Watrous, jazz trombonist; and Bobby McFerrin, jazz vocalist, will be the featured performers in three evening concerts during the festival.
The performance by McFerrin at the festival should interest many students. McCurdy said.
"This is perhaps the biggest name we've ever had," he said.
The sounds of rock music can be heard at the Student Union Activities' Special Events series throughout the year.
The series, which has featured popular and obscure bands, has no groups definitely scheduled yet.
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