Entertainment
Page 6 University Daily Kansan, December 3, 1982
Local play,parties included in holiday events
By VINCE HESS Staff Reporter
Activities for local residents celebrating the holiday season include a locally written and produced play, crafts classes, Christmas parties at local clubs and bars and movies released from theaters.
The Seem-ToBe Players, a group of local actors, will produce a play with a Christmas theme. The play, "Why the Nutcracker Fought the Mouse King," will be presented at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Center, Ninth and 18th at Lawrence streets. Admission will be $2 a person.
Rie Averill, a member of the players and writer of the play, said he bee-m interested in the Nutcracker story last year while working on the musical. He also performed at the Lawrence School of Ballet.
To prepare to write the ballet, Averill said, he read the Nutcutter story in the "Tales of
Hoffmann* by E.T.A. Hoffmann Averill said that the Tshakulovskiy version of the ballet depicted only the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King but not the events leading up
"There's not much explanation for it given in the ballet." he said.
Averill said that the story told how the conflict between the Mouse King and Nutracer began with a curse placed on the Nutracer — actually a handsome prince — by the Mouse King's mother. Averil said that his play led up to the battle played in the bathtub but did not deter it.
"What we're doing is telling the story behind the story," Averill said.
"It's light-hearted and fun," he said. "It's just a fairy tale."
Averill said that the Seem-To-Be Players, who produce a different play every month, had done pantomines of such Christmas-related characters as toy soldiers and a rag doll for their holiday productions over the past nine years but will do the play instead this year.
The play involves 11 players, a large production for the group, Averill said. Four of the players are KU students. They are Kelly Christensen-Larsen, Omaha, Neb. junior, Mark Sullina senior, Todd Tibles, Lawrence junior, and Rosary Terrell, Lawrence graduate student.
The players are performing also at private Christmas parties, Averill said.
Also at the Lawrence Arts Center will be several crafts classes and workshops for adults and children. A workshop on candlapping will be conducted from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 12. The fee is $7 and $5 for materials. Advance registration is required, and participants should bring a pair of scissors and objects such as decorative wood or shells that could be placed in candles.
Two classes will take place Dec. 18 at the Arts Center. A class on stained glass windows and ornaments will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Advance registration is required, and there is a
fee of $8.50. Participants will work with cellophane and black paper, to be provided.
Two different sessions of a children's class in making felt holiday stockings will also take place Dec. 18 at the Arts Center. The session for children ages 2 1/2-3 will be from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. The session for children ages 4-6 will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. You must register in advance and pay a fee of $50.
Two bands, Clique and Plain Jane, will perform in a concert starting at 8 p.m. Monday through March 15 at the Yale Music Center.
A 17-piece band featuring local musicians will provide the music for a Christmas formal at 9 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Jazzhaus, 926 ½ ; Massachusetts St.
The band, formed by Jazwahus owner Rick McNeely, is to play jazz and "big band" music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller and others. There will be no cover charge.
Other local Christmas-time events will be shown of several "Christmas release" movies.
"Porty- eight Hours" will open at the Hilcrest Theater, Ninth and Iowa streets, next Wednesday. The movie is about a policeman, played by Danny Glover, who is played by Eddie Murphy, in a search for killers.
Open Dec. 17 at the Hillcrest will be "The Dark Crystal," a fantasy adventure featuring non-animated creatures made by Jim Henson and Frank Ox of the Muppets. An old and familiar movie, "Peter Pan," will open Dec. 25 at the Hillcrest.
Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawk star in a love story, "Best Friends," which will start Dec. 17 at the Cinema, 31st and Iowa, "Kiss Me Goodbye," featuring James Cani, Sally Field and Jeff Bridges, adds fantasy to a love story. The movie starts Dec. 27 at the Cinema.
'Nutcracker' has new beginning, tree that grows
The traditional holiday ballet "The Nut-cracker," performed by the Kaw Valley Dance Theater and the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra, this year, the KVDT director said Wednesday.
Kristin Benjamin, choreographic and artistic director for the ballet, said the first scene would be staged as a play with actors rather than as a dance performance. "The 'cracker' is usually done as a ballet throughout."
As it is traditionally danced, the first scene is somewhat boring, she said.
"Doing the first scene as a play livens it up a bit. The people understand sooner what is going to happen next," she said.
"The Nutteracker" will be performed at 8 p.m. Dec. 17, and at 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 18 at the University Theatre in Murphy Hall.
The first scene was changed from a musical to a play by live playwright Racer Averill.
Benjamin said a special effect on the set, a tree designed by a KU staff member, would be
Mark Royer, exhibit designer for the Spencer Museum of Art, said that the tree he was designing would grow from eight feet to 18 feet on stage.
Alfred Lata, lecturer in chemistry, will play the part of Grandfather Drossemelier. Jim Peterson, technical director for the theatre department, will direct the lighting.
Other KU staff members are involved in the production of the olay.
Ten KU students will perform in either acting or dancer roles.
Dancers from the Kaw Valley Dance Theater practice the "Dance of Snowflakes in the 17, and at 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 18 at the University Theatre in Murphy Hall. Land of Snow" for "The Nuttercracker." The holiday ballet will be performed at 8 p.m. Dec.
A singing elf deliverv. handmade art are unique gifts
By VINCE HESS
Staff Reporter
A local business and a local arts group have devised ways of helping Christmas shopping finds new, innovative gifts — and the business has even developed a unique way to deliver the gift.
Chocolate Unlimited, 1601 W. 23rd St., began a "singing elf" delivery service Wednesday. The
John Bowen, co-owner and manager of Chocolate Unlimited, said that the business began the delivery service last year after having established a similar delivery service for the bigger season.
Chocolate Unlimited opened in February 1981 and had a singing bunny deliver cake during the Easter season. Bowen said. The singing telegrams served by the singing telegrams service of a local firm.
A store employee with singing ability, often a KU student, dressed as a bunny and sang a song when delivering candy. The service proved popular, Bowen said, and was repeated during December 1981, but with an employee dressed as an elf.
This year's elf is Kris Cressie, St. Louis
sohomore.
THE CHRISTMAS service also was popular, he said, so Chocolate Unlimited had a singing 'sweetheart' character deliver candy around the room. The service was created the Easter bumpy and new ear of the catered
The people receiving the candy and the song have evidently liked the service, Bowen said, and some have returned the favor to the original sender.
An order for a singing delivery must be placed
"In fact, we've had it go back and forth among couples."
"Oh, they've really enjoyed it," he said.
The customer can choose any of the chocolate treats offered by the store and can even request a specific flavor.
24 hours ahead of the desired time of delivery.
Bowen said. The delivery costs $12 and can be made between 1 p.m.-3 p.m. and 7 p.m-9 p.m.
Gifts delivered under the special service have ranged in value from $2 to $15, be said, and some people have even written their own songs to be sung to a friend or spouse.
DELIVERIES have also been made in public school classrooms and even in KU classrooms. A musical candy deliverer has also gone to private parties and to sports clubs, he said.
The service has taken the Chocolate Unlimited deliverer, whether elk, brown or sweetheart, to local businesses, factories, houses and stores. We have been able to handle people take place during break time, he said.
Bowen said that demand for the service had been good, but not good enough for Chocolate
Unlimited to expand it to other holidays,
although St. Patrick's Day has been considered.
Bowen compared candy deliveries to flower deliveries. Flowers are given for gifts in the United States, he said, just as in Europe, candy is given for gifts.
"It's an economical gift, too." he said.
Christmas shoppers seek handmade gifts will find many to choose from at two arts and crafts sales to be conducted in the Lawrence Arts Center, 8th and Vermont streets.
The Lawrence Art Guild, a group of local artists and craftsmans, will sponsor the sales. The first, the annual Holiday Art Fair, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The second sale, called the Gallery of Gifts, will take place Dec. 7-18. The Art Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, but from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays.
"Most of the people exhibiting don't have their
THE HOLIDAY ART FAIR will have work from about 50 Lawrence and Douglas County artists and craftsmen, including some KU students and faculty. The items on sale will include paintings, ceramics, fabric pieces, weaving and woodcraft. Erans said.
work in stores around town" Ann Ezans,
director of the Arts Center, said.
In addition, the Central Junior High choir will sing Christmas songs at 3 p.m.
The Gallery of Gifts will feature mostly artists and craftsmen who were at the Holiday Art Fair and will give shoppers a second chance to see or购 their works they saw at the Holiday Art Fair, Ezans said.
"Most of the people who will be here Sunday will be here next spring." Evans said.
Some, but not all, of the arts and crafts items will have Christmas themes, she said.
The shows are very representative of what we have in Lawrence," she said.
the university orchestra will perform in Vespers at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Hoch Auditorium. They are shown practicing for a performance earlier this year.
Vespers, Nativity, other events to make a KU campus Christmas
By SUSAN O'CONNELL Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
It is December, and worries about final exams and "only 21 shopping days left until Christmas" loom in the minds of students. But the Christmas celebrations, and many are offered on the KU campus.
Vespers will be presented by the department of music in the School of Fine Arts. Students from the Chamber Choir, Concert Chorale, University Singers, University Chorus, University Symphony and the Brass Ensemble will perform under the direction of KU staff members James Ralston, Lon Dennert and George Lawner.
The concert will be at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday in Hoch Auditorium. Admission is free,
but a collection will be taken during the
advance to benefit the Vespers Scholarship Fund.
Before the concert, Albert Gerken, University carilouenne, will play holiday music on the World War II Carillon, Vespers, a tradition at KU for 58 years, will open with "Fanfare for Christmas Day" by Martin Shaw, followed by the traditional processional, "O Conne, All Ye Faithful". Also, the audience will sing "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night."
THE RECESSIONAL will be "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" followed by the finale, "Reces-
An annual "Carolis and Egg Nog" ceremony will be held around a Christmas tree in the rotunda of Strong Hall. The KU Chamber Choir and members of other KU choral ensembles will sing Christmas carols around the树, Ralston, an outdoor sector of choral activities, will conduct the choir.
The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. m. monday
It is held annually on the last day of fall semester
Choir members will sing traditional Christmas songs such as "Silent Night" and "White
Another music program on campus will be the Lawrence Woodwind Quintet. The Quintet will play at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 in the Central Court of the Spencer Museum of Art.
The Spencer Museum of Art will also sponsor an Italian Nativity scene and a display of figures around the base of a pine tree. The pieces were given to KU in 1917 by Sallie Casey Thayer, a Kansas City, Mo., collector who acquired the pieces in Venice in 1914.
The department of music is not the only on-
soonsong Christmas activities.
The KU department of art and design is displaying ceramics, glass, jewelry and textiles in the Ceramic Guild Holiday Craft Sale. The sale runs until 6 p.m. today in the Lobby of
THE NATIVITY SCENE and figures will be on view tomorrow through Jan. 2. 1883. The Museum of the City of New York, the Gallery, the figures will be in the Central Court. The department of music is not the only one
the Union, Proceeds of the sale benefit the KU department of art and design.
The Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas is having a religious service at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 in the Chapel.
Various clubs on campus are also sponsoring holiday events.
The third annual Holiday Celebration will be presented by the office of foreign affairs, the International Club and MECIA, an organization for Mexican students. A variety of cultural activities; folk dances, Venezuelan music and dance will be a few of the activities at the party.
The party will begin at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Satellite Union. Tickets are available from the office of foreign affairs in 384 Rong Hai, the city or the International Club in the Kansas Union.
On campus
CATHOLIC CENTER WORSHIP will be at
12:30 p.m. in Danforth Chanel.
ASTRONOMY CLUB will meet at 8:30 p.m. in
501 Lindley Hall if it is a clear night.
BIOLOGY CLUB will meet at 4 p.m. in the Sunflower Room of the Kansas Union.