friday, November 14.2003
news
the university daily kansan 3A
Alabama judge may appeal ruling
The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who became a hero to religious conservatives for refusing to remove his granite Ten Commandments monument from the state courthouse, was thrown off the bench yesterday by a judicial ethics panel for having "placed himself above the law."
"I have absolutely no regrets. I have done what I was sworn to do," Moore declared afterward, drawing applause from dozens of supporters at the courthouse. The nine members of the Court of the Judiciary handed out the harshest penalty possible, saying Moore left them with no choice by repeatedly insisting he would never obey a federal judge's order to move the 2 1/2-ton block of granite from the courthouse rotunda.
Moore became a lightning rod for criticism from civil-liberties activists who said the stone tablets promoted religion in violation of the separation of church and state.
"Anything short of removal would only serve to set up another confrontation that would ultimately bring us back to where we are today." the panel said.
A federal judge ordered the monument removed, and it was finally wheeled away Aug. 27 to a storage room on instructions from Moore's eight fellow justices.
Moore. 56, had been suspended since August but was allowed to collect his $170,000 annual salary.
Risqué musical to heat up University Theatre
Moore said he would consult with his lawyers and with political and religious leaders as to whether to appeal and would make an announcement next week that could "alter the course of this country." He did not elaborate.
By Alex Hoffman
ahoffman@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The new Stage Too! Theatre at the University of Kansas will transform into the smoky, provocative setting of 1930s Berlin.
It was a time when nightlife in the German city exuded sexual activity, and where male brothels dominated the social scene. It was also a time when the Nazi movement gathered strength.
And it's where the story of Cabaret begins. The University Theatre starts its string of 12 performances of the popular musical at 7:30 tonight.
John Staniums, artistic director of the University Theatre, staged the show about 10 years ago at the University of Wisconsin in a similar setting to this performance. Stage Tool is built on the stage of Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall and can seat about 320 people around the small platform.
"I have a firm belief that you can take large musicals and pare them down to their component parts to create what is more termed a 'jewel box' version of a show," he said.
One of the four sides of seats surrounding the small stage has tables that suggest a dinner theater feel. There is a considerable amount of spatial intimacy while the actors tell the story. Characters emerge from all sides and can roam up and down the aisles.
learn to display it in the new venue.
Staniums said the 12 actors had to show veratility in each role and
"I think they've taken it like ducks to water," Stanilunas said. "They really love the challenge and they love the excitement about being in a new space."
The musical focuses on an American writer named Clifford Bradshaw who goes to Berlin and gets involved with Sally Bowles, a 19-year-old English girl who works at the seamy Kit Kat Club. While Sally lures Cliff into this world of ill repute, the political unrest in Germany swells.
Allison Gabbard, Topeka senior, said she was excited to play Sally, the role that made Liza Minnelli a star in the 1972 film version.
"I saw my name on the cast list and I couldn't believe it," she said. "I had to stare at it for a while."
Gabbard enjoys Sally's character because of her carefree attitude and the costumes she wears.
"You only get so many chances to have this extravagant a character." she said.
The costumes reflect the times and setting of the Kit Kat Club, where the performers are scantily dressed. Staniunas said there wasn't anything in the show that was objectionable and much was suggested rather than exposed.
Anne Schmader, Leavenworth senior, and the rest of the costume crew worked on the costumes for more than a month. In addition to the Kit Kat Club outfits, another long-term project was the velvet coat
"It's a lot tamer than a lot of the stuff that I see on television and film today," he said.
UNIVERSITY THEATRE
PRODUCTION OF CABARET
Wheat; 7:30 tonight, Wednesday,
Thursday and Nov. 21; 5 and 9
p.m. Tomorrow and Nov. 22; 2:30
and 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Nov.
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Where: Stage Tool Theatre, at the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall
Tickets: $18 for public, $10 for students, $17 for senior citizens, $18 for KJ faculty and staff
Call: University Theatre, 884-3982;
Lied Center, 884-ARTS; Student Union Activities, 884-7469; or order online at www.kutheatre.com
worn by the smarry Emcee, who narrates and keeps the story moving.
"Things that you had questions about before just totally come together," she said. "I'm very excited I got to have a part in that process."
The actors got used to the costumes and the story flow of *Cabaret* in dress rehearsals throughout the week. When it is performed for real, Staniunas said he hoped audiences realized the risks and talent it took to tell the story.
"Actors are athletes, and we are trying to produce a winning season," he said. "The only way we can provide a winning season is if the students support the work of other students on campus."
Edited by Dave Nobles
Allison Gabbard, Topeka senior, practiced her role of Sally Bowels during dress rehearsal Wednesday night at Murphy Hall. “She is spunky,” said Gabbard about her character. *Cabaret* opens tonight at Murphy Hall.
Abby Tillery/Kansan
6 witnesses called in third day of Martin trial
By Lindsay Hanson
ihanson@kansan.com
Kansan senior staff writer
The third day of testimony for the Shannon Martin trial in Golfito, Costa Rica, presented evidence that Martin's mother believes could convict at least one of the trial's three suspects.
Martin, a 23-year-old Teopkaenia, was stabbed to death in May 2001 on a return trip to the Pacific port town where she studied abroad a year earlier. She was collecting fern samples to complete a biology honors thesis.
A second witness testified yesterday that he had noticed scratch marks on the neck of Luis
"Caballo" Castro, 33. But the witness, a boy of about 15 years old who works with Castro, said Castro had attributed the marks to razor burn. His credibility could be questionable because he also testified that he was illiterate and presented dates that were inconsistent, said Tim Rogers, a reporter who was at the trial for Costa Rica's English-
language Tico Times
A female witness called by the prosecution linked the knife, brought into evidence Wednesday, to Castro. The witness said Castro had given it to her as a gift sometime last year.
"If I were Caballo, I would have taken off for Panama by now," said Pete Majierie, the translator for Martin's stepfather, Brad Stauffer.
In total, the defense and the prosecution called six witnesses to the stand yesterday.
Two other suspects, Kattia Cruz, 29, and Rafael "Coco" Zumbado, 52, are also standing trial on a charge of homicide.
Edited by Jonathan Reeder
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