LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
AUGUST 1996 41F
Performers, museum plan Mexican cultural fest
- Kansas University is planning a celebration of Mexican theater and culture.
As a young man, George Woodyard was so interested in Spanish and Portuguese he decided to make it his life's work.
BY JL WATSON
JOURNAL-WORLD WRITER
But Woodyard, dean of Spanish and Portuguese at Kansas University, also had a passion for theater. He combined the two, and in 1966 began publishing "The Latin American Theatre Review."
"I've always been involved in theater," he said. "In the summer of 1966, it just took off."
It wasn't until 1982 that Woodyard decided to help put together a festival celebrating Latin American theater and culture.
"I thought when I first did it that I would do it every 10 years," he said. "I get this bug that bites me."
The bug bit again in 1992, and the festival was so successful that Woodyard couldn't wait another 10 years. The next festival, "Festival de la Cultura Mexicana," is scheduled for 1997, and Woodyard has narrowed the focus from Latin America to Mexico.
"Anyone is welcome to come and talk about anything relating to Latin America, but the real focus is on Mexico," he said. "We'll have people from Chile Colombia and Argentina come; as many as 250 people visiting campus."
One of the guests will be Sabina Berman, author of "Between Pancho Villa and a Naked Lady," which will presented by University Theatre as part of the festival. Woodyard helped choose the play, based on its content.
CELEBRATING MEXICO
Feb.14: Fiesta de la Cultura Mexicana concert with the KU Symphony Orchestra, Lied Center.
Feb. 14-17: Musicology conference on Mexican music, Murphy Hall.
April 4-12: "Between Pancho Villa and a Naked Lady" production, Inge Theater in Murphy Hall.
Feb. 14-April 15:
"Images of the Virgin"
exhibit, Museum of
Anthropology.
May 3-4: University Dance Company and KU Symphony Orchestra concert, Lied Center.
While the theater department was planning its contribution, the Department of Music and Dance had ideas of its own. It was coincidence that music professors Steve Anderson, Paul Laird and Walter Clark decided to focus on a Latin American theme for a series of spring performances.
"It all dovetails nicely," Clark said, "since two of us are Hispanists. My area is Spain and Latin America of the 19th and 20th centuries and Paul Laird's is Spain and Latin America of the 17th and 18th centuries. We thought Mexico would be ideal."
EARL RICHARDSON/JOURNAL-WORLD PHOTO
Images of the Virgin of Guadalupe will be on exhibit as part of "Images of the Virgin," an exhibition that will be on display this fall at the Museum of Anthropology as part of Kansas University's Mexican Festival.
The festival begins Feb. 14 with a concert by the KU Symphony at the Lied Center and a three-day conference.
"It's an Aztec ballet," Clark said. "It's going to be great."
The orchestra will perform again May 3 and 4 with the University Dance Company, performing selections from a ballet by Chavez.
**RKERPEAVETROLANDRHODESSEYMOU/RDUNCANSLIMSOUNDTECHSJUNFTASCAAMTRACEEELLIOYVOXYAMA**
The conference and music, dance and theater performances are all a way to bring the spirit of Mexico closer to KU students and faculty and Lawrence residents.
"We want to reach out to a
large community to bring attention to music and Mexican culture," Clark said. "We usually have a stereotypical and crude picture of Mexico, and the purpose is to show the richness, variety and sophistication of Mexican culture."
ADCOMADVENTAVENTURABOSECANONCARVERCERWIN-VEGACLARIONDAEWOODENONEMERSONFISHERFUNAIGEGOLDSTAR
Located in Our Regional Service Facility Below Hillcrest Theater facing Centennial Drive
MARDNMTACHLDPNNEYFININITYJENSENVCKECKENWOODKTVLOGICMAGNAVOXMARANTZMATSUSHITMAAVAMITSUBISHI(MBA)NADNINTENDONKYOORIONPANASONICHLIPSPIONEERPPOTONUASAR
RCASAMSUNGANSUSIANSYOSCOTTSHARPSONSYSLVLANIASYMPHONICTEACTECHNICSTHOMASTHOMSONTOSTHIBAXR-1000