+
+
arts & culture
HOROSCOPES
WHAT'S YOUR
SIGN?
Aries (March 21-April 19) Relax and enjoy time with friends and family today and tomorrow. Partnerships seem easier for the next month, with Venus in Libra. Compromise comes easier. Enjoy the people you love.
KANSAN.COM | MONDAY, AUG. 29, 2016
Taurus April 20-May 20)
(April 20-May 20)
There's more work over the next month, with Venus in Libra, and it's fun and profitable. Home and family draw you in today and tomorrow.
Love juvenates you.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Write and communicate today and tomorrow. You're especially lucky in love for the next month, with Venus in Libra. Artistic efforts work in your favor. Discover extraordinary beauty.
[June 21-July 22]
Today and tomorrow are good for making money.
Your home is your love nest
Beautify your environment,
with Venus in Libra. Pour love on home and family.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Tend your garden
(July 23-Aug. 22)
You're getting stronger and more sensitive today and tomorrow. Trust your heart to lead. Your communications savvy grows, with Venus in Libra this month. Feed your
Leo
insatiable curiosity.
Virgo
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Reflect on the road ahead. Pay attention to your dreams today and tomorrow. This month can get especially profitable, with Venus in Libra. Infuse your work with
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Develop team strategies through tomorrow. Your luck in love improves immensely, with Venus in your sign for the next month. You're irresistible. Try a new haircut
or style
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Career matters engage you today and tomorrow.
Symbolism and spirituality comfort your heart over the next month, with Venus in Libra. Revel in peace and quiet. Get lost in beauty.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
[NOV. 22-Dec. 21]
You're especially popular this next month, with Venus in Libra. Group activities thrive. Get out in the public spotlight. Social life benefits your career. Travel, study and explore today and
tomorrow.
Capricorn
Capitol (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Over the next two days, manage financial accounts.
Take on more responsibility for the next month, with Venus in Libra. Your career blossoms, especially when you follow your heart.
you follow your heart.
Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb.18)
(SEP 2016-FEB 18)
Coordinate with your partner for powerful collaboration over the next two days Explore, study and discover new frontiers (of your personal passion) this coming month, with Venus in Libra.
Pisces
Alex Robinson/KANSAN
(Feb.19-March20) Work demands your attention over the next few days Increase your shared assets The next month is good for saving money,with Venus in Libra.Set up automatic
Alex Robinson/KANSAN
Alex Robinson/KANSAS Jeanne and Rie Avell all graduated from the University, after meeting there in 1970 and marrying in 1972.
payments.
Jeanne and Ric Averill, University alumni, are playing the Grandmother and the Old Dog, respectively, in the Lawrence Arts Center. They estimate they have played in hundreds of plays together, their years together
Married alumni fixtures of arts community
▶ COURTNEY BIERMAN
@courtbierman
The Lawrence Arts Center debuted its production of "Little Red Riding Hood" Friday night. Written by regular Arts Center collaborator Max Bush, the show is a darker take on the fairy tale familiar to most. For two cast members, married University alumni Ric and Jeanne Averill, the show is somewhere around the 300th production they've worked on.
The Averill have been part of Lawrence's art community for over 40 years. They met in 1970 at the Vassar Playhouse near Pamona, where they played the love interests in the theater's summer production of "The Fantasticks."
"We were dating other people, and we fell in love." Ric said. "And it's been madness and joy ever since."
A large part of their
contribution to Lawrence has been through the Lawrence Arts Center. Since the Averills came to Lawrence in the early 70s to attend the University, the Arts Center has allowed them to wear a number of hats; they've been writers, actors, directors and producers. Jeanne's first job out of high school was running the Arts Center's summer theatre program.
"Ric and Jeanne make a terrific, multitalented combination to the Lawrence Art Center and to Lawrence, and we're very lucky to have them a part of their lives," said Susan Tate, the Lawrence Arts Center's CEO.
Both Ric and Jeanne finished their undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University. Ric graduated from the University with a bachelor's degree in music composition in 1972, and Jeanne graduated with a B.S. in education a year later. They both received master's degrees in theatre in
the following years.
By 1974 the Averills had gotten married, had their first child and started their own youth theatre company, the Seem-To-Be Players. In partnership with the Lawrence Arts Center, the troupe traveled for more than 30 years performing original shows for children around the country, many of which were written by Ric.
Subsequent decades saw the Averills take on multiple personal and professional roles. When they weren't touring together, Ric was likely to be away from Lawrence working as an artist in residence or promoting an independent project. Jeanne was employed as an English teacher at Lawrence High School and took care of their children, but she said she didn't mind. Living in Lawrence allowed her to be involved in an artist community while still being able to have a family.
really important to me, and I never figured I could do that nearly as well in New York or L.A.", Jeanne said. "[In Lawrence] I was able to kind of do both."
"Raising a family was
Ric and Jeanne both credit the Lawrence art community for their success over the years.
"It is a nurturing and supportive community environment," Ric said. "Sometimes we wish we had bigger audiences at any show — you always wish that. And that's the dichotomy of Lawrence: you wish it were bigger, but if it were bigger, it might be a little less personal."
When the Averills do leave Lawrence, it's for good reason. Between the two of them, they've worked with names such as Ang Lee, Haley Mills, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hurt and Patty Duke on a number of small films and other productions.
Today the couple are as active as ever. Ric has been fully employed by the Lawrence Arts Center as its Artistic Director of Performing Arts since 1999. Jeanne retired from teaching to devote more time to theatre in Kansas City, Mo., where she's acted in most of the major, professional venues. She's also teaching a basic acting class at the University for the fall semester.
Although they've spent most of their careers as collaborators, they're grateful for the opportunity "Little Red Riding Hood" gives them to work together again.
"The last 20 years we've actually had a little more time to cultivate our own work separately," Ric said. "And when we do come back together, it's just a treat and a marvel."
Jeanne added, "We just love what we do. I think it's the key to health and happiness. And also doing it where you're doing it with other people who share that love."
James Gunn receives lifetime teaching award
▶ JOSH MCQUADE
@L0neW0lfMcQuade
After dedicating over 60 years of his life to teaching, James Gunn, professor emeritus at the University and award-winning author, was granted a lifetime teaching award from the Writing the Rockies writers conference of Western State Colorado University.
Gunn was first notified of his opportunity to accept the award several months before the conference.
"It was a surprise. I never expect to get awards for my work," Gunn said. "Although I was a little concerned that it was going to be awarded in Gunnison, Colorado where the elevation is 7,500 feet."
It was a surprise. I never expect to get awards for my work."
Professor James Gunn received a lifetime achievement award from the Writing the Rockies writers conference.
James Gunn University professor
The Writing the Rockies conference organizers noticed that many of Gunn's students have begun successful careers in writing after graduation. The most notable being three awardwinning science fiction authors; Pat Cadigan, Brad Denton and John Kessel.
Gunn would not have been able to teach these students, however, had there not been any science fiction classes at the University. Gunn created the University's science fiction courses and programs, including the Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction. One of Gunn's current colleagues, Kij Johnson, attended one of Gunn's early writing workshops held through the University.
Contributed Photo/KANSAN the Rockies writers conference.
Johnson is a fellow award-wining author who works alongside Gunn as a faculty member, which gives her a front row seat to Gunn's writing classes. She said she remains impressed to this day on the impact Gunn has on his students.
"The first workshop I went to I thought he was a brilliant teacher, but every time I went back to his workshop, I would learn even more," Johnson said.
"He will make writers out of all of his students," Johnson said. "He will take a good writer and make them great. He will take a great writer and make them a professional. Then he will take a professional writer and make them an award-winning writer."
The Writing the Rockies conference has added another award to Gunn's already full trophy case. According to Gunn, two of his
most notable achievements are the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award, accepted in 2007 for his lifetime achievement in science fiction and fantasy, and being inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2015.
"I sent (the story) off to a couple of magazines that rejected it, and then I sent it to a third magazine called 'Thrilling Wonder Stories,'" Gunn said. "Then one day I got a letter in the mail from
Gunn's first science fiction story was written in
the editor and he said "I like your story. I'll pay you 80 dollars for it."
Over 60 years later, Gunn is now the recipient of seven writing awards, has written over 100 stories and 45 books and is still impacting the lives of students at the University.
Kansas City, Mo. after he spent some time at Northwestern University studying playwriting.
.
+