UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesdav. August 16; 1995
5E
Liberty Hall brings in best of unknowns
By Mindy Dorf Special to the Kansan
By Mindy Dorf
Blood and guts, big explosions and hot romance are the normal fare for movies today.
But one place in Lawrence offers students a different choice.
Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. is unique because it shows independent and foreign films.
Independent movies, or special interest movies, often are centered on controversial issues such as homosexuality, or feature storylines that don't try to follow the commercial ideal with overdone effects and the perfect ending, said Scott Bliss, cinema operator at Liberty Hall.
Carson Maddox, Overland Park graduate, who frequents Liberty Hall about once a week, said he preferred independent and foreign films.
"It's nice to see something that doesn't try to fit into the constraints of Hollywood," Maddox said. "There are always the same plots and the same stars in the normal Hollywood fare. That's good, but it's nice to see something a bit more adventurous."
“四 Weddings and a Funeral,”
“Sex and Zen,” “La Familia” and
Academy Award-Winning "Belle Epoque" are some of the movies that have been featured at Liberty Hall.
"The films are generally of a better quality," Bliss said. "Independent companies give the writers and directors more freedom. Most of the people who make the movies are doing it for the love of making movies."
The main difference between commercial theater and independent theater is that independent theaters must work with less money.
Bliss said that one independent movie, "El Mariachi," was made for $7,000. Columbia Pictures worked with the director for the sequel, which cost $7 million.
Even large studios are recognizing the market in independent films.
"It's the hip thing now for big companies to have smaller independent companies of their own," Bliss said. "Disney bought the independent 'Miramax, Sony has Sony Classics and New Line has Fine Line."
The foreign films brought to Liberty Hall might not normally be seen in the typical theater. Bliss said that many people avoid watching foreign films because they do not want to read subtitles, a flimsy excuse. Bliss
works directly with the film distributors and is often put on a waiting list since Lawrence is such a small market. He chooses what movies to show based on customer requests, what has been popular, and sometimes what he would like to see.
Bliss said that the theater had developed quite a following.
"On a good day about 100 people will come to watch a movie," Bliss said.
It is hard to predict exactly what movies will be coming to the theater because sometimes Bliss will not order the movie until the week he wishes to show it.
The movies generally run from three to four weeks, although less-popular movies may only run the two week minimum and popular movies, like "Pulp Fiction," which ran for 30 weeks, may run much longer.
Two movies are already scheduled for August: "Robert Crumb" on Aug.11, and "Burnt by the Sun" in late August, which received the Oscar for Best Foreign Film.
Tickets prices are $5 for adults, $3.25 for all matrons, senior citizens and children. The theater is open every day except Christmas from 11
a. m. to 11 p.m.
Liberty Hall is not only a cinema. The 108-seat small theater always shows movies, but the 450-seat big theater also can be rented out for concerts and other functions.
Liberty Hall has a video store different from typical video stores, said Kristi Yascot, video store manager.
Tim Griffith, manager of the theater, said that concert acts were booked by promoters who wanted the bands to play in Lawrence and rented Liberty Hall. The Hall itself does not go in search of acts.
"What makes us different from chain stores is that we have a much wider variety," Yascot said. "We lean more towards carrying foreign films, art films and cult films."
Liberty Hall, which has been in existence since 1856, has been a place for community involvement from the beginning. It has been used as a meeting house, an opera house, a movie theater and a music hall.
It's motto, Griffith said, has been "Lawrence's Historic Home of Entertainment and Assembly."
"Liberty Hall is for the whole community from grandparents to children," Griffith said.
Renegades break usual mold for theatre
Group performs shows written by its members
By Mindy Dorf Special to the Kansan
Inside a door that says "ENTER," actors buzz around rehearsing the next night's show. The smell of stale smoke hangs in the air, a remnant from the actors' last outside break.
One actor whips out a water gun and by the end of the run-through, all the actors are on stage with guns in hand and their clothes darkened with water splotches.
These are the members of Lawrence's "best kept secret," the Renegade Theatre Company, a nonprofit organization. Founded by Doug Delaney about 3 l/2 years ago, the group began performing straight drama at the Lawrence Arts Center, 200 W. Ninth St.
In December 1992 the theatre moved to 518 E. Iighth St., its current residence, and decided to start something new, something never seen
before in Lawrence.
And the East Side Comedy Shop was born.
"We are the only sketch comedy troupe of our kind in the Midwest," said Renegade member Shawn Trimble, a Lawrence graduate student in religion. "We don't do improv, but original sketches written, directed and acted by members."
Jill Girardo, Renegade member and a Lawrence graduate student in the theatre, said, "We do high quality, professional work. It's for people who like to have a good time and laugh — especially for people who liked Saturday Night Live when it was good. Second City and Kids in the Hall. And it's here locally in Lawrence instead of on TV"
Since opening, the Renegade Theatre has performed more than 30 main stage productions and the East Side Comedy Shop has built a following.
The theatre itself has 60 seats. The seats are well-worn red velvet and look like they have been rescued from an old movie theater. All members of the company do everything from writing, acting, and directing, to cleaning
Renegade Schedule
July 7-8, 14-15 — East Side Comedy Shop, 90210 Beyond Stupid Aug. 3-6 — "Rough Stock," an original, full-length by Ric Averill Aug. 25-26 — "Twilight," an original by Shawn Michael Trimble Sept. 8-9, 15-16 — East Side Comedy Shop, F.M.Y.H.A.L. Nov. 10-12 — "My Last Confession," an original by Doug Delaney Dec. 8-9 — East Side Comedy Shop, Up the Elves For more information call (913) 842-8808.
up after performances.
"We try to make it a participatory system, not a hierarchy," said Julie Chappell, Renegade Theatre assistant manager, who works in KU's department of special education.
For that reason, Chappell said, there was not a "star" of the company because everyone does everything equally.
Although the theatre resembles anarchy with members playfully
shooting their water guns at each other, it is clear that Delaney — a modern Mr. Clean with a clean-shaven face, bald head, sunglasses and big muscles — is truly in charge.
The Renegade Theatre, composed of about 35 members, is diverse. The members come from all kinds of backgrounds from academic scholars to students to artists to singers.
"One unique thing about the Renegade Theatre is that our membership includes ages from 14 to 48." Chappell said.
For the past 2 1/2 years, the Renegades have been performing the Comedy Shops monthly with periodic original play performances. This year they decided to expand their schedule for more original plays written by members and to cut down the number of Comedy Shops.
The members do not receive any money for their work, but they do gain other benefits.
"It's an emotional release," Trimble said. "When you're stressed out by school and work, it's a good place to vent out frustrations with some goofiness."
WE DRIVE INTO THE FUTURE WITH NEW PLAYS!
FALL 1995
8 PM Sept. 23 Staged reading of Melville's Billy Budd, an adaptation by Joyce Adler. Spencer Art Museum Auditorium. Free.
8 PM Oct. 12-14 Full production of original one-acts by KU students Will Averill and Bo Price. ACTF entries. Lawrence Arts Center. $5.
8 PM Nov. 9-11 Full production of Topple the World, original script by KU student Ken Willard. ACTF entry. Lawrence Arts Center. $5.
2:30 PM Nov. 12
SPRING 1996
8 PM Feb. 12 Staged reading of Grandpa's Ghosts, original script by KU student Raoul Berman. 100 Smith Hall. Free.
8 PM Mar. 14-17 Full production of No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre. Cosponsored by the KU Western Civilization Program. Lawrence Arts Center. $5.
8 PM Apr. 13-15 Staged readings of our own "Final Four" competition of new one-act plays by KU students. Plays TBA. 100 Smith Hall. Free.
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