The University Daily Kansan
Monday, June 24, 2013
Page 9
ARTS
Lawrence community theater opens new location
CALEB SISK
csisk@kansan.com
A Lawrence staple has received a substantial facelift. The Theatre Lawrence, Lawrence's community theater, has officially moved into its new location near Lawrence Free State High School.
The theater originally operated out of a renovated church that had limited seating and space. With a new venue to perform in, the members of the troupe are excited to now have a space of their own.
"You can turn around in the dressing room and not bump into anybody," Steve Bremer, a volunteer since 1984, said.
The theater began in 1977, and outside of executive staff members, it consists of volunteers from the community. A diverse range of professions make up the group of actors and technical crew that work on each production.
This new location was made possible by the donations from more than 700 members of the local community. At the top of the list of donors are Hortense "Tensie" Oldfather and
Mabel A. Woodyard, or the "Leading Ladies" as the members of the theater call them. These women made donations of $1 million each and continue to support the efforts of the troupe.
Free State Holdings gave the theater the land it needed to build the new facility. The troupe will perform the show "Ragtime" through the rest of the month and into July. The show is a story of racial strife and poverty conflict in turn-of-the-century America.
"We want to showcase the talents from the community, and this is an opportunity to perform in an exciting show and to bring that show to the public," said Mary Doveton, executive director of the Theatre Lawrence.
The theater will also offer acting and dance workshops to the public in the future.
The theater maintains a working relationship with the KU Theatre Department and the troupe is always looking for new volunteers.
Visit www.theatrelawrence.com for more details.
Edited by Allison Kohn
This collection of native masks from around the world hangs in the lobby of the new Theatre Lawrence. Eleanor Woodyard, the wife of the late professor George Woodyard, donated the display.
ERIN BREMER/KANSAN