thursday, may 6,2004
news
the university daily kansar
3A
Theater company releases first play
By Dave Nobles
dnobles@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Frantic dialogue and rapid-fire humor highlight the first play by an upstart theater company.
The Rough Draft Theater Players put together both the company and the play, called Holy Ship, in about a month.
Theatre.
Griffin said that Rough Draft Theater would develop playwrights, rather than use established scripts like other theater groups in the area.
"Each time we do a performance, it's a learning experience," Griffin said. "I think that's the best way to develop your talents. We're learning every step of the way."
Ship, Joseph Griffin, University of Kansas alumnus and theater company founder, said he started the group as a way to learn the art of play writing.
While attending the University Griffin took play writing classes and had some of his plays produced by the English Alternative Theatre.
groups in the area For its first effort, the company has held auditions themselves and has been rehearsing for more than two weeks in preparation for tonight's performance.
He said the play was coming along well, considering the fast pace at which they've thrown everything together.
SHOWTIMES
"We're trying not to take ourselves too seriously," Griffin said. "We might as well have fun with
The Rough Draft Theater Players will perform Holy Ship at 9 tonight at the Ad Astra Art Gallery, 205 W. 8th St. The play will also be performed at 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at the door for $4.
it."
Having fun was the main goal of Holy Sh罪 playwright Chris McNulty, Lawrence resident.
The play is the story of what would happen if the world flooded again and the television network FOX built an ark to film a reality TV series. Characters on the boat include Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Rivers and Carlton Heston.
ton.
McNulty, who also helped start the company, said he was getting frustrated with the time it took for other companies to produce plays.
plays. He said the humor in Holy Ship was too up-to-date and couldn't wait the six months it usually would take for a production to develop.
McNulty and Griffin both play roles in the performance, but many of the actors are KU students.
In the next few months, Rough Draft Theater plans to produce six hour-long plays.
dents. Candice Bondank, Overland Park freshman, as well as the other actors, will be playing multiple roles in the play.
Bondank will take on the role
of Carmen Electra, among others.
She said that producing a play in such a short time frame was challenging but that it kept her on her toes.
The Rough Draft Theater Players have their next project already in their sights, an updated version of the TV show All in the Family called Family
Values.
The new play is scheduled to be performed at the end of May, McNulty said.
McNulty said. "We want to do a show, do it quick and move on to the next one," McNulty said. "We just want to keep everything light and fun for the audience."
- Edited by Ashley Arnold
By Steve Vockrott svockrott@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Senate concludes year with awards, accolades
The efforts of this year's student senators and others involved with their work was recognized last night at the 2nd Annual Student Senate Awards in Leadership and Service.
ship and service. The crowd of about 50 was made up of student senators from both coalitions, committee members and administrators including Richard Johnson, dean of students, and Ken Stoner, director of student housing.
The Student Senate Project of the Year went to online course evaluations, headed by former president Andy Knopp.
"It's a real honor to receive this award," McKenzie said. "I'm happy to see Student Senate appreciates working with those people who work with student groups."
student huddling
Scott McKenzie, CLAS senator, earned a standing ovation at the Kansas Union Ballroom to accompany The Outstanding Student Senator of the Year award.
dent school. "Scott is the king of working with student organizations and writing legislation," said Catherine Bell, former student body vice president.
"It's something Student Senate has been thinking about since the mid-90s." Bell said. "Andv
McKenzie said he was thankful that Senate took an interest in student organizations.
For a complete list of award winners,
go to Kansan.com
Knopp is one of the only people I know with the charisma and leadership skills to pull it off."
ership skills to put it on
Tyler Waldorf and Elissa Hudson were the Outstanding Student Organization Members of the Year for their work on the 2003 Homecoming Steering Committee, which was the Outstanding Student Organization of the Year.
Bell said the committee took Homecoming beyond just a football parade.
The first recipient of the Anthony Daniels Award for Leadership and Achievement in Multicultural Education went to Claudia Mercado, Olathe senior. Anthony "Tony" Daniels is the associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs who is leaving at the end of the semester.
The event was one of the closing activities of the year for Senate.
Johnson said he was pleased with the efforts of this year's administration and looked forward to next year for continued success.
"I think they've done a fine job in looking out for student needs and challenging themselves and the University to look at different projects that enhance our campus," Johnson said.
Edited by Collin LaOie
No bull: Deer thrashes through china shop, shatters front door
By Neeley J. Spellmeier
nspellmeier@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
A deer in a china shop apparently does considerably less damage than a bull.
age than a bum.
A china vase was the only merchandise damaged when a deer crashed though the glass front.
door of Randall's Formal Wear, Caroline Evelyn, Marks Jewelers' employee said.
The deer went through Randall's and into Marks; the two businesses share a back room in the 800 block of Massachusetts Street. Considering the large china department, Marks was lucky, she said.
"We have a dense china department, a lot of stock," she said.
No one was in the stores at the time, between 7:50 and 8:30 a.m., Evelyn said, but the deer was evidently hurt.
The deer then apparently ran through the two stores.
"We found a lot of blood. I think one of the hooves was cut,"
Employees found blood on the window, carpet, couches and some mirrors, which are located in the back of the store, Evelyn said. The deer had apparently tried to exit through the back windows, but the bulletproof glass must have presented a problem, she said.
An officer of the Lawrence Police Department herded the deer out the same door it broke through, Evelyn said.
By the time Randall's employees arrived about 9:30 a.m., the carpet cleaners were already there taking care of the blood and the door had been replaced, employee Martha Brummett said.
A customer told Brummett people had seen the deer running toward the river from downtown, she said.
An owner of Marks was called at home because the deer activated the alarm system, Evelyn said.
— Edited by Guillaume Doane