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University Daily Kansan
Mancini Appearance Climaxes Months of SUA Preparation
As the stage lights dim, and Henry Mancini and his orchestra begins to play tomorrow night, few of the thousands of people in Allen Field House will realize that the performance is the culmination of months of planning and preparations by KU students.
Bringing a performer like Henry Mancini or Harry Belafonte to campus begins many months before the actual performance. The Student Union Activities Board voted last fall to bring Mancini to campus for their Spring Concert.
A limited number of $2.25 seats for the Henry Mancini concert in Allen Field House Saturday night are now available at the Kansas Union ticket counter and at Bell's Music Store in Lawrence.
Student Union Activities announced today that these tickets became available unexpectedly and may be purchased any time before Saturday afternoon.
THE FIRST STEP was a letter to Mancini's manager stating the time, date, and what KU had to offer in the way of audience approximations, and staging accommodations.
Friday, April 23, 1965
"In March, the tickets, publicity, and programs, and so forth were worked out, and the arrangements committee had nothing to do," Bruce Warren, Emporia sophomore and arrangements chairman said. "Now our work is at its height. We will be working even for the week afterwards taking down the lights, returning the music stands, and taking down the stage."
KU's music department provided the 40 stands, as well as individual lights for the music stands. The grand piano, borrowed from the Kansas Union, presented the problem of moving it from the Union building across the hill to Allen Field House.
THE CONTRACT CALLED for specific equipment for the 40 musicians to use, as well as for Mancini. The equipment included spotlights, music stands, hi-fi microphones and speakers, a grand piano tuned to a specific pitch, a conductor's podium and 40 chairs.
The 50 by 30 foot stage, which is raised to the level of the basketball court, was constructed by KU's building and grounds crew. A black drape with a pink panther, symbolizing one of Mancini's hit recordings, will provide background for the stage.
Warren used files on past SUA concerts to plan for the Mancini performance.
Warren cited the success of the Harry Belafonte Concert held at Homecoming, as one of the reasons that the SUA Board was able to successfully invite Mancini.
problem today. Arrangements for dressing rooms for the musicians, a press conference room and the coaches' lounge for Mancini and Josh White Jr., special guest on the program, were also made by the committee.
A moving van will solve the
TWENTY POLICEMEN, under the supervision of Chief E. P. Moomau, will handle the traffic before and after the performance. Parking areas include the large zone just north of the Field House, O-Zone, and all zones around the Field House area.
Mancini and the musicians, most of whom are from the Kansas City area, will be among those driving to Lawrence.
As a special precaution, the Kansas Turnpike Authority was notified that an expected 500 to 800 cars would be coming to Lawrence. This will allow gate keepers to prepare for the cars and possibly prevent delays or traffic jams on the highway.
"When one performer scores a success, the word is passed around among other artists, and it makes it much easier to get name performers to come." Warren said.
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