Musical contains wit and stresses freedom
By Ines Shuk
Kenyan staff write
Kansan staff write
Something hilarious will happen this weekend in Hashinger Hall.
unl weekend, in tomorrow, about 40 KU students, most of them HASHinger residents, will present "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," a musical based on a play by second century B.C. playwright Titus Maccius Plautus.
The free musical will open at b.p.m. tomorrow in the Hashigan Theater. It also will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
saturday and Sunday.
"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," is a humorous story about a slave, Pseudolus, who will do anything to become a free man. It takes place in a Roman
neighborhood during the time of playwright Plautus.
The musical opened in 1982 in the Alvin Theatre in New York City, starring Zero Mosel. Its music and lyrics were composed by Stephen
Wayne Kruse, Herkimer junior,
plays Pseudo. He said the musical
was sheer comedy characterized by
stylized humor.
styized humor:
"The lines are hysterical," he said.
"The wit is incredible. The message of the show is freedom. It gives you a good feeling about being free and having what we have."
Kruse said preparations for the two-hour musical began in late February, when the 18-member cast and backstage crews were selected.
Julie James/KANSAN
Tim Furnish (Lycus) and Teresa Redden (Panacea)
They rehearsed five days a week.
kruse, who also is the musical's costume designer, said the Hashinger Creative Arts Council chose this production to be performed at the opening of Hashinger's Spring Arts Festival.
Arts Festival.
He said it was chosen because its production was feasible for the $ \mathrm{ha}^{11} $
and because the cast could have fun while working on it.
Melanie Magana, Kansas City, Kan, junior and production director, said the cast had been cooperative and enthusiastic.
"The musical is a pool of everybody's thoughts," she said. "Everybody has been so hip to it."
Becky Waters, Olatee graduate student, who is the show's musical director and producer, said the production had been financed by Hashinger's programming fund. The fund is created through an extra fee paid by Hashinger residents for the purpose of developing artistic activities, among others.
Waters, who also is Haskinger's academic programing coordinator, said about $2,100 was budgeted for the production.
Waters coordinated the musical and vocal aspects of the show, and she directs the nine-member band that will accompany the actors during the performances.
Partially funded by the Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts; additional support provided by the KU Student Activity Fee, Swarthout Society, and the KU Endowment Association.
The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Chamber Music Series presents
The Emerson String Quartet
Philip Serer, Violin Eugene Drucker, Violin
Lawrence Dutton, Viola David Finckel, Cello
with guest artist Claude Frank, Piano
Saturday, April 21, 1990 8:00 p.m. Crafton-Preyer Theatre
Tickets on sale in the Murphy Hall Box Office; student tickets are available at the SUA Box Office, Kansas Union; all seats reserved;
public $14 &$ 11
KU and K-12 students $7 &$ 5.50
senior citizens and other students $13 &$ 10
For commans call 913/864-3982.
for reservations, call 913/864-3982.
...You'll Be Glad You Did!
732 New Hampshire * Lawrence * 843-922
TONIGHT Trip Shakespeare
rackets still available for their National A&M Record Party!
FRI. APRIL 20
FRI. APRIL 20 They Might Be Giants With Very Special Guests The Jack Rubies SOLD OUT!
SAT. APRIL 21
Parlor Frogs
&
Hounddog
Lonesome Hounddogs
SUN. APRIL 22 Special Earth Day Concert Stay Tuned For Details*
LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY Russell Patterson General Artistic Director
Relocated to Music Hall
THE EMEN OF THE GUARD
by Gilbert and Sullivan
by Gilbert and Sullivan
The pageentry and tradition of Merrie Olde England and the Tower of London.
Monday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 25, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 28, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 29, 2:00 p.m.
Tickets priced from $5.00
For more information call:
816/471-7344
Student Rush thirty minutes prior to curtain.
Tickets $3.00 with student ID
The Lyric Opera receives funding from the Missouri Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
USAir The Airline of the Arts.
LIVEWIRE/Thursday, April 19, 1990