Theater group plays local role
By Umut Bayramoglu Special to the Kansan
Although Mike Cormack had been interested in acting since junior high, he waited until his youngest child went away to college to walk on stage again. Thirteen years ago he heard of two plays being cast, so he took a chance.
"I ended up getting not one but two parts from each play and had to make a decision." Cormack said.
Cormack, who recently retired from his position as a teacher and administrator in the Lawrence School District, volunteers at the Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 New Hampshire St., every year.
Actors read through Lost in Yonkers, a play by Neil Simon, at the Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 New Hampshire St. The group encourages everyone to try out for parts.
Geoff Krieger / KANSAN
The theater is a self-supporting, nonprofit organization and has been in Lawrence since 1977.
"We have about 500 volunteers in the course of a year, which is a great way to meet people," said Mary Doveton, managing artistic director.
The theater presents six major productions a year: two musicals and four dramas or comedies.
"Our primary goal is to provide quality productions for the people of Lawrence," Doveton said.
The theater has a "thrust stage," which means that unlike auditoriums in which all of the seats are in front of the stage, seating is on three sides of the stage.
said.
The auditions are open to everyone and usually are held eight weeks before the show. Doveton said.
"One of the nice things about a community theater is being able to find people with the right age for the role," Doveton
"Since nobody is seated more than 20 feet away from the stage, it creates a really intimate atmosphere," Doveton said. "With the audience being really close to the action, there's always a nice chemistry between the actors and the audience."
The theater also is the home for exhibitions of artists that belong to the Lawrence Artists Guild.
Doveton said that with every new play there is a new exhibit in the theater's green room, and during intermissions volunteers sell coffee and desserts in the room.
"We try to create a relaxed, informal atmosphere where people can enjoy some local art and meet friends." Doveton said.
In addition to the six productions a year, the theater offers classes for children during school holidays. Drama and art camps for children usually have themes, such as Halloween.
Doveton said the theater also offered acting and lights classes for adults, but she said there was not a schedule for those.
During Halloween, volunteers for the Community Theatre put up a haunted house at the Douglas County Fairgrounds to raise money for the theater.
"Since we aren't a part of an umbrella organization, we need to support our theater." Doveton said.
The Lawrence Community Theatre invites individuals to volunteer for committees that will be involved in its development. Committees include facilities, business memberships, landscaping, benefit dinners and intermission hospitality.
Cormack, whose most recent role for the theater was Col. Gillweather in October's play, Something's Afoot, said interested individuals should at least sign up for the
mailing list.
"It's a group activity," he said. "Whether you act, design sets or sell cookies, it's an opportunity to have fun."
In December, the theater will perform Lost In Yonkers, a Pulitzer and Tony award-winning play by Neil Simon.
Auditions for Cemetery Club, a play by Ivan Menchell, will be held Nov. 25 and 26. For more information, call 843-7469.
November 5,1996 The Hill
Community Outreach
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