Steinbeck film festival kicks off at library

The “Steinbeck Centennial Film Series” will be shown Friday nights this month at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt. The series honors the 100th birthday of American novelist John Steinbeck.

The lineup includes “Of Mice and Men,” today; “The Grapes of Wrath,” April 12; “Tortilla Flat,” April 19; and “East of Eden,” April 26. All films are at 7 p.m. and will be introduced by Ron Wilson.

The film series is free and open to the public.

Animal activism film slated at Liberty Hall

“The Witness,” an award-winning film about how a construction contractor who becomes an impassioned animal activist, will be shown at

1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Liberty Hall, 644 Mass.

The film, which features music by Sarah McLachlan, is sponsored by Animal Outreach of Kansas, a nonprofit animal advocacy group based in Lawrence.

Admission is $3.

Prize-winning pianist to give recital

Angela Kornilova, a past prize winner in the Vianna da Motta International Music Competition, will perform at

3 p.m. Sunday in Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall at Kansas University.

She has performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony and the Kiev Symphonic Orchestra. Kornilova has also given recitals in Germany, Russia, Italy and Israel.

The recital is free and open to the public.

Audience helps solve interactive murder

“Murder.com,” an interactive murder mystery produced by the Repertory Theater of America, will be presented at 7 p.m. Monday in the Kansas Union Ballroom at Kansas University.

The play follows high-tech billionaire Gil Bates, who has organized a banquet to celebrate the grand opening of his newest Web site, which links professional and amateur crime solvers to share information and attempt to solve crimes.

Shortly into the gala, Bates is found dead. The actors, audience and international crime-solving community work together to determine who killed him.

Admission is $10 with a KUID and $15 without a KUID. Tickets are available at the Student Union Activities Box Office in the Kansas Union.

More information is available by calling the SUA office, 864-7469.