Tsubaki to be honored at Kennedy Center

Andrew Tsubaki, professor emeritus of theater at Kansas University, has been selected as a Fellow of the American Theatre and will be honored April 21 at the John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

The honor is given by the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. Membership in the college is one of the highest honors theater educators and professionals can confer on their peers.

On the KU faculty since 1968, Tsubaki taught in the departments of theater and film and East Asian languages and cultures. He directed the International Theatre Studies Center. His specialties are Japanese theater forms Noh, Kyogen and Kabuki. He holds a fourth-degree black belt in Ki-Aikido and is head instructor for the Kansas Ki Society.

Kaw Valley chorus to perform ‘Requiem’

The Kaw Valley Community Chorus will present three performances of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Requiem” this month.

The performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 6001 W. 15th St.; 3 p.m. April 21 at West Haven Baptist Church, Tonganoxie; and 7:30 p.m. April 26 at First Christian Church, 148 N. Nettleton, Bonner Springs.

The choir, made up of 40 amateur singers ages 18-75, is directed by Gary Weidenaar, a doctoral student at Kansas University. The concert also will feature a full orchestra and soloists.

Weidenaar said the presentation of “Requiem” is a remembrance of the Sept. 11 tragedy as well as a memorial to friends and family who have died in the recent past.

Weidenaar said the chorus hopes to raise $8,000 to pay for hired musicians, church use fees, program printing and other expenses. The singers have raised about $4,500. The chorus is funded by dues, ticket sales and donations.

Admission to the Lawrence concert is free, but donations will be accepted at the door. Admission to the concerts in Tonganoxie and Bonner Springs is $6.

KU Concert Band plans performance at Lied

The Kansas University Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lied Center.

Tom Stidham, associate director of bands, will conduct the Concert Band in “Symphony No. 3, Finale” by Vittorio Gianninni. “Cajun Folk Songs” by Frank Ticheli will be directed by doctoral student Dan Kalantarian. Flutist Sarah Fox will be featured in “Concertino” by Cecile Chaminade.

The second half of the program includes “Canticle” by Elliott Del Borgo, which features the band’s flute section; “The Dragoon’s Farewell,” which traces its roots to the fifth century; and “Arioso and Presto” by KU music professor James Barnes, featuring saxophonist and KU music professor Vince Gnojek.

Admission is $7 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the Lied Center Box Office, 864-ARTS; Murphy Hall Box Office, 864-3982; and Student Union Activities Box Office, 864-3477.

Lawrence writer releases new books

Lawrence resident G. Wayne Parks has four self-published books available at Borders, 700 N.H.

The titles are “Jayhawk Holstein Farm,” “The Joys and Growing Pains of Progress,” “Wild Flower in the Garden” and “The Life of a Fence Builder.”

For more information, contact Parks at 842-6780 or gparks@grapevine.net.

McLouth Patriots’ Day includes quilt show

McLouth  The Kansa Prairie Quilters will have a Patriots’ Day Quilt Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church. The event will be held in conjunction with the McLouth Patriots’ Day Celebration.

Community members are welcome to display their quilts. For more information, call Gay Rofkahr, (785) 841-2472, or Marilyn Sharkey, (785) 842-5479.

Fort Leavenworth homes tour on Saturday

Leavenworth  The annual Historic Homes Tour will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fort Leavenworth.

The tour will feature 11 homes at the fort that represent a variety of architectural and historic interests.

In addition to the tour, a dragoon encampment will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 the day of the event. For more information, call (913) 684-3186.

Actor to portray Groucho Marx

Kansas City, Mo. Â Award-winning playwright-actor Frank Ferrante re-creates his acclaimed portrayal of comedian Groucho Marx in “An Evening With Groucho” at 8 p.m. Friday at the Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St.

The revue tells the story of the Marx Brothers through the eyes of Groucho, his life and music of his time.

Admission is $25. For tickets, call (816) 474-4444.

Authors to lead Kansas, Missouri tours

Topeka  Authors Tom and Deb Goodrich will lead tours of Kansas and Missouri sites on April 27 and May 11.

The subjects of the daylong tours are “Bloody Bill Anderson” and “Bleeding Kansas.”

For more information, call (785) 235-0095 or e-mail MTGoodrich@aol.com.

Writing workshop planned in Emporia

Emporia  The Tallgrass Writing Workshop will be June 8-9 at Emporia State University. The cost is $60.

Speakers include Don Coldsmith, Charlotte Hinger, Jon Hoy, W.C. Jameson, Max McCoy and Max Yoho.

For more information, e-mail hoyjames@emporia.edu or johnsonj@emporia.edu.

Thunderbird Theatre to perform for seniors

“Songs of Life,” a play by Thunderbird Theater, will be presented at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Douglas County Senior Services, 745 Vt.

“Songs of Life” is a collection of American Indian stories of how things came to be and the lessons one can learn through watching others or the surroundings. The Thunderbird Theater is made up of Haskell Indian Nations University students.

Refreshments will be provided. To register, call the agency’s Leisure and Living Department, 842-0543. Walk-ins are welcome.