KU students make ‘Star Wars’-based film

Kansas University graduate and first-time film director Dennis Ward recently premiered “Stuck on Star Wars.”

The 40-minute romantic comedy follows a 28-year-old “Star Wars”-obsessed, Gen-X slacker as his life begins to parallel the story of the original Star Wars film. The film features a life-size replica of the original film’s Millennium Falcon, which the main character is constructing in his best friend’s back yard.

The film, produced for $7,000 and shot on digital video equipment, features numerous Lawrence residents in its cast and crew. The film recently premiered at Kansas City’s Rio Theatre.

The filmmaker’s next milestone will be the inclusion of the film on the Internet independent film site atomfilms.com.

For more information about “Stuck on Star Wars” visit www.mentalwardfilm.com, where you can find video clips, the complete shooting script for the film and information about future screenings.

KU dance faculty’s works in JCCC show

Works by Kansas University dance faculty members Muriel Cohan and Patrick Suzeau will appear in the Kansas City Ballet’s “In the Wings” concerts in the Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 6 p.m. March 10.

Cohan’s work creates rhythmic and melodic counterpoints in response to Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms for Chorus and Orchestra.” Suzeau presents the human family in recurring patterns, creating a layering of activities that contrast with the sparseness of composer Charles Ives’ “Unanswered Question.”

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for students and senior citizens. Tickets can be reserved by calling (913) 469-4445.

Baritone to give recital at KU

Jonathan Retzlaff, a lyric baritone and associate professor of voice and chairman of the voice department at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.

Retzlaff gave his New York debut recital at Carnegie Recital Hall and has since appeared in numerous concert and artist series.

He is accompanied by Enid Katahan, recording artist and educator. The program, which is free and open to the public, includes works by Faure, Caplet, Lopez, Trenet, Poulenc and Debussy.

Children’s choirs plan concert at Free State

The Lawrence Children’s Choir and Choristers will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive.

The concert will feature a variety of vocal selections, including “Come and Sing,” “White Bird, Silver Bird,” “Esurientes Implevit Bonis,” “Bist Du Bei Mir,” “Come to Me, Oh My Love,” “The Mouse Madrigal,” “Moh Lee Hwah,” “Children’s Letters to God,” “Annie Laurie,” “Three South African Settings,” “Lux Aeterno,” “Feel Good,” “The Earth Adorned,” “Regina Angelorum,” “Deo Gracias,” “Rainbow Connection,” “Barbershop Treasures” and “When Peace, Like a River.”

The Lawrence Children’s Choir, directed by Janael Krehbiel, is made up of 74 youths in fourth through eighth grades. The Choristers, a preparatory choir for third- through sixth-graders that’s directed by Pam Bushouse, has 52 members.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children under 11.