Arts notes

Lawrence actors featured in Topeka’s ‘Vanities’

Sally Bremenkamp (left) and Tina Connolly (right) are regulars at Lawrence Community Theatre, but their latest theatrical endeavor has them commuting to Topeka to appear in “Vanities,” which opens Friday.

The women make the trip four times a week to rehearse at Terrance McKerrs’ Theatre Pub in the Downtown Ramada Inn.

“Vanities,” by Jack Heifner, is a nostalgic comedy about three southern cheerleaders coming of age in the 1960s and 1970s. It features ’60s music, TV theme songs and a few radio commercials from the era.

Topeka director Jeanne Chinn previously worked with Bremenkamp and Connolly in Lawrence while directing Lawrence Community Theatre’s “Don’t Dress for Dinner.”

“It was their turn to do some driving,” she said.

“Vanities” plays at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Nov. 15, Nov. 16, Nov. 22 and Nov. 23; and 3 p.m. Nov. 24. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, and can be ordered by calling (785) 297-9000.

Music academy opens in new downtown location

The Americana Music Academy has a new home.

The nonprofit teaching facility that offers lessons in a variety of musical genres in a workshop environment opened Friday at 1419 Mass. The new space is half a block south of Mass Street Music and across the street from Central Junior High.

The academy’s former home was at 745 N.H.

Festival to showcase Nordic heritage

Scandinavian crafts, clothing and traditions will be showcased today at the Nordic Heritage Festival.

The festival, sponsored by the Norwegian Heritage Society, will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 19th and Harper. The suggested donation is $5.

The festivities will begin at 3 p.m. with rosemaling (decorative floral painting) demonstrations, Scandinavian music information and instruments, genealogy, lefse making, hardanger embroidery demonstrations, children’s activities and Norway videos.

At 5 p.m., participants can enjoy a Scandinavian potluck dinner. Guests are asked to bring a covered dish to share.

A national costume show begins at 5:45 p.m. From 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m., Scandinavian fiddler Byron Wiley and the KC Scandinavian Dancers will entertain.