Spencer docents win art education award

Docents at the Spencer Museum of Art have been awarded the Kansas Art Education Association Art Enhancer Award for the year 2002-2003.

The association said the Spencer Docents supported art education by providing art education classes, tours and slide talks to university, K-12 and community groups of all ages.

“The Spencer Docents create the connection between the museum’s resources and the public. Their dedication and enthusiasm for teaching about art and the art museum help make the Spencer accessible and welcoming to the public,” the association said.

Most docents have been involved in the Spencer Docent program for at least 10 years.

Lawrence actors play leading roles in KC show

Kansas City, Mo. :quot; Lawrence residents Ric and Jeanne Averill are playing Ma and Pa Ingalls in the Coterie Theatre’s production of “A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas.”

The production is the seventh adaptation of the Coterie’s Little House series and is based on little-known events from Wilder’s life.

Rick Averill appeared as Pa in “Little House on the Prairie” and recently adapted the Coterie’s production of “Frankenstein.” Jeanne Averill performed in the Coterie’s production of “Little Women.” This marks the first time a real-life husband and wife have played a husband and wife in the Coterie’s Little House series.

The play opened Tuesday at the Coterie, located on level one of the Crown Center Shops. Show times are 10 a.m. and noon Tuesday-Friday, 7 p.m. Fridays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through the end of December. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and children. Tickets are available at the box office at (816) 474-6552.

Toy soldiers subject of antique program

Old metal toy soldier collector Tom Carmody will present a “Know Your Antiques” program Wednesday at Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Mass.

Carmody collected old toys, particularly those from the 1930s and 1940s, at garage sales. Carmody will share information about the manufacture of the toys and anecdotes about how he collected some of his favorites.

The 2 p.m. program is free and open to the public. A donation is suggested.

Examples from Carmody’s collection will be on display Wednesday, as well as reference books to help attendees identify their own toy soldiers. Also in display will be items from the wargaming collection of Fred Geiger, a 1975 graduate of Lawrence High School. Geiger, now an intelligence analyst in Washington, D.C., began his collection in the late 1960s.