Lied Center officials like to say the venue’s first community is the Kansas University community, which translates to lots of valuable results for KU students.

For instance, all student tickets to events at the Lied are half price. So even shows in the Broadway Series, for which the general public pays $42, are just $21 for students — not much more than a movie for two and popcorn.

The center also tries to support academic programs university-wide by putting artists in classrooms. And more than 100 students work at the Lied Center in the design and marketing departments, the box office and on the technical crew. All positions are paid, and Lied Center representatives will be at the fall job fair Sept. 18 at the Kansas Union with more information.

Finally, students have a substantial say in which acts come to the Lied Center stage. This season’s highlights include appearances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble; Broadway hits like “Cats,” “Fame” and “Grease”; returning favorites Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Diavolo Dance Theater and minimalist composer Philip Glass, who will appear with Bang on a Can All-Stars and Terry Riley in May 2004; and Japanese drumming troupe Wadaiko Yamato.

Included in the All Arts Package, which students can purchase when they enroll, are six Lied Center events — one in each of the Lied series. The package, which also entitles students to see five University Theatre shows and six performances presented by KU’s music and dance department, is $124.

Here’s a look at the season through December:

Concert Series

l 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8, Miami City Ballet.

l 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Murray Perahia, conductor and piano soloist.

Swarthout Chamber Music Series

l 2 p.m. Oct. 12, Takács Quartet.

l 2 p.m. Nov. 9, eighth blackbird, contemporary chamber sextet.

New Directions Series

l 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

l 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, Aquila Theatre Company in “Othello.”

Broadway & Beyond Series

l 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20, “Fame.”

l 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15, Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man.”

Lied Family Series

l 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9-10, “Sing-A-Long Wizard of Oz.”

l 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Scrap Arts Music, cutting-edge percussion.

World Series

l 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10, Woven Harmony, Robert Bluestone, classical guitarist, and Rebecca Bluestone, tapestry artist.

l 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1, Wadaiko Yamato, the Drummers of Japan.

l 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, La Bottine Souriante, French-Canadian ensemble.

Special Events

l 8 p.m. April 17, Yo-Yo Ma with the Silk Road Ensemble.

l 7 p.m. Aug. 22, Alison Brown Quartet.

l 6 p.m. Aug. 22, Family Arts Festival and Birthday Party.

Education Events

l 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 14, school-only performances, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

• For a look at the Lied Center’s complete season schedule, please see the calendar, Page 19E.