Lawrence writer wins national poetry award

Lawrence poet Nedra Rogers received the 2003 Council on National Literatures Poetry Award.

The award is presented by Potpourri, a literary arts magazine.

Rogers won $500 and publication on Potpourri’s Web site, www.potpourri.org in the fall issue of the magazine.

Rogers is an educator at the Juvenile Detention Center in Lawrence. She began writing poetry seriously about six years ago when her five children were “out on their own.” Her work has been published in Coal City Review. This is her first major award.

Final selection of the winning poem was made from blind submissions by Anne Paolucci, award-winning poet, playwright and president of the Council on National Literatures, an educational foundation based in Middle Village, N.Y.

E.M.U. Theatre to mark fifth anniversary

Lawrence’s E.M.U. Theatre will celebrate its fifth anniversary by restaging David Mamet’s “Oleanna” and Samuel Beckett’s “Endgame” Friday and Saturday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H.

“Oleanna” will be at 7 p.m., and “Engame” will be at 10 p.m. Local band 2 to Tango will play at 9 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday.

In its first five years, E.M.U. Theatre (with no permanent rehearsal or performance space and staffed entirely by volunteers) has produced works by more than 30 Kansas authors, as well as plays by Lee Blessing, Sam Shepard, the Futurists and David Mamet. This event marks E.M.U.’s 18th production and will showcase two plays previously produced in Lawrence by E.M.U.

“Oleanna” will include the original artistic team and cast from its May 2002 production with Erin Jones directing. “Endgame” was first performed by E.M.U. last May. James Benkard will direct.

Tickets are $5 per show or $8 for both. E.M.U. alumni get half-price tickets. For more information, call 331-4458.

K.C. Renaissance fest to open 27th season

The Duke of York leans in to tell the Duchess a secret at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. The annual event begins next weekend.

Bonner Springs — The Kansas City Renaissance Festival opens its 27th season next weekend in a wooded area in the Bonner Springs countryside.

Each year the festival takes visitors back to the 16th century with food, drink, fashion, jousting, games, music and pageantry.

Each of the seven weekends has a theme; here’s a look at the lineup:

• Oceans of Desire, Saturday-Sept. 1.
• Veils of Silk, Sept. 6-7.
• Knights of Valor, Sept. 13-14.
• Flames of Passion, Sept. 20-21.
• Heart of the Highlands, Sept. 27-28.
• Roman Carnival, Oct. 4-5.
• Mists of Eire, Oct. 11-13.

Festival hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission is $14.95 for adults, $13.50 for students and seniors, $6.95 for children ages 5-12, and free for children under 5. Two-day and season passes are available.

For more information, call (800) 373-0357 or visit www.kcrenfest.com.