Soloists to perform with Free State orchestra

Five soloists will perform with the Free State Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday in the Free State High School Auditorium, 4700 Overland Dr.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The soloists are Merry Chadwick, oboe; Hugh Naughtin, baritone; Robert Weinaug, cello; Annie Kettle, french horn; and Taylor Anderson, tuba.

Program highlights include two Haydn concertos for oboe and cello, an aria from Judas Maccabaeus, Richard Strauss’ horn concerto and a tuba concerto composed by Kansas University professor James Barnes.

The orchestra is under the direction of Lynn Basow.

New art space seeking olive-inspired work

A new gallery and art supply venue opening in Lawrence is seeking entries for its first exhibition as well as functional, affordable art to sell in its retail section.

Olive art gallery is set to open later this spring at 15 E. Eighth St. Olive-inspired art — the food or the color — is the subject of the gallery’s first juried show. Artists are asked to bring entries to the gallery from noon to 5 p.m. March 29-30 with an entry fee of $10. Every entry will receive a free T-shirt. To schedule early drop-off appointments, e-mail jill@oliveart.org.

The opening reception will be 5 p.m.-10 p.m. April 5.

The gallery also is calling for local artists who create affordable functional work, such as handmade purses, to sell in its retail section. Those artists are asked to bring their work to the gallery from noon to 5 p.m. March 22-23.

Topeka Civic Theatre to stage ‘Chicago’

Topeka — Before “Chicago” hit the big screen, it wowed audiences on Broadway.

So on the heels of the release of the Academy Award-nominated film, the Topeka Civic Theatre is bringing the steamy Kander and Ebb musical to the stage.

Six Lawrence residents are in the production. Eric Avery, Mario Bonillia, Cydney Fowler, Peter Hansen, Katie Hartman and Kay Traver are part of the ensemble cast and play several other minor roles.

The show opens Friday and runs through March 29.

Set in the roaring ’20s, “Chicago” tells the story of Roxie Hart, a femme fatale sent to prison after she murders her lover. There she meets several other women, including Velma Kelly, a murderess with her own agenda. Both women vie for the attention of a fickle press and the finest criminal lawyer in the city.

“Chicago” opened on Broadway in 1997 and won six Tony awards, including best revival. The score includes “All That Jazz,” “He Had it Coming,” and “Mr. Cellophane.”

Submissions requested for Lied’s anniversary

The Friends of the Lied will select a work of art that will be presented as a lasting gift to the Lied Center in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Kansas University performing arts venue and the 100th anniversary of the concert series.

Deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. April 4. The Friends have budgeted $25,000 for the piece, which will be placed in the Lied Center lobby.

Individual artists or teams of artists are eligible. The Anniversary Lasting Gift Committee will consider any original creation of public art.

For complete guidelines, call 864-3469 or visit www.lied.ku.edu.

Ceramic artist to speak about craft at KU

New England ceramic artist Michael Jones McKean will speak at 6 p.m. Monday at Kansas University’s Spencer Museum of Art as part of the Hallmark Symposium Series.

The talk is free and open to the public.

McKean received his master of fine arts in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and his bachelor of fine arts from Marywood University. His work has been included in group and solo exhibitions across the country, and he has received numerous grants, awards, fellowships and residencies, including two National Endowment for the Arts state grants.

McKean lives and works in Provincetown, Mass.