Arts notes

‘Guys and Dolls’ in KC features Lawrence native

Kansas City, Mo. — Missouri Repertory Theatre is staging “Guys and Dolls” through Feb. 23.

The musical is based on the popular stories of Damon Runyon, a Kansas native who entertained millions of readers in the 1930 and ’40s with his unique patois about the shady characters of New York City’s Times Square and Broadway.

“Guys and Dolls” chronicles an unlikely love match between Sky Masterson, a slick Broadway gambler, and Sarah Brown, a pure-at-heart mission worker, who is being played by Lawrence native Jane Bodle.

Bodle has appeared in seven Broadway musicals in such roles as Fantine in “Les Miserables,” Ellen in “Miss Saigon,” Betty Schaeffer in “Sunset Boulevard” and Maggie in “A Chorus Line.” She appears briefly in the Stephen Spielberg film “Catch Me If You Can.”

“Guys and Dolls” opens Wednesday in the UMKC Center for Performing Arts, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo. Single ticket prices are $10-$47. For tickets, call (816) 235-2700.

Lawrence musician plays for St. Olaf College Band

Northfield, Minn. — Lawrence native Timothy Bradley is performing through Feb. 9 with the St. Olaf College Band, one of the nation’s leading collegiate concert bands.

The 90-member ensemble is marking the 100th anniversary of its first concert tour with a six-state “Centennial Tour” that will take it to New York City’s Lincoln Center and back.

Bradley is a junior music-performance major at St. Olaf, where he plays the horn.

The band will play at venues in Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin and conclude with a free public concert Feb. 9 in Northfield.

Liberty Hall screens Middle East films

The Peace Arts Coalition is sponsoring a Middle East Film Festival through Feb. 24 at Liberty Hall, 642 Mass.

Tickets are $7 at the door; festival passes for all five programs will be available for $30 from Liberty Hall; the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H.; and the Jerusalem Cafe in Westport in Kansas City, Mo. Mail orders for passes may be sent to Bea Dewing, 1224 Del., Lawrence 66044 and should include a check or money order for $30, payable to “Peace Arts.”

Festival pass holders are guaranteed admission. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Here’s a look at the films on the schedule:

  • Jan. 27, “The Hidden Wars of Desert Storm,” Gerard Ungerman and Audrey Brohy, 2000; and “Checkpoint,” Tom Wright and Theresa Saliba, 1997.
  • Feb. 3, “Kandahar,” Mohsen Makhmabalaf, 2001.
  • Feb. 10, “Divine Intervention,” Elia Suleiman, 2002.
  • Feb. 17, “In My Own Skin,” Nikki Byrd and Jennifer Jajeh, 2001; and “Testimonies,” Ido Sela, 1993.
  • Feb. 24, “Children of Fire,” Mai Masri, 1990; and “Jenin, Jenin,” Muhammed Bakri, 2002.

UMKC jazz festival features big names

Kansas City, Mo. — Two internationally renowned musicians will open their rehearsal and perform Friday and Saturday during the annual jazz festival at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

Cuban clarinetist and saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera and his pianist Alon Yavnai of Israel will appear with Bobby Watson, director of UMKC’s jazz studies program, in an open rehearsal 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Friday in White Hall of the Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St. The two also will participate in a guest artist clinic 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and then perform at 7:30 that evening.

The festival will include adjudicated performances by Kansas City area junior high, high school and college jazz bands. There will be two jazz festival concerts, one each night at 7:30 p.m. The Friday concert will feature the Conservatory 11 O’Clock Jazz Band with UMKC faculty members. The Saturday show will feature Watson and the two guest artists.

Open rehearsals and guest artist clinics are free. Tickets for jazz festival concerts are $8 on Friday, $6 for students and seniors; and $15 on Saturday, $12 for students and seniors. They may be bought by calling (816) 235-6222.

Zorro makes mark at Coterie Theatre

Kansas City, Mo. — By day, Don Diego de la Vega is a poetry lover; by night, he is the fox, Zorro. The Coterie Theatre will present the adventure tale “Zorro” Tuesday-Feb. 24.

The show is best suited for people 9 and older.

“Zorro” follows Don Diego as he flees from false accusations of murder and theft. He and Padre Mateo land at the Romero family ranch, where he quickly falls in love with the beautiful Rosa. But she only has eyes for Zorro.

The production features live swordplay choreographed by Martin English, who teaches stage combat at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The Coterie Theatre is on level one of the Crown Center Shops. Show times are 10 a.m. and noon Tuesday-Friday, 7 p.m. Friday, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and children 18 and under. Call (816) 474-6552 for tickets.

Dance concert features Lawrence choreographers

Overland Park — Two works from Lawrence choreographers will be featured Saturday in part one of “Dancing Across the Line: A Modern Dance Series” at Johnson County Community College’s Carlsen Center, 12345 College Blvd.

The numbers, “Ash Wednesday” by Susan Warden and “Chaconne” by Willie Lenoir, will be danced alongside numbers choreographed by other members of aha! dance theatre, a Kansas City-based contemporary dance company.

Each dance company in the three-part series was asked to create a new dance work based on the theme “Dancing Across the Line.” In this concert, the piece is a solo, “Drawing the Line,” choreographed by aha!’s artistic director, Susan Riege, and performed by Tuesday Faust on a bed of salt, reflecting the joys and risks of the creative process.

Work by other choreographers in the six-member company also will be featured.

Tickets for the entire three-part series are $22.50. Advance single concert tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, $15 at the door. Tickets may be bought by calling (913) 469-4445.

‘American Originals’ opens at Union Station

Kansas City, Mo. — The Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Edison’s patent application for the electric lamp and John F. Kennedy’s handwritten notes for his inaugural address all are part of a traveling exhibition on display Friday-May 4 at Union Station.

Kansas City is among eight stops that “American Originals” will make on its tour.

In a special four-day viewing during President’s Day weekend, Feb. 14-17, Union Station will display the original Emancipation Proclamation.

In conjunction with “American Originals,” Union Station will display a second exhibition, “Freedom’s Journey,” from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Hours for both exhibitions are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free with a paid ticket to Science City. Union Station is located at the intersection of Pershing and Main streets.

Magician of the Year brings tricks to Ottawa

Ottawa — Magic and mystery are coming to Ottawa.

Kansas City’s Magician of the Year Eric Vaughn will perform for Ottawa Municipal Auditorium’s main event series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Rather than one magic trick after another, Vaughn’s show is a fusion of events geared toward family audiences.

Tickets are $13.50 and $12; children are half price. Call (785) 242-8810 to reserve seats. The auditorium is at 301 S. Hickory St. in Ottawa.