Cartoonist to speak in Hallmark Symposium

Humorous illustrator Hal Mayforth will discuss his work at 6 p.m. Monday at the Spencer Museum of Art. His talk will be part of the Hallmark Symposium Series presented by Kansas University’s department of design.

Mayforth, a Vermont native, played rock ‘n’ roll in bars for four years while completing a degree in fine arts from Skidmore College. He has been the recipient of many awards and honors, including being named Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society in 1993. His illustration clients include Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Outside, Sports Illustrated, Coke, Pepsi, IBM, HBO, Chase and Bell Atlantic.

The Hallmark Symposium Series is free and open to the public. For more information, call 864-4401.

Religious poetry contest open to Lawrence writers

A religious poetry contest open to Lawrence residents is offering $5,000 worth of prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize.

The contest, sponsored by Christian Fine Arts Society, is free.

To enter, send one poem of 21 lines or less to Free Poetry Contest, 9588 Thornbush Lane, Fishers, Ind. 46038. Or enter online at www.freecontest.com. Include your name and address on the page with the poem. A winner’s list will be sent to all entrants.

Entry deadline is April 19.

Poems may be written on any subject in any style but must include a spiritual inference.

Tango Buenos Aires to heat of Yardley Hall

Overland Park — A program that covers more than 100 years in the evolution of tango through 29 sets of dance, song and orchestra music will steam up a Johnson County Community College stage next weekend.

An Argentinean company of 16 dancers, a vocalist and six orchestra members will stage Tango Buenos Aires at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Yardley Hall in the Carlsen Center at the college, 12345 College Blvd.

Tango Buenos Aires was created for a festival in Buenos Aires by renowned composer and tango director Osvaldo Ruqena. The company made its first U.S. trip in 1986 and has since toured worldwide.

Tickets are $30 and $25 and are available by calling (913) 469-4445 or visiting www.jccc.net/CarlsenCenter.

Heartland Men’s Chorus explores gays in military

Kansas City, Mo. — The Heartland Men’s Chorus next weekend will sing concerts exploring the issue of gays in the military from the Revolutionary War to the present day.

“The Few, The Proud” will examine the issue through music and narration. The concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. March 30 at the Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St.

The 125-voice Heartland Men’s Chorus formed in 1986. The group is under the direction of Joseph Nadeau, former director of the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus. Heartland is a member of GALA Choruses, an international association of 190 gay and lesbian choral groups.

Famed actors stage Missouri Rep benefit

Kansas City, Mo. — Film and TV stars Robert Wagner and Jill St. John on Monday will perform A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” as a benefit for Missouri Repertory Theatre.

The performance begins at 7 p.m. at Spencer Theatre in the University of Missouri-Kansas City Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St.

Proceeds support the artistic programs of Missouri Rep.

“Love Letters” traces the intricate relationship of a man and woman through their written correspondence.

Limited seating remains for the performance and can be bought by calling (816) 235-1465. A portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible.

KC Women’s Chorus to sing soothing program

Kansas City, Mo. — The Kansas City Women’s Chorus will present the second performance of its second concert of the 2002-2003 season at 4 p.m. today.

The program, called “Growth and Healing,” is a collection of reflective songs intended to calm the spirit.

The performance is under the direction of Stephanie Henry, and the chorus is accompanied by Terry Foster on piano and Michael Costanzo on drums.

The concert will be at Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. Admission is free; donations are encouraged.

KC Symphony premieres famed composer’s work

Kansas City, Mo. — The Kansas City Symphony on Friday will premiere a new work by one of America’s greatest living composers, Ned Rorem.

Rorem, who turns 80 in October, is being celebrated all year by the classical music world. A second new work by the composer, his Fifth String Quartet, will be premiered Friday in New York City by the Ying Quartet.

The Kansas City Symphony will perform Rorem’s first Concerto for Cello and Orchestra with cellist David Geringas.

The program also includes Stravinsky’s “Firebird” Suite and Beethoven’s First Symphony. Concerts will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Lyric Theatre, 11th and Central, and 2 p.m. March 30 at Johnson County Community College’s Carlsen Center, 12345 College Blvd.

Michael Stern, son of legendary violinist Isaac Stern, will conduct the program.

For tickets, call (816) 471-0400 or order online at www.kcsymphony.org.