‘Kansas Nutcracker’ planned at Arts Center

A classic holiday tale gets a prairie twist in the Lawrence Arts Center’s rendition of “A Kansas Nutcracker.”

This version of the story of a young girl’s Christmas dreams takes place at an 1850s barn dance in the Kansas territory. The Prairie Wind Dancers and Seem-To-Be Players perform the production, which is set to Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” played by a 13-piece professional mandolin orchestra. Dancers from the University Dance Company at Kansas University also appear.

The ballet starts at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11-13 and Dec. 18-20 at the center’s theater at 940 N.H. Additional performances will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 and Dec. 21.

Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for children and students.

For more information call the Lawrence Arts Center at 843-2787.

International adoption topic of seminar at LMH

Adopting children from China, Russia, Columbia and India will be the topic of a seminar this week at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

The nonprofit Missouri organization Children’s Hope International will present the seminar at 7 p.m. Thursday in Room D at the hospital, 325 Maine.

Dianne Atteberry, who has adopted two children internationally, will lead the discussion. Atteberry is director of the organization’s office in Kansas City, Mo.