Arts venues overflowing

Even if you’re new to town, it probably won’t be long before you hear someone refer to Lawrence as the City of the Arts.

There are lots of reasons. Lawrence boasts a high concentration of artists. Their work is in galleries, coffee shops, restaurants — and even on street corners — all over town.

There are several places in Lawrence dedicated solely to promoting the visual and performing arts. Here’s a selection:

Spencer Museum of Art

The Spencer Museum of Art at 1301 Miss. is part of Kansas University, but its galleries and collections are open to the entire community.

The museum, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, started as a 7,500-piece collection donated in 1917 by Kansas City art collector Sallie Casey Thayer, but has grown into an accumulation of more than 20,000 works that span the history of European, North American and East Asian art. Seven gallery spaces display selections from the permanent collection, and special exhibitions from the collection or touring shows from other museums are displayed in four additional galleries.

Museum staff typically schedule tours, talks and educational activities to complement featured exhibits.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, call 864-4710, e-mail spencerart@ku.edu or visit www.ku.edu/~sma.

Lawrence Arts Center

The Lawrence Arts Center moved into its new, state-of-the-art facility at 940 N.H. in 2002 and has fast become a hub for community arts gatherings, from gallery openings to theater and dance events.

Artwork created by children and professional artists alike continually fills the gallery space, and the center offers classes and workshops in a broad range of visual arts. Performance-based classes in dance and drama also are available.

Community groups, such as English Alternative Theatre, the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra and improvisational theater troupes, regularly rent out arts center spaces for performances.

In addition, the center supports its own resident performance groups: The Prairie Wind Dancers and The Seem-To-Be Players.

For more information, call 843-2787, e-mail lartctr@sunflower.com or visit www.lawrenceartscenter.com.

Lawrence Community Theatre

With its 2003-2004 season, the Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 N.H., continues a long tradition of producing a broad range of plays performed by a diverse slice of the community.

The theater produces six to eight major shows each year. This season begins and ends with musicals — the first, “My Way,” chronicles the career of Frank Sinatra, the last tells the shady story of famous burlesque stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. The musicals bookend comedy, drama and a holiday classic.

Community members of all ages and walks of life can get involved in theater productions, and actors aren’t the only people needed. Opportunities also exist for people interested in working behind the scenes with props, costumes, sets, lighting, sound — or even volunteering to bake cookies or tend bar at intermission.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 843-7469 or visit http://community.lawrence.com/CommunityTheatre.

University Theatre

University Theatre at Kansas University celebrates its 80th season this year, and although roles are typically reserved for KU students, performances are open to the community.

With its varied bill of fare, the season’s program offers something for theatergoers of every taste.

The season opened with William Inge’s “Picnic,” and continues Friday with “This is Our Youth.” The Kenneth Lonergan play follows a trio of teens in the affluent 1980s who have stolen $15,000 and have one night to blow the money. The play explores youth on the brink of adulthood.

Other offerings this season range from Shakespearean comedy to Broadway musicals. There’s even something specifically for family crowds: Theatre for Young People’s February production of “Really Rosie.”

For more information, call 864-3982, e-mail info@kutheatre.com or visit www.kutheatre.com.