Lawrence theater seeks cast for classic mystery

Lawrence Community Theatre will have auditions for Agatha Christie’s classic mystery, “The Mousetrap,” at 7 p.m. Feb. 22-23 at the theater, 1501 N.H.

The whodunit brings us a group of strangers stranded at a British inn who contend with a murderer in their midst. As a snowstorm rages outside, past lives and secrets are bared, and the police struggle to identify their subject.

The cast will include: Mollie Ralston, the young woman who runs the inn; Giles Ralston, her husband and co-innkeeper; Christopher Wren, rather neurotic young man; Mrs. Boyle, imposing older woman; Major Metcalf, middle-aged military man; Miss Casewell, no-nonsense, take-charge young woman; Mr. Paravicini, older man, flamboyant mustache, a bit of a Hercule Poirot; Detective Sergeant Trotter, cheerful, ordinary young man.

The show is under the direction of Michael Doll. Scripts may be checked out from the theater office with a $10 deposit. Performances are scheduled to run April 8-24.

Mont Alto orchestra to perform for radio

Music for a silent film? Absolutely, says the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.

The Mont Alto Orchestra is a five- to seven-piece chamber ensemble that recreates the local orchestras that were popular in America from 1890 through 1930. These orchestras provided music for dancing and for accompanying movies in the days before talkies. Mont Alto revives this tradition in recordings and live performances. As the five-piece “Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra,” they play for silent films.

On Feb. 25, they will be at the Kansas Silent Film Festival in Topeka. But earlier that day, they will play in the Kansas Public Radio performance studio for a live radio broadcast.

Classical music host and KPR music director Rachel Hunter will feature the performance and live interview on her show between 11 a.m. and noon.

“We’ve had the Mont Alto Orchestra on air before. They are among the most well-received musicians we’ve ever broadcast,” Hunter said.

KPR broadcasts on KANU 91.5 FM in Lawrence. KPR also can be heard on the Web at kpr.ku.edu.

Lawrence museum to display needlework

Embroidery and cross-stitching pieces will be on display March 15-April 30 in “Busy Hands: A Showcase of Needlework,” an exhibit at Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Mass.

The museum is looking for antique and new pieces for the exhibit.

All items must be brought to the museum by March 1 during the following hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Here are the guidelines: limited to two pieces per person; no quilts accepted because of limited space; all items must be done by hand; and all items must be ready for display.

To participate in the exhibit, contact Kerry Lippincott, curator, at 841-4109, or e-mail wcmhist@sunflower.com.

‘Dancing Henry Five’ to perform at Lied

As director of the Pick Up Performance Co., award-winning dancer and choreographer David Gordon will present “Dancing Henry Five” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24 at the Lied Center.

Gordon has been examining, blurring and stretching the lines between theater and dance for more than 30 years. Gordon integrates narrative text with movement in “Dancing Henry Five,” a dance theatre interpretation of the Bard’s classic play.

The witty and provocative interpretation of Shakespeare’s work will feature music by William Walton, based on his film core, and lighting by Jennifer Tipton.

“Dancing Henry Five” is a post-modern twist on a Shakespearean classic that is filled with ironic humor and political commentary. Beginning with a pile of junk stacked in the middle of the stage, through the use of tumbling lights, an athletic septet of dancers and a booming symphonic soundtrack, Gordon pays homage to classic literary traditions as well as his own post-modern iconography.

Tickets are: public, $28 and $23; students and children, $14 and $11.50; senior citizens (62 and over), $27 and $22; and KU faculty and staff, $24 and $20.

For more information, call 864-2787.

Free State High School to produce comedy

The comedy “The Life and Death of Almost Everybody” will be Free State High School’s winter production Thursday and Friday in the school’s auditorium.

All three shows are at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $4 for general admission, and $3 for students and seniors.

Tickets can be bought at the door or at the school’s financial office, 4700 Overland Drive.