Willmott teaches screenwriting intensive

Acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter Kevin Willmott will teach a two-day intensive basic screenwriting class at the homeTown collaboraTions studio (611 W. Ninth St.) this summer. The classes – which will be offered Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24, and Aug. 6 and 7 – will provide an overview of the basics of screenwriting.

Willmott has written and co-written scripts for notables such as Oliver Stone, 20th Century Fox, ABC Television, Whoopi Goldberg and The History Channel. His feature film “C.S.A. – The Confederate States of America” was a surprise hit at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and will be released by IFC Films later this year.

Each day’s class will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Class size will be limited to 10 students per session. The fee for the seminar will be $500 per session. Academic credit will not be given. Willmott may offer a more advanced version of the class at a later date.

Potential students may call 841-9124 for more information, including registration.

E.M.U. Theatre auditions continue

Auditions for E.M.U. Theatre’s next production will continue at 1 p.m. today at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H.

The original rock opera “Johnny Butts” by Andrew Stowers and Nick Wells portrays the rise and fall of a mentally ill street artist as he interacts with a cast of characters both real and imagined.

Roles are available for two men, two women, four gender nonspecific slots and several chorus members.

Those auditioning should prepare a one-minute monologue and a one-minute song. They also should know their availability through Aug. 7.

For more information, contact Stowers at 312-4407.

Theater Youth actors open summer season

The Lawrence Arts Center’s Summer Youth Theatre program begins performances this week.

A comic version of “Cinderella,” by playwright and Lawrence native Will Averill, will be staged by more than 60 children in fourth-seventh grades at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

The production includes original music by Ric Averill, sets by the students and artist Ariel Sherman, and costumes by Sally Hoffsommer-Breicheisen.