‘Pastiche’ variety show opens Friday

“Pastiche,” the third-annual variety show presented by Friends of the Theatre at Kansas University, will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall. The performance is a benefit for the Jack B. Wright Student Ticket Fund, which provides free tickets to University Theatre productions for KU and Haskell Indian Nations University students who cannot otherwise afford to attend.

The fund was announced in the spring of 2009 with a donation from KU Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Emeritus David Ambler and his wife, Mary Kate, long time supporters of FROTH, to honor Wright, professor of theatre and a member of the KU faculty since 1976.

Staged by John Staniunas, associate professor and chair of the Department of Theatre, with musical direction by Ryan McCall, theater accompanist, “Pastiche” features “a little something for everyone,” Staniunas said.

Among the guest artists scheduled to appear are several Lawrence natives including Celtic singer Ashley Davis, Los Angeles-based jazz, blues and folk singer Lisa Donnally, opera singer Karin Paludan-Sorey; puppeteer Spencer Lott, and Kansas City actor Kip Niven.

A gala reception will immediately follow “Pastiche” in the Murphy Hall Exhibition Gallery.

Reserved seat tickets for “Pastiche” are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, 864-3982, and Lied Center, 864-ARTS, and online at www.kutheatre.com. Tickets for the performance are $20 for the public and $10 for students. Reception tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.