2016 Spring Arts Guide

Spring Arts Guide 2016

The Lawrence arts scene is warming up, too, right along with the spring temperatures. In our roundup we’ve included a few of the more intriguing events in music, theater, visual art and literature going on throughout this month and the next, but there’s always more to be found at our daily calendar.

The Changing Face of East Asia in Hollywood: A Film Festival on Perspective, Representation and Discrimination

April 16-17, Lawrence Arts Center, free

Presented by Kansas University’s Center for East Asian Studies and the Lawrence Arts Center in partnership with The Confucius Institute of KU and the KU department of film and media studies, this two-day festival explores the portrayal of Asians in Hollywood from the industry’s early days up to the 21st century.

If the timely discussion of racial diversity in media isn’t enough to hook you, there will also be free Japanese tea and sweets (courtesy of Lawrence’s Bimi Bakery) served between screenings.

Check out www.lawrenceartscenter.org for a full schedule.

“The Crumbling,” presented by the Spencer Museum of Art

6 p.m. April 21, Liberty Hall, free general-admission seating

An apprentice librarian tries to save her city from crumbling around her in this live cinema opera by artist and composer Alexis Gideon, who performs the narration, dialogue and music live onstage alongside stop-motion animation on the screen.

The 21-minute performance — a “contemporary caution tale about the importance of words and symbols in a decaying culture,” according to Liberty Hall’s blurb — will be followed by a discussion with the artist. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., while the show starts at 6 p.m.

Benefit Art Auction

5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 23, Lawrence Arts Center, $40 in advance, $50 at the door

This annual shindig, now in its 35th year, is the primary funding source for the Lawrence Arts Center’s exhibitions program.

Art lovers can bid on pieces — including those by featured artist Kris Kuksi, who counts Usher and Nike CEO Mark Parker among his famous fans — in the silent auction, which began last month and runs until 3 p.m. April 23, or during that evening’s live auction.

To check out the pieces up for sale this year, visit the Lawrence Arts Center or www.lawrenceartscenter.org.

Edible Book Festival

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lawrence Public Library, free

Once again, the library is encouraging readers to think outside the box — or, perhaps more appropriately, binding — with this wacky annual event, which displays edible works of art based on the form, title or content of a book.

Call 843-3833 by 5 p.m. April 22 to register as a team or individual, or check out the finished creations and vote on a favorite.

Poetry Fair

2 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 24, Lawrence Arts Center, free

Watch (or take a swing at, if you’re feeling showy) open-mic performances, discover new books and enjoy readings from Eric McHenry and Megan Kaminski at the Arts Center’s third annual celebration of all things poetic.

The fair will also feature complimentary coffee and snacks, a cash bar, children’s poetry activities and plenty of socializing. Those interested in participating as poets are encouraged to register (email Elizabeth Schultz at eschultz@ku.edu) by April 18.

The Arcs

8 p.m. April 26, Liberty Hall, $45 for balcony seating, $35 for general admission floor seating (in advance), $40 for general admission floor seating (day of show)

The Arcs — the new side project from Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys — stop by Liberty Hall this spring with Mariachi Flor de Toloache, New York’s all-female mariachi band, in tow.

“Yours, Dreamily,” The Arcs’ psychedelic debut album, has earned near-universal critical acclaim since dropping last fall.

Patti LuPone: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda…played that part

7:30 p.m. April 28, Lied Center, $35-$50 for adults, $19-$26 for students/youth

In her critically acclaimed concert, the famed Tony and Olivier Award-winner performs songs from musicals that “she could have played, should have played, did play and will play.”

That roster includes “Hair,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Funny Girl,” “West Side Story” and “Peter Pan,” in addition to LuPone’s Tony-winning performances in “Evita” and “Gypsy.”

“Welcome to Arroyo’s”

April 29-May 5, KU’s William Inge Memorial Theatre at Murphy Hall, $15 for adults, $10 for children, $14 for senior citizens and KU faculty/staff, $15 (or $10 in advance) for KU students

Featuring two live DJs serving as a Greek chorus, this coming-of-age story by Kristoffer Diaz follows a pair of siblings — Alejandro, a struggling bar owner, and Molly, an emerging street artist with a penchant for tagging the local police precinct — as they navigate life after their mother’s death.

Her secret, uncovered by the siblings, could change everything Alejandro and Molly knew about themselves, their family and the history of hip-hop.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic

8 p.m. April 30, Granada Theater, $32 in advance, $35 day of the show

Following his hugely well-attended outdoor show at last summer’s Free State Festival, the legendary funk musician returns to Lawrence this spring with his P-Funk crew.

Special guests Duncan Burnett & The Riot, out of Kansas City, and Lawrence’s own SUNU, fill out the roster. Doors open at 7 p.m.; the show starts at 8 p.m.

B.o.B.

8 p.m. May 4, Granada Theater, $20 in advance, $25 day of show

Certified-gold hip-hop artist B.o.B. brings his genre-bending rhymes and unorthodox views on science (the rapper drew attention earlier this year for claiming the earth is flat) to the Granada in May. His latest album, “Psycadelik Thoughtz” dropped via digital distribution last summer.

Also performing: Atlanta-based rapper Scotty ATL and London Jae (who defines himself as “no genre” on Twitter).

Doors open at 7 p.m.; the show starts at 8 p.m.

“Beauty and the Beast”

7:30 p.m. May 5, Lied Center, $45-$55 for adults, $35-$40 for students/youth

Back by popular demand, the Broadway smash returns to the Lied Center stage this spring brimming with all the lavish sets and costumes, dazzling production numbers, and human actors as anthropomorphic household objects you and your inner Disney princess could ever dream of.

Kansas Food Truck Festival


4 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 7, Warehouse Arts District in East Lawrence, $10 to enter

This one’s not exactly artsy, but we’re counting food as a creative pursuit. The third annual family-friendly fest returns this May to the Warehouse Arts District with 26 food trucks and an expanded lineup of live entertainment.

Attractions include street performers from the upcoming Lawrence Busker Festival, live music, a bouncy house and face painting for the kids, and an art sale at the nearby Cider Gallery.

Visit the Kansas Food Truck Festival Facebook page for ticket info and more details.

Mayer Hawthorne

9 p.m. May 14, Granada Theater, $23 in advance, $25 day of the show

Grammy-nominated neo-soul artist Mayer Hawthorne counts Smokey Robinson, Barry White and Curtis Mayfield among his influences. His new album, “Man About Town,” has earned generally positive reviews for its throwback sound, eliciting comparisons to early Hall and Oates.

Doors open at 8 p.m.; the show starts at 9 p.m.

Art Tougeau

May 27-28, downtown Lawrence, free

This year’s celebration of wacky wheeled contraptions kicks off with a pre-parade “pARTy” (featuring live music, food and drinks, and fun for all ages) from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 27 at the Lawrence Arts Center before the main event May 28.

Participants can register their rides starting at 10 a.m., while the parade itself kicks off in front of the Arts Center at noon. For updates on the schedule, check out Art Tougeau on Facebook.

Busker Festival

May 27-29, downtown Lawrence, free

Like last year, Busker Fest and Art Tougeau have again joined forces to keep Lawrence weird this May. Recent renditions of the annual festival have included everything from oddball musicians and comedic magicians to sassy strongwomen and fire eaters.

Check out www.lawrencebuskerfest.com for details as the fun approaches.