photo by: Journal-World File and Contributed Photos

Left to right: Holiday Bazaar; Roberta Gumbel, librettist and star of "DWB: Driving While Black"; Midland Railway.

When composer Susan Kander approached Roberta Gumbel, a University of Kansas lecturer for voice and opera, to collaborate on a short musical production, she said she wanted to work on a serious and timely topic — one that hit close to home for Gumbel.

“She called me and said, ‘I know what I want to write about: your concerns for your son, an African-American boy behind the wheel in this time,'” Gumbel said in a news release.

The result was the 45-minute work “DWB: Driving While Black,” which focuses on fears in the African-American community in the wake of recent police shootings involving black men.

Kander composed the music and Gumbel wrote the lyrics, which are based on her family’s experiences when her teenage son was learning to drive.

“The story is mine, with other pieces thrown in,” Gumbel said. “There are four chairs on stage, representing the four seats in a car. The baby starts out in back in a child-safety seat. When he’s old enough, he gets to ride up front. This is how time is marked. Eventually I teach him to drive. The narrative is all leading up to, ‘How will I gather the courage to give him the keys to the car?'”

photo by: Contributed photo

Michael Compitello, Roberta Gumbel, and Hannah Collins

Gumbel will also be starring in the show this weekend, backed by two KU assistant professors: Hannah Collins, assistant professor of cello, and Michael Compitello, assistant professor of percussion.

Although there are four seats on stage, Gumbel is the only singer involved in the production.

“DWB: Driving While Black” premieres at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Tickets are $10-15.

Here’s what else you can go, see and do in the next week:

‘Polar Express’ train rides in Baldwin City

photo by: Elvyn Jones

The platform at Midland Railway in Baldwin City is shown on July 1, 2018.

Now that it’s close to the holiday season, families in Douglas County can take a trip straight from Baldwin City to the North Pole.

The Midland Railway Association, 1515 High St., offers the hourlong “Polar Express”-themed trip, set to the soundtrack of the film version of the classic Christmas story.

On the train, there will be hot chocolate and cookies, as well as a reading of the book. Santa and his little helpers will also board the train and deliver gifts to the passengers.

The holiday event begins Saturday and is open until Dec. 30. The first couple of rides are already sold out. Those interested can find the full schedule on the Midland Railway Association website, midlandrailway.org. Tickets are $45-65 for adults and $35-45 for children.

The Midland Railway Association requests that riders arrive at the station 45 minutes before the scheduled departure. Families are also encouraged to wear pajamas for the ride.

Holiday Bazaar

photo by: John Young

Janet Davidson, left, of Independence, Mo., shows off a fringe scarf she has for sale to Johannah Cox, center, and Valerie Jennings, both of Lawrence, at the annual Holiday Bazaar arts and crafts sale in 2015. The 42nd annual bazaar returns Sunday.

It may not be the holiday season just yet, but it’s not too soon to start your holiday shopping.

Sunday marks the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department’s 42nd annual Holiday Bazaar, and vendors will set up shop at the Lawrence Community Building to sell their handmade arts and crafts.

Duane Peterson, special events coordinator for the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department, said about 4,000 shoppers turn out for the bazaar each year.

Peterson said vendors will be selling crocheted items, Native American crafts, jewelry, jams and jellies, honey, Christmas ornaments and decorations, stained-glass items and much more.

“It’s a Lawrence tradition,” he said.

The bazaar opens 9 a.m. Sunday at the Lawrence Community Building, 115 W 11th St. Admission is free.

Lawrence Beer Company Throwback Thanksgiving

Next week brings one of my favorite holidays. I’m not talking about Thanksgiving. I’m talking about Thanksgiving Eve.

For many young adults who go home for the holidays every year, the night before turkey day is all about finding old friends from your hometown and catching up at the bar. It’s like an impromptu high school reunion, you could say.

Luckily, for those of you in this situation who will be in Lawrence, the Lawrence Beer Company has you covered. LBC will celebrate with Throwback Thanksgiving, where a DJ will be playing tunes from the ’90s and early 2000s all night (with a few hits from the ’50s and ’60s mixed in).

The event begins 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lawrence Beer Company, 826 Pennsylvania St. Admission is free.

I won’t be spending Thanksgiving back home this year (my family celebrates Thanksgiving the weekend prior to the actual holiday), so if you attend, I’ll likely see you there. Happy Thanksgiving!