Annual Lawrence student talent show ‘Ovation!’ returning to the stage later this month

photo by: Contributed Photo

The Lawrence Ballet Theatre will perform at the school district's talent show "Ovation!"

The talents of Lawrence students will again be on display during the annual “Ovation!” show this month.

The Lied Center of Kansas announced Thursday that the sixth annual talent show, which features Lawrence high school and middle school students, will return on Jan. 16. The show will be back on the main stage, after it was held virtually in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The featured acts will include instrumentalists, powwow dancers, an aerialist and a stand-up comic, among many others. More than 50 students were selected to participate in the show, either as a solo act or as part of a group performance.

The performers were selected through an audition process. Some performers may be recognizable to Journal-World readers, such as pianist Matthew Liu and the school district’s Unity Step Team.

Along with the performers, sportscaster Brian Hanni, known as the Voice of the Jayhawks, will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Proceeds from the show will benefit the Lawrence Schools Foundation. The foundation aims to provide resources and opportunities for all students, educators and staff in the Lawrence school district.

Tickets for the show are $15 for adults and $5 for students and youth. They may be purchased at lied.ku.edu or the Lied Center Ticket Office, in person or by phone.

As part of the Lied Center’s safety precautions for the pandemic, guests ages 2 and older will be required to wear a mask, regardless of whether they are vaccinated, said Betsy Ostrander, a spokeswoman for the center. Additionally, concessions are currently unavailable at Lied Center events and the drinking fountains are closed, she said.


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