Originally published September 9, 2010 at 8:23 p.m., updated September 10, 2010 at 3:22 p.m.
Before movies, before television and even before radio, there was theater. Modern entertainment has transferred the spotlight from the stage to the screen, but some still see value in live drama, live acting and being part of an interactive audience.
Friends of the Theatre (FROTH) is putting on a show at 7:30 tonight at the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall called “Pastiche.” The production is a variety show with a general theme of “heart and music.” With two sections of 10 acts, it features music, monologues, dance and more.
Jeremy Ims, a junior from Overland Park, performs in the scene of Pastiche titled Hot Honey Rag. The show is held as a fundraiser for the Jack B. Wright Student Ticket Fund.
The show will raise money for the Jack B. Wright Student Ticket Fund, which raises money in collaboration with the KU Endowment fund to give tickets to both underprivileged students and students who don’t usually get a chance to go to the theater.
John Staniunas, chair of the University’s Department of Theatre and Film, said the uniqueness of the theater experience cannot be duplicated by movies or TV, and that is why he believes in raising money for the student ticket fund. He said there is something special about seeing art come to life.
“They are reflecting your life in the characters that they play,” Staniunas said. “So you are trying to find yourself in the experience of the actors up on the stage.”
The student ticket fund will disperse tickets to both University students and Haskell Indian Nations University students for various productions throughout the year.
Staniunas said the fund was actually the idea of Dave Ambler, the vice chancellor emeritus for student affairs from 1977 to 2002. Ambler was given the chance to go to a live theater production for the first time when he was in college.
For the rest of his life, Ambler was an active theater-goer, Staniunas said, and Ambler decided to give that opportunity to other students.
The fund is now named after Jack B. Wright, a longtime University professor of theater.
Staniunas said the fund is publicized through Student Senate and always gives tickets to the McNair Scholars Program. The program is a federal organization designed to help undergraduates prepare for doctoral studies, specifically students who either have financial need or are from groups typically underrepresented in graduate education.
The ticket fund has only been around for little more than a year, but Ngondi Kamatuka, director of the University’s McNair chapter, said KU Endowment and Ambler’s original fund have given tickets to McNair scholars for about 10 years.
“It has been beneficial for students and faculty both to go to shows at the theater,” Kamatuka said. “It exposes them to many areas of the University lifestyle.”
-“Pastiche" is a variety show and fundraiser for the Jack B. Wright Student Ticket Fund
-Tonight at 7:30 p.m.
-Crafton-Preyer Theatre at Murphy Hall
-$10 for students, $20 for adults, $10 for children 18-and-under, $10 for post-show reception
Students with financial aid are eligible for free tickets from the fund, but students who have simply never been to a University Theatre show have a chance for free admission, too. Justin Cobb, a senior from Overland Park, has never been to a University production, which he said is because he rarely sees advertisements for events.
“Depending on the show, I would definitely take advantage of a free ticket,” Cobb said.
The University’s McNair chapter gets an average of 15 to 20 tickets each year. Faculty members take the scholars to the show, and afterwards they get together and discuss it. Kamatuka said the educational growth that comes from the theater is extremely beneficial and students truly appreciate the experience.
All proceeds from “Pastiche” and the post-show reception will go directly to the fund.
— Edited by Alex Tretbar
Banquet, performance honor 50 years
The departments of theatre and film and music and dance honor the ...
New scholarship presentation today
The scholarship will be offered to low-income, first generation students.
Burlesque shows return to the spotlight
“Pretty Things Peepshow” draws crowds reminiscent of the 1930s hype.
Bringing Broadway to Kansas
Actor Andre De Shields talked to theatre students about the acting industry, ...
Puckett remembered in department ceremony
Longtime accompanist died of a heart attack Nov. 3.
Theater: A Flea in Her Ear
French play highlights couples’ troubles
Show written in 1907 relies on timing, physical activity and relevant relationship ...
Hello, my name is Mandy Patinkin
Department of theater and film splits
Theater, film and media studies will be separate with new School of ...
Ireland theater company to visit campus
The Mangiare Theatre Company, based out of Ireland, is hosting a three-day ...
Murphy Hall presents world premier of musical
KU students presents the debut performance of “The Girl, the Grouch and ...
Students create musical recording for national promotion
Musicians and singers at the University recorded the soundtrack to ‘The Girl, ...
University Summer Theatre promotes women in theater
This summer’s plays were written and directed by women and include all-female ...
Traditions: New faces, same great place
This year’s Traditions Night will celebrate new changes to University leadership as ...
Actor Mandy Patinkin to appear at University ...
Department of theatre diversifies
A new student organization will address the issue of race in its ...
Noted Chinese director visits campus
Chen Shi-Zheng will be working with theatre and film students and discussing ...
Annual theater festival visits Lawrence
Midwest theater students flock to Lawrence for workshops, performances and competition
‘Legally Blonde’ performs at Lied Center
The Tony-nominated musical starts tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Theater readies to curtain opening acts
More than 75 students showed up for auditions for the first four ...
Boxing great George Foreman visits KU
The heavyweight champion and entrepreneur spoke of his career and life after ...
Programs certifying more students
More students are involved in University programs dealing with service, research and ...
Mysteries on campus
'Pageant' back by popular demand
The KU theater is showing ‘Pageant’ this weekend to accommodate those who ...
A conversation with Mandy Patinkin
Fundraiser will honor KU dance teacher and ...
The proceeds from the event will go toward scholarships to assist dance ...
Blankenau: What happens when we share a ...
Play overwhelms audiences with technology
“Distracted,” KU theatre’s final production of the semester, finishes its run this ...
Where is the audience?
Theatre performances at Crafton-Preyer Theatre last week could not attract much of ...
The life behind the scenes
Backstage workers spend countless hours preparing the costumes, set and lighting at ...
Tickets on sale for jazz quartet performance
"Tree of Life — Origins and Evolution” features students and faculty from ...
Student actors perform in ‘Macbeth’
Months of preparation, which began with auditions in August, culminate in tonight’s ...
Shakespearean theater to open spring 2009
New theater will give students the opportunity to get involved on stage ...
Filmmaker shoots new movie in Lawrence
Blake Robbins chose Lawrence for the setting of his newest feature film, ...
The Beak: Get ready for the 'beakend'
On-campus news-you-can-use from our latest experiment, a daily blog.
Free-time fillers for freshmen
Bowling, Kansas City, concerts and the theater are all prevalent in Lawrence ...
Rock Chalk Revue hosts outdoor concert
The benefit show will raise money for the United Way.
Theater alumni return to University
The Buran Theatre Company is back at KU to prepare for its ...
University puts on student-directed play
Tennessee Williams’ one-act play “Auto-da-fe” will run Thursday and Friday night in ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
“Pastiche” to help fund free tickets
This gives me chills. What a great cause. Kudos to John Staniunas and the KU Theater department.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID