KU Theatre begins campaign for new theatre space

LAWRENCE -- Do you have $6.32? If so, John Staniunas, artistic director of the University Theatre at the University of Kansas, wants it.

Staniunas has decided that if 2,000 people donate $6.32 to the University Theatre, he'll raise $12,640 -- more than 25 percent of the goal of $50,000 for Stage Too!, a new theatre space in Murphy Hall.

Stage Too! is what Staniunas calls a "new theatre."

"The theatre program at KU has needed a new theatre for a long, long time," he said. "Although our alumni and KU administrators are, and have been, very supportive of our program, we haven't been able to raise the money to even consider a new building. So instead of moaning and groaning about our space, we decided to get creative.

"The University Theatre program needs a theatre seating about 350 people," he continued. "The Crafton-Preyer Theatre seats 1,181 and is way too large for some of the needs of our academic training program. Our only other theatre, the William Inge Theatre, is a black box that seats 100. It's way too small for some of the important academic training we need to accomplish. What we really need is something in between. So the idea was born to build Stage Too! -- risers and platforms that will fit right on top of the stage of the Crafton Preyer Theatre, creating a semi-intimate theatre space seating 350 patrons."

Staniunas has big plans to raise the $50,000 by Aug. 1. He's already received $5,000 in funding from the KU Student Senate and is looking for corporate sponsors in the Lawrence community. He's sent both "snail mail" and e-mail letters to KU theatre alumni and students, raising nearly $1,500. And the energetic artistic director is planning a huge faculty and staff garage sale for the weekend of May 30 through June 1. Staniunas also plans to teach tap dance classes for people over 30 this summer, with the proceeds helping fund Stage Too! And he and Leslie Bennett, assistant professor of theatre and film, plan to perform a cabaret concert sometime during the summer.

Staniunas said all donors to the $6.32 campaign will be invited to a special showing of "Cabaret" in November when Stage Too! is christened.