March 17, 2003

Contact: John Tibbetts, Theatre and Film, (816) 346-9334 or (785) 749-1130.

Acclaimed filmmaker Tony Palmer to lecture at KU March 24-26

LAWRENCE -- British filmmaker Tony Palmer will screen and discuss his theatrical features and documentaries during several presentations at the University of Kansas March 24 through 26.

Throughout his distinguished, award-winning career, Palmer has captured on film the lives, works and politics of musicians and composers, ranging from the Beatles and Frank Zappa to Richard Wagner to Dmitri Shostakovich. Palmer's films have been seen all over the world in theatres; on the BBC and London Weekend Television channels in England; and on the Bravo and Ovation channels in the United States.

Palmer recently released an acclaimed documentary about a British soccer legend, "Hero: The Bobby Moore Story." Palmer's more than 90 films have garnered him 12 gold medals at the New York Film and Television Festival, 11 Emmy and British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominations and awards, three Prix d'Italia and many other awards. In 1989, a retrospective of his work took place at the National Film Theatre in London, the first such tribute to a maker of arts films.

A multitalented director, he also has directed plays, including the world premiere of John Osborne's last play, "DŽjˆ vu," and many operas, including Puccini's "Turandot" in 1984 for the Scottish Opera; Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes" in 1989 for the Zurich Opera; Prokofiev's "War and Peace" in 1990 in Karlsruhe, Germany; Hector Berlioz's "The Trojans" in 1990 for the Zurich Opera; and Wagner's "Parsifal" in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1997; and "Tristan und Isolde" in 1998 in Ravello, Italy.

A veteran broadcaster, Palmer has produced and presented news and interview programs on BBC 1 and Radio 4.

Palmer's visit to KU includes the following appearances:

 • 8 p.m. Monday, March 24, Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union. "Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll." Palmer will spotlight his documentaries about the British and American rock 'n' roll scene in the 1960s and '70s, including the work of Frank Zappa, the Beatles, Cream, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones. Admission is $2.

 • 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union. "Biography on Film: Constructing a Public History." Palmer will present a Hall Center for the Humanities lecture and will screen his biographies of Richard Wagner, Dmitri Shostakovich, Frederic Chopin and Carl Orff. Admission is free and open to the public.

 • 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, Oldfather Studios, Ninth and Avalon Road. "The Critics and Me." Palmer will speak to students in John Tibbetts' Film and Criticism class.

 • 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, Swarthout Recital Hall, Murphy Hall. "My World of Opera." Palmer will conduct a question-and-answer session with students and faculty of the music and dance department about his work as an opera director and filmmaker. Admission is free and open to the public.

There will be a public reception for Palmer at Oldfather Studios, Ninth and Avalon, from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday, March 24.