KU News Release

University Theatre kicks off season with variety show ‘Pastiche’

LAWRENCE — The University Theatre will kick off the 2006-07 season at the University of Kansas with an evening of entertainment, “Pastiche.” The variety show-type production will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16, in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.

Created and coordinated by John Staniunas, associate professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Film, the idea behind “Pastiche” fulfills several goals.

“The original idea came because it takes the University Theatre a long time to put up our first show each fall,” Staniunas said. “In order to get our theatres open sooner, I thought we should do a revue of some kind. I wanted to fashion a show highlighting all the talents of our students and faculty: sort of ‘America’s Got Talent, so does KU’.”

Staniunas said “Pastiche” will be an ongoing project.

“Each fall, we will do a different show as a benefit for some student activity or experience. The proceeds will benefit something we can’t normally fund — like student travel. In addition, one of the goals of ‘Pastiche’ is to provide an evening of ‘sheer entertainment’ to kick off our theater season.”

The premier production is a benefit to raise funds for the University Theatre’s production of “The Snow Queen,” which will be staged at the National Drama Theatre in Vilnius, Lithuania, in December. Seven KU students and designers will accompany Staniunas for 10 days, working with Lithuanian actors from the Elfu Teatras. The KU Theatre for Young People originally staged “The Snow Queen” in December, directed by Romas Vikshraitis, artistic director of Elfu Teatras. After the students perform in Vilnius, “The Snow Queen” will become a permanent offering of Elfu Teatras, playing to thousands of children in Europe each year.

The production, co-sponsored by Headmasters Salon, also features musical direction by Barbara Puckett, a Kansas City-area freelance accompanist; lighting design by David Wanner, University Theatre Scene Shop manager; sound design by Alex Weston, University Theatre stage manager; visual design by Mark Reaney, professor of theatre and film; and styling by Wes Sharpton of Headmasters.

The program includes vocal, instrumental and dance performances, monologues, student short films and puppetry. The full lineup is on the University Theatre Web site.

Reserved-seat tickets for “Pastiche” are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864-ARTS; and Student Union Activities, 864-7469. All seats are $10. VISA and Mastercard are accepted for phone and online orders.

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