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KU to open summer theater season with ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’
LAWRENCE — Kansas Summer Theatre at the University of Kansas opens its 2008 season with a restaging of “Jonathan Livingston Seagull,” adapted and directed by Algis Mažeika, dean of the theater and film faculty at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in Vilnius. Mažeika has been a visiting Fulbright scholar at KU since January.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, June 5-7, in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.
“Jonathan Livingston Seagull,” written by Richard Bach and first published in 1970, is a fable about a seagull learning about life and flight and a homily about self-perfection.
The KU summer production features original music composed by Mantautas Krukauskas of Vilnius, Lithuania. The original scenic and costume designs for the Lithuanian production are by Arturas Simonis but have been recreated by Mark Reaney, KU professor of theatre and film. Lighting design is by Reaney and Robert Figueira, a senior in theatre design from Lawrence.
The story is about a seagull bored with the daily squabbles over food and seized by a passion for flight. He pushes himself, learning everything he can about flying, until finally his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his flock. An outcast, he continues to learn, becoming increasingly pleased with his abilities as he leads an idyllic life. Jonathan meets two gulls who take him to a higher plane of existence, reminiscent of the Chinese belief that there is no heaven but a better world found through perfection of knowledge, where he meets other gulls who love to fly. He discovers that his sheer tenacity and desire to learn make him “a gull in a million.”
Mažeika said he sees “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” not as an allegory but rather “a highly realistic tale of the demanding journey to real discovery, the glorious refinement of space and energy.”
“Those who go this way know that nobody can avoid the difficulties experienced by Jonathan,” said Mažeika. “Beginning the journey is especially and necessarily hard yet necessary. Those who follow this less-traveled path are driven to leave the security of the only nest they may have known, a shelter which blocks true and full physical and spiritual growth.”
Mažeika’s production is movement-based with elaborate sequences that require athletic movements. The movement tells the story more than the dialogue, which is limited, he said.
“Working on this production has been a great learning experience for the actors,” said Jeff List, a doctoral student from Lawrence, who is assistant director for the production. “Most of them do not have strong dance backgrounds, but we’ve put them through their paces and they have responded very well.”
A director, movement director and choreographer in Lithuanian theater for more than 20 years, Mažeika has gone through movement classes in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, France and the United States. He has been a guest professor at the University of Vienna in Austria. His previous works include “Composition 218,” “Solo for Five” and “Mowgli.”
Mažeika said he hopes the audience will feel the power of Jonathan’s story.
“I think that those who feel they are now cast out of society to the ‘Far Cliffs’ will get power from Jonathan to survive and to search,” he said.
General admission tickets for “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864-ARTS; and Student Union Activities, 864-7469, or online at kutheatre.com. Tickets are $12 for the public, $10 for students and $11 for senior citizens and KU faculty and staff. Visa and Mastercard are accepted for phone and online orders.
Members of the cast for the KU summer production are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names, high school and role.
CRAWFORD COUNTY
From Pittsburg 66762
Rochelle Herman, sophomore majoring in theatre and film, daughter of Michael and Linda Herman; Pittsburg High School; Member of the Flock.
FINNEY COUNTY
From Holcomb 67851
Logan Walker, senior majoring in theatre, son of Lynn and Cindy Walker; Holcomb High School; Father and Member of the Flock.
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Olathe 66062
Mackenzie L. Wiglesworth, junior majoring in theatre, daughter of Russ and Carol Wiglesworth; Olathe East High School; Fletcher.
From Overland Park 66207
Jordan White, sophomore majoring in theatre and film, daughter of Ann Nelson and Bowen White; Shawnee Mission South High School; Mother and Member of the Flock.
From Overland Park 66221
Brian Ervin, senior majoring in psychology and theatre and film, son of Dan and Debbie Ervin; St. Thomas Aquinas High School; Sullivan.
Alex Haynes, graduating senior in psychology and theatre, son of Martin Haynes and Patricia Thomas; Blue Valley Northwest High School; Elder and Member of the Flock.
LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth 66048
Sean Hall, sophomore majoring in theatre, son of Danny Hall; Leavenworth High School; Chiang.
SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66601
Spencer Holdren, senior majoring in theatre, son of Jim and Teresa Turnbull; Topeka High School; Kirk and Member of the Flock.
NORTH DAKOTA
From Fargo 58102
Amy Virginia Buchanan, junior majoring in theatre and film, daughter of David and Cindy Buchanan; Stillwater High School, Stillwater, Okla.; Member of the Flock.
TEXAS
From Plano 75025
Ben Cook, graduating senior in theatre and film, son of Richard and Carol Cook; Plano Senior High School; Jonathan.
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