Arts Center News
- Carmine Ballare Dance Scholarship
- In The Galleries...
- Imagination & Place News
- SYT Cast List
- Short Film Festival Winners Announced
- Summer Youth Theatre Auditions
- Fall 2009-2010 Preschool Enrollment
- Wood Firing Slideshow
- A Special Thank You
- Theatre at the Center
- Arts Ed Key to 21st Century Skills
- Arts Center Welcomes New Director
2009-10 Carmine Ballare Dance Scholarship
Recipients Announced
The Lawrence Arts Center is pleased to announce the recipients of the Carmine Ballare Dance Scholarship for the 2009-2010 year. Grace Clark, daughter of Jordana Arnold and Brian Clark, and Clarate Heckler, daughter of Beth Anne Mansur and Richard Heckler, were chosen for the coming year. Emma Davison, daughter of Amy Albright and Doug Davison, and Jessica Devlin, daughter of Frances and Rick Devlin were selected as alternates. These recipients were selected through an audition process held in the Spring.
The Carmine Ballare scholarship fund was established by Dan Sabatini in honor of his grandfather, Carmine Sabatini. Its purpose is to reward excellence and commitment to dance, and to encourage rigorous training in ballet. The scholarship will fully fund four ballet technique classes per week at the Lawrence Arts Center (August-May). Additionally the scholarship covers participation in this year’s holiday production, “The Kansas Nutcracker” in December 2009 and the Lawrence Youth Ballet Company’s “Wizard of Oz II” in March 2010.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to encourage, as well as a reward our dance students who have made dance a real priority in their lives.”
Candi Baker, Dance Program Director
In the Galleries...
June 5 - July 17
From the 60's to Sixty Something: A Journey of Art and Friendship
Works by Jim Brothers and Louis Copt

Lawrence artists Louis Copt (left) and Jim Brothers camping in Munich, Germany in 1969. They have been friends for over forty years.
Imagination & Place News
July 1, 2009
Purchased Book (@$12.95) Equals Ticket to Book Launch and
Poet Laureate Celebration
The Committee on Imagination & Place announces the first publication of the Imagination & Place Press, Imagination & Place: An Anthology. This eclectic collection features poems, essays, and fiction by writers from coast to coast, broadening the conversation about place and its relation to the natural world and human culture.
Also, July 1, 2009, is the first day of the two-year term of the recently named third Kansas Poet Laureate Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg and represents the conclusion of the term of the second Kansas Poet Laureate Denise Low. Both Mirriam-Goldberg and Low are members of the Committee on Imagination & Place and from Lawrence.
Consequently, the public is warmly invited to attend a combined celebration taking place on July 1, launching the anthology and paying tribute to Mirriam-Goldberg and Low. The event will occur at 7:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire, Lawrence, Kansas.
Admission to the event is the purchase of a copy of Imagination & Place: An Anthology per household. The books will be available at the door for $12.95 each plus tax.
A booksigning and readings by area contributors to the anthology, as well as readings by Mirriam-Goldberg and Low will make up the July 1 program. A poem by Mirriam-Goldberg is included in the anthology; Low serves on the Imagination & Place Press editorial team. Books by Mirriam-Goldberg and Low will be offered for sale as well. A reception will follow.
About her position as 2007-2009 Kansas Poet Laureate, Low said, "As a new poet laureate, I planned to make appearances and to create a series of electronic poetry broadsides to disseminate to poets, arts organizations, libraries, and publications. I did not expect to take on such a broad role as an ambassador for poetry to colleges, arts centers, libraries, social service organizations, and churches. I spoke on radio and television shows. I judged contests and ran my own series of contests for Poetry Month. In this time I discovered the profound hunger Kansans have for high-level communication. Poetry is not an easy art form, as it requires concentration, skill, logic, and heart. It is the most intense form of literacy. I appreciate the chance to be part of the Kansas Arts Commission-sponsored effort to bring arts into daily lives of my fellow citizens."
On becoming the 2009-2011 Kansas Poet Laureate, Mirriam-Goldberg said, "Over many years teaching and leading writing workshops in communities throughout Kansas and the U.S. and Mexico, I've continually witnessed how powerful our stories and writing can be when we speak in our own words and tell our own truths. My Poet Laureate project -- "Poetry Across Kansas: Reading and Writing Our Way Home" -- offers communities opportunities for not just readings and writing workshops, but support for ongoing writing circles facilitated by local writers, teachers, artists and community members. Building on the good work of our first two Poets Laureate, Denise Low and Jonathan Holden, I'm also bringing communities writing prompts based on the poetry of Kansas writers featured on the website Holden started and Low's Ad Astra project, which also, in turn, helps the people of our state get to know the poetry of our state, and how such poetry can help us see where we live and how to live with new eyes."
Summer Youth Theatre Cast Listings
Julius Caesar Cast List
| Brutus | Taylor Thurman |
| Anthony | Ashley Kennedy |
| Cassius | Eric Palmquist |
| Caesar | Orion Dollar |
| Casca | Jacob Leet |
| Calpurnia/Volumnius | Leah Towle |
| Portia/Clitus | Leslie Cunningham |
| Lucius/Artemidorus | Lydia Miller |
| Soothsayer | Tim Dingus |
| Decius Brutus/Messala | Sarah Bodle |
| Cinna/Octavius/Pindarus | Sally Spurgeon |
| Metellus Cimber/Strato | Samantha Bellavia |
| Trebonius/Titinius | Chelsey Haden |
| Cais Legarius/Lucillius | Colin O'Neal |
| Marullus/Cicero/Lepidus | Nora Byers |
| Flavius/Publius | Anna Munzinger |
All Actors will also play Plebians, Servants, Soldiers, Messengers Merchants and Drummers.
There are still some parts with lines that we will give out at the first rehearsal, so that any late enrollees can still be full participants in this production.
Thank you for all of your talent and hard work. This should be exciting!
First Rehearsal - June 1st - Monday - 3:00pm - Arts Center
Enrollments must be fully completed and payment or payment arrangements made before the 1st of June.
Financial aid applications must be filled out by May 22nd in order to be eligible for financial aid (scholarships)
RENT Cast List
| Mark Cohen | Eric Palmquist |
| Roger Davis | Jacob Leet |
| Tom Collins | Matt Drahozal |
| Benjamin Coffin III | Colby Sostarich |
| Joanne Jefferson | Katie Donner |
| Angel Schunard | Jordan Gaches |
| Mimi Marquez | Sarah Bodle |
| Maureen Johnson | Kristen Gish |
| "The Man" | Demian Solimar |
| Restaurant Woman | Sally Spurgeon (Understudy Maureen) |
| Mrs. Grey | Nicole Olson |
| Mrs. Cohen | Elise Loney (Understudy Joanne) |
| Rogers's Mom | Barbara Boswell |
| Mr. Jefferson | Ian Patterson |
| Mrs. Jefferson | Hannah Foerschler |
| Mimi's Mom | Hana Arch |
| Alexi Darling | Kelsey Schneer (Understudy Mimi) |
| Paul | Kris Hilding (Understudy Mark) |
| Steve | Jake Mather (Understudy Angel) |
| Gordon | Jon McClees (Understudy Roger) |
| Pam | Emily Johnson |
| Ali | Joyce Bohling |
| Sue | Sophie Laufer |
| Blanket Person | Sarah Atkinson |
| Coat Vendor | Stephanie Gage |
| Officer Martin | Leslie Cunningham |
| Officer Goulter | Leah Towle |
| Officer Hedman | Jason Chang (Understudy Benny) |
| "Leap of Faith" girls | |
| Elsey | Noelle Olson |
| Luna | Ameila Weil |
| Estella | Kendra Moore |
| SqueegieMan | Bekett Bergstrom (Understudy Collins) |
| The Homeless | |
| "Christmas Belle" | Morgan Brown |
| "Rudolph" | Michelle Stockwell |
| "Flurry" | Kerrie Leinmiller - Renick |
| "Star Shine" | Mary Claire Carter |
| The Junkies | |
| "Snow Ball" | Nina Keizer |
| "Crazy Eight" | Katie Hall |
| "Pinky" | Anna Munzinger |
| "Stryker" | Julianna Hacker |
Thank you all for your wonderful auditions!!! I look forward to creating a wonderful ensemble piece in July!
Most cast members will play multiple roles, and will be on stage MOST of the time.
Due to the vocal demands placed on the principle characters, we have decided to have those parts understudied. Understudies will be expected to perform if needed.
Enrollments must be fully completed and payment or payment arrangements made before the 1st of June.
Financial aid applications must be filled out by May 22nd in order to be eligible for financial aid (scholarships)
ANNIE Cast List
| Annie | Isabel Rummell |
| Molly | Delaney Rettele |
| Pepper | Ally Brittian |
| Duffy | Elizabeth Godinez |
| Kate | Karen McCain |
| Tessie | Savannah Price |
| July | Sadie Keller |
| Maggie | Grace Eason |
| OTHER ORPHANS | |
| Melissa Jacob, Megan Towle, Sagan Shire, Brienne Billings, Juliana Hill, Calder Holland, Katie Price, Clara Severn, Isabelle Schmidtberger, Abigail Treff, Carter Stacey, Eva Arch | |
| Miss Hannigan | Katie Gaches |
| Grace | Maggie Wiseman |
| Daddy Warbucks | David Petr |
| Rooster | Ryan Osburn |
| Lily | Johanna diZereger |
| Bundles | Ian Peppin |
| Apple Seller | Shoshi Rosen |
| Asst. Dog Catcher | Trenna Soderling |
| Dog Catcher | Kathryn Amick |
| Sandy, the dog | Isabel Marshall-Kramer |
| Officer Ward | Sam Goodwin |
| HOOVERVILLE PEOPLE | |
| Alice(Artie) | Devany West |
| Mary | Jordyn Carlin |
| Eddie | Brendan Lyons |
| Fred | Marcel Wyckoff |
| Sophie | Jodi Moore |
| Peggy | Meredith Johnson |
| Alma(Ira) | Emma Stucki |
| HOUSEHOLD | |
| Drake, butler | Abby Illardi |
| Mrs. Greer, housekeeper | Eliza Gant |
| Cecille, maid | Erin Fisher |
| Annette, maid | Caroline Carter |
| Mrs. Pugh, cook | Abigail Schmidtberger |
| President Roosevelt | Ely Jost |
| PRESIDENT'S CABINET | |
| Ickes | Eleanor Daniels |
| Morgenthau | Sadie McEniry |
| Hull | Clarte Heckler |
| Howe | Tristan Delnero |
| Perkins | Brianne Martin |
| CHORUS (hoovervillians, New York City, servants) | |
| Kari Karnes, Audrina Hidalgo, Ellie Kirk, Hannah McCauley, Rose Uhrich, Morgan Ross, Maddie Stuber, Sabina Caldwell, Genevieve Prescher, Kylee Wiggins, Emily Six, Lydia Caldwell, Darwin Shire, Brynna Davis, Maddy Stacey, Mallory McFall, Aubin Murphy, Kylie Stancliffe, Bridget Smith, Darby Gilliland, Violet Wyckoff, Simmone Herlihy, Kiara Clark, Lara Schadde, Graham Hosking | |
| RADIO HOUR PERFORMERS | |
| Eliza Gant, Jodi Moore, Meredith Johnson, Devany West | |
Thanks to all of you. Your auditions were brilliant. I'm really excited to get started. See you all in June, Jennifer
Enrollments must be fully completed and payment or payment arrangements made before the 1st of June.
Financial aid applications must be filled out by May 22nd in order to be eligible for financial aid (scholarships)
ROBIN HOOD Cast List
| HERALD | Isaac Ward |
| JANICE | Chloe O'Dell |
| KING RICHARD | Sam Hay |
| ROBIN HOOD | Zachary Spears |
| MARIAN | Nicole Berkley |
| ABBESS | Abby Ilardi |
| SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM | George Runyan |
| EDWARD of LOCKESLEY | Ian Pepin |
| PRINCE JOHN | Jack Powell |
| GUY of GISBORNE | Kyle Berkley |
| KING'S DEER | Strelly Frankenfeld |
| WILL SCARLETT | Tristan Delnevo |
| NATHANIAL PIPER | Nick Rice |
| WILLIAM CHURCH | Sam Allen |
| DANIEL BOYLE | George Wedge |
| MUCH, MILLER'S SON | Joaquin Dorado-Mariscal |
| BART COMMON | McDaniel Maisel |
| FINN LUCKY | Kieran Spears |
| TOBIAS | Keegan West |
| EVIL TAX COLLECTOR | Anna McCurdy |
| DEVIOUS CLERY | TBA |
| EVIL 'LORD' | Anna Patterson |
| MERRY 'MAN' | TBA |
| LITTLE JOHN | Brendan Lyons |
| HONEST DAVIE | Aubin Murphy |
| LADY LUCY | Elizabeth Godinez |
| ESMERELDA | Sarah Smoot |
| LOVELORN ROBIN HOOD | Matt Rood |
| WILLA SCARLETT | Isabel Rummell |
| MADGE, MILLDER'S DAUGHTER | Kate McCurdy |
| NANCY | Mia Haden |
| BILLY | Courtney Cooper |
| DANNI | Sabina Caldwell |
| ARCHERY BUTT | Betsy Smoot |
| ALLAN A'DALE | Andrew Chavez |
| FRIAR TUCK | Devany West |
| ELLEN | Meredith Johnson |
| LORD DUNCAN | Celie Davison |
| SISTER AGATHA | Lydia Caldwell |
| SISTER ELENA | Kate Rettig |
| SISTER STEPHANIE | Josie Wiklund |
| NOT SO BRIGHT ROBIN HOOD | Ted Wiklund |
| WHACK MARIAN | Rowan Plinsky |
Great work everyone! See ya, July 6th
Ric & Will Averill
Enrollments must be fully completed and payment or payment arrangements made before the 1st of June.
Financial aid applications must be filled out by May 22nd in order to be eligible for financial aid (scholarships)
Fall 2009-2010 Preschool Enrollment
Fall 2009-2010 preschool enrollment begins Saturday, February 21st for new families. Enrollment for former families begins Thursday, Feb. 19th. Download an enrollment packet below or contact Bonnie or Linda at the Arts Center. Email
Click Here to download Enrollment Form
Click Here to download our introductory letter to parents.
Click Here to download our "Why Art" roundup.
Kindergarten Art Club
Enrollment continues for our new "Kindergarten Art Club" for children enrolled in kindergarten in local schools. Students will explore the arts and expand on their public school activities. Four-week sessions are available Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays and the Wednesday sessions meet early to allow for early dismissals in Lawrence Public Schools.
Younger children can enjoy our new one-day-per-week workshops for four- and five-year olds, and old favorites like Coloring Outside the Lines and Integrated Arts are back too! Click here for the full preschool class schedule and online enrollment forms.
Arts-Based Preschool
The Arts-Based preschool is for children ages 3-5 years and provides social, motor and creative experiences that excite a love for learning. Music, sculpture, painting, drawing and creative movement are an integral part of the program. The self-esteem of your child will grow through rich and varied experiences with the arts in combination with sound preschool education. The LAC Preschool's curriculum allows students the opportunity to work with professional artists, actors, dancers, and musicians in addition to the full-time staff; attend performances; and create in the ceramics studio. Lots of fun, lots of love, and lots of good arts experiences nurture creative thinking, decision-making, imagination and art appreciation.
Children must be 3 years of age before September 1st. We do accept a limited number of children who turn 3 years of age in September and October for our Tuesday/Thursday morning class only. We offer several other classes each semester for 2 and 3 year olds.
For more information please contact Bonnie Cherry or Linda Reimond, Preschool Director, at 785-843-2787 or lacpreschool@sunflower.com.
Kansas-Missouri Short Film Festival
WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
– First Annual Kansas-Missouri Short Film Festival
Film At The Center
Is pleased to announce the winners of the FIRST ANNUAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL which was held Thursday, April 2nd, at 7 PM, in the Lawrence Arts Center auditorium.
- BEST PICTURE was Boys Pretending, a drama by Kitley Jewell
- BEST DOCUMENTARY was Tras Bambalinas, by Steve Lerner
- BEST OVERALL ACTING & BEST SCIENCE FICTION was Crawlspace, by Marlo Angell
- BEST PICTURE, YOUTH DIVISION was Tales of Miss Fortune, a comedy by Siel Snowden & Cannzana Stockwil
- BEST ART FILM was Frog, by Matt Simon
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY was Candy, by Misti Boland
- BEST MUSIC VIDEO was The Fitz Brothers, by A.J. Alexander
- JUDGES CHOICE; SOCIAL ACTION FILM was The Littlest Ones; a Dogumentary, by Grant Babbit
The Lawrence Arts Center's film program is now regularly showing films; original, educational, local, and archival every two months, usually on Thursday evenings..
Upcoming screenings will include Shakespeare on film on June 4th, (SYT is doing JULIUS CAESAR) and Lawrence on Film – Quantrill’s raid excerpts on August 20th.
The Lawrence Arts Center ’s Film at the Center welcomes your input and ideas. We are committed to working with local, state and regional film makers to help our city become the new ‘ Austin of the Midwest .’
For more information, contact Ric Averill at lacdrama@sunflower.com. (785) 843-2787 Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire , Lawrence , KS 66044
Wood Firing Collaboration
This wood firing was a colaboration with the University of Kansas Ceramics Department and the Lawrence Arts Center. View Flickr Stream Slideshow!
A Special Thank You
Thank you to the Lawrence Arts Center Trustees who have recently completed their terms of service on the Board and to the Lawrence community.
- Dave Adams
- Louis Copt
- Jason Edmonds
- Evan Ice
- Maurice Joy
- Dolph Simons III
We thank you for your excellent service and commitment to our mission of nurturing love of the arts through education, exploration and expression.
Arts Ed Key to 21st Century Skills
Diane E. Franken, executive director of the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education writes about the importance of arts education in the Des Moines Register.
In the Register's ongoing series about world-class schools, it has given too-scant attention to the essential place of arts education in preparing students for a global society and workplace.
An initial question asked experts to identify the knowledge and skills necessary in education to be globally competitive. Science, math, language arts and other subjects are important for our students, but they are no longer enough. Who says so? More than arts educators.
To cite just a few examples:
- A study by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills identifies "the arts as a core subject for a student's complete education to prepare them for the 21st century."
The study lists as 21st-century skills those skills that have always infused quality arts programs: creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, adaptability, initiative, social, productivity, responsibility and global awareness. The partnership includes such companies as Apple, CBS, Dell and Ford Motor Co., along with the American Association of School Librarians and McGraw-Hill Education. Recently, Gov. Chet Culver signed Iowa on as a partnership state, and the Iowa Department of Education has begun to suggest the inclusion of some of its mentioned skills.
The Lawrence Arts Center Welcomes David L. Leamon
David L. Leamon
The Lawrence Arts Center is very proud to announce David L. Leamon as the new Executive Director to lead a brilliant new and existing cast. David brings knowledge, experience, and passion from his esteemed career as the Executive Director of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. As a result of his work with the Board of Trustees, a successful Referendum in 1992 brought ownership of the library to all Shawnee County residents. In 1995, he began planning with the Board and staff for a greatly expanded new library construction Since 2002 when the library opened, it has grown exponentially in space for collections, accommodation for the public, technology training, programming, open hours, and use by the enthusiastic public. Leamon played a major role in re-establishing the Library Foundation and helped raise over $4 million in support for library services and activities. He oversaw the planning and construction of the new main library which was designed by internationally known architect, Michael Graves. Leamon was honored by the Library Board of Trustees with the naming of the David L. Leamon Lobby in the new building.
Leamon received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art and a Bachelor of Science in English from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri. He was awarded a Master of Science in Library Science in 1972 from Case Western Reserve University.
Leamon began his library career at Mid-Continent Public Library in the Kansas City, Missouri area. He then moved to serve at the Tulsa City-County Public Library in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Manager of Public Services. Another move to the Seattle Public Library in Seattle, Washington, established him as the director of the North Regional Branches. His first Directorate was at the Jackson District Public Library in Jackson, Michigan, where he merged two separate library systems and their branches into a very successful single library system.
As the Executive Director of the San Antonio Public Library in San Antonio, Texas from 1988-1992, he worked closely with Architect, Ricardo Legoretta in planning and designing the state-of-the art Main Library. In addition, Leamon was Director of the Hertzberg Circus Museum, then a part of the Library's holdings and responsibility.
Always a strong supporter and enthusiast of the Arts, Leamon has established public sculptures, promoted art exhibits and competitions, worked to include a Kansas mural by Kansas Artist, Stan Herd in the Topeka library, and he was a leading force behind the creation of the recent Aaron Douglas Mural Project in the historic Tennessee Town in Central Topeka.
He will begin at the Arts Center on November 17, 2008. A public reception will be held for him and the new Directors of Development, Sandy Sanders and Business, Rick Yarnell on November 21st from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at the Lawrence Arts Center located at 940 New Hampshire Street.
940 New Hampshire St.
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-843-2787 Business Office Hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm
"To enrich individuals and the community by nurturing love of the arts through education, exploration and expression. Serving the community of Lawrence, Kansas since 1975 with arts programs and services for individuals of all ages, interests and backgrounds."
Inclement Weather Policy
When Lawrence public schools are cancelled, all LAC children's classes and any classes held between 9am and 5pm will automatically be cancelled. The cancellation decision for adult evening classes will be made by 1pm and will be reported on local radio stations KPR 91.5 FM and KLWN 1320 AM. The LAC will offer a make-up class when possible.


