By Sadie Hunter
For more than a decade, Partnerships for Lawrence had overseen arts programming in the city. This year, the organization is living up to its new name, programming and planning the return of several successful events and theatrical performances.
Founded by former Lawrence Mayor Deb Cantwell, the nonprofit was formed in 2006 but didn’t move into its current facility, Theater at the Fort, until October 2015, when it launched its theater programs and rebranded itself as Arts for Lawrence.
“We actually hired a strategic planning consultant in 2016, and she really pushed for us to consider rebranding and changing our name,” said Judy Byron, executive director of Arts for Lawrence. “She said, as many people have, ‘Partnerships for Lawrence doesn’t mean anything to me.’ We needed our name to say what we did. How we do it is through partnerships. What we do is arts.”
“I don’t know that the community knows (our programs) are tied together under the same organization,” added Byron, who had served on the nonprofit’s board since 2007 until being hired as executive director in 2012. “For instance, a lot of people know about our summer art camp, but they don’t necessarily know that that’s the same group that’s doing the murals in town, or the same group that’s trying to bring in public art through the Herron students, or the same group that’s programming the Theater (at the Fort).”
LAWRENCE PLAYERS
One of Arts for Lawrence’s largest undertakings for the year is the establishment of its own theater troupe.
“We are trying to develop the Lawrence Players,” Byron said. “We will be holding auditions for not only cast members for ‘The Old Man and the Sea,’ but also puppeteers, people who want to help with set building and costuming, tech hands, etc. This will be our own theater troupe, and we’ll do an annual show.
“When we moved into the theater, we reached out for people to volunteer, and the community was really excited to help,” Byron continued. “So we offered opportunities to be ushers, box office, concessions. We offered opportunities to help with administrations and front desk help, helping during events, but a lot of people wanted to audition. They wanted to work backstage, they wanted to help with costuming. We didn’t have control over that because we were partnering with other performance groups. So this is a way to get the community, who really wanted to volunteer on the stage or behind the stage, involved.”
The first performance is set for November 2017. Auditions are not yet scheduled but are planned for mid- to late-April, after spring break.
CIRCUS CLUB
“We also have a brand new Circus Club, which is kind of an acting workshop,” Byron said.
The Circus Club began March 18 and will meet each Saturday for six weeks, through April 22. The club’s goal is to focus on different skills for performing arts for civic, educational and cultural events.
For more, visit artsforlawrence.org/outreach-programs/circus-club.html.
MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM
Also new in 2017, Arts for Lawrence is preparing to launch its membership program.
“The membership program will offer benefits for discounts at the theater and other swag items, but we’re really excited to launch the family membership, which offers child membership,” Byron said.
In addition to a variety of membership levels, the organization also will be unveiling a new mascot for children. Both will be announced April 1.
HISTORY OF THE THEATER
The theater at Fort Harrison was built in 1929 to entertain enlisted men who were stationed there. For years, the building, which sits at 8920 Otis Ave., housed live theater and played films.
A fire in the early 1980s ruined much of the seating area, and in 1985 all seats were replaced. But the theater closed a short time later. Since then, aside form its use as a practice hall for the National Guard Reserve Band, the theater was not used for public programming for nearly 30 years.
Partnerships for Lawrence had been in talks with Lawrence city officials since 2007 to take over the building and get its lease reinstated.
“One of the catalysts I think to move us in here, the National Guard Reserve Band had moved out in January (2015), and we had been talking to the city about renting the space,” said Judy Byron, executive director of Arts for Lawrence. “In February (2015), there was no one in the building, and the heat was off, the pipes froze, and there was $180,000 worth of damage done. It was terrible. So all of the backstage had to be ripped out, all the way down to the studs and the subfloor. That all happened during the last administration’s term. They tore out everything, but they hadn’t gotten to replacing anything. So this current administration (Mayor Steve Collier) made a deal with us to let us oversee the renovations back there. Being an organization with a lot of volunteers, we were able to stretch the budget they gave us and match it with some grants and donations. We added a half bath back there and a little kitchen. We’re about 95 percent done.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Bunnies! Felting Workshop
What: Join Gary Schmitt for a wool-felting workshop. Participants will get hands-on training and learn how to make a bunny, just in time for spring. This is a three-hour needle-felting workshop and includes all materials, pastries and coffee.
When: 9 a.m. to noon April 8
Cost: $35/person, $15/each additional family member registered - Lawrence Central Jazz Band
What: Join Lawrence Central for an evening of jazz music.
When: 7 to 8 p.m. May 3
Cost: Free - Heartland Big Band presents ‘Gershwin by George!’
What: A tribute to George Gershwin, who penned some of the most memorable songs in the Great American Songbook.
When: 7 p.m. May 5 and 6
Cost: $20/general admission, $17/students and patrons with a military ID
