Features packages, WIchita Eagle

Page 1

Tonight’s Academy Awards features big stars and unfamiliar faces vying for gold

ho would have thought a small silent film would be making such noise at the Academy Awards in this day and age – when louder and bigger aren’t loud or big enough? But “The Artist” could be victorious at tonight’s Academy Awards, with returning host Billy Crystal. And I hope it’s not the only victory to celebrate, as Wichita has a special connection to Oscar this year — Wichitan Ethan McCord is the subject of “Incident in New Baghdad,” nominated for best short documentary film. So settle in, it’s going to be a long, star-studded, glittery night. But we wouldn’t have it any other way. Here is a look at my predictions in major categories:

W

ROD POCOWATCHIT THE MOVIE MANIAC

If you watch 84TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS

Best picture “The Artist” “The Descendants” “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” “The Help” “Hugo” “Midnight in Paris” “Moneyball” “The Tree of Life” “War Horse” Under revised rules (again), up to 10 films could have been nominated this year. “Extremely Loud” was a surprise nomination, especially considering the film didn’t generate glowing reviews from critics (neither did “War Horse,” but, hey, it’s Spielberg). And I still don’t understand the

When: 7:30 p.m. today; pre-show at 6 p.m. Where: ABC and KAKE, channel 10

OSCAR CONTEST ONLINE There’s still time to enter our Oscar contest today. Information, 2C

Oscar contenders, from top: Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Jean Dujardin and Christopher Plummer.

Please see OSCAR, Page 2C

Billy Crystal returns as host for this year’s Academy Awards show.

Courtesy photos

Friends ballet is a ‘Dream’ come true BY JASON DILTS Eagle correspondent

Fernando Salazar/The Wichita Eagle

Friends University Ballet will present "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" Friday, Saturday and March 4.

It’s an entrancing time for the Friends University Ballet. Sparkling fairies are frolicking to enthralling music. Love-struck couples are wading into a moonlit wilderness. Mischief, merrymaking, and mayhem abound as audiences are invited to the center of a magical, mysterious evening. It’s all part of a lavish ballet production based on William Shakespeare’s classic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Organizers of the show are delighting in the uniqueness and scope of the performance. “This is a huge production,” said Stan K. Rogers, who is directing and choreographing the show. “We’re literally building it all from scratch — the background, the costumes — all of it. It’s a very visually pleasing piece. The scenery is bright and costumes colorful. It’s such a funny piece, too. It is rare to do comedy in ballet, but it really comes together in a special way.” Please see DREAM, Page 7C

If you go “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM” What: Friends University’s spring ballet performance of the Shakespeare comedy Where: Friends University’s Sebits Auditorium, 2100 W. University When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. March 4 Cost: $15 for adults and $12 for seniors citizens and students For tickets or more information, call 316-295-5677.

Additional photos Visit this story at Kansas.com/ entertainment to view additional photos of Friends Ballet’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

ent nm rtai ng nte eati of E r S ion ate e c t Th e Se l & GE ture HU Furni

HEPHNER TV & Electronics, Inc. 7kZ_e L_Z[e >ec[ J^[Wj[h IWb[i I[hl_Y[ ºM[½l[ ]ej ekh HEEJI _d M_Y^_jW" dej `kij ekh XhWdY^[i »

-)- I$ MWi^_d]jed M_Y^_jW" AI )',#(,*#)(.* www.HephnerTV.com C#< .#+0)&" IWj /#+

42” LG PLASMA S s (: s + (OUR ,IFE s YR 0ANEL 7ARRANTY

$

95

549

$ LG Blu-Ray DVD Player

95

99

FREE TV DELIVERY & SETUP in Greater Wichita Area

MITSUBISHI 73” DLP '&.& F ): 97F78B;

149995

$

2C THE WICHITA EAGLE ■ SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2012

OTHER ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS Animated feature film “A Cat in Paris” Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli “Chico & Rita” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal “Kung Fu Panda 2” Jennifer Yuh Nelson “Puss in Boots” Chris Miller “Rango” Gore Verbinski Art direction “The Artist” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” “Hugo” “Midnight in Paris” “War Horse” Cinematography “The Artist” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” “Hugo” “The Tree of Life” “War Horse” Costume design “Anonymous” “The Artist” “Hugo” “Jane Eyre” “W.E.” Documentary feature “Hell and Back Again” “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” “Pina” “Undefeated” Documentary short subject “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement” “God Is the Bigger Elvis” “Incident in New Baghdad” “Saving Face” “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” Film editing “The Artist” “The Descendants” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” “Hugo” “Moneyball” Foreign language film “Bullhead” (Belgium) “Footnote” (Israel) “In Darkness” (Poland) “Monsieur Lazhar” (Canada) “A Separation” (Iran) Makeup “Albert Nobbs” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” “The Iron Lady” Original Score “The Adventures of Tintin” “The Artist” “Hugo” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” “War Horse” Original song “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” “Real in Rio” from “Rio” Sound editing “Drive” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” “Hugo” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” “War Horse” Sound mixing “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” “Hugo” “Moneyball” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” “War Horse”

McDaniel, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson and Mo’Nique). Oscar guess: Spencer My vote: Spencer

OSCAR From Page 1C accolades for the baffling “Tree of Life.” It went over my head, and I’m pretty tall. “Descendants” won the Golden Globe for best picture, but that was a surprise. So the race basically comes down to “The Artist” and “The Help” – both worthy of the Oscar. “The Help” won the Screen Actors Guild award for best ensemble performance – that group’s version of best picture. But “The Artist” has been so lovingly adored that it should win here. And it’s an homage to the glory days of film, which Oscar will appreciate. Oscar guess: “The Artist” My vote: “The Artist”

Writing (original screenplay) “The Artist,” Michel Hazanavicius “Bridesmaids,” Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig “Margin Call,” J.C. Chandor “Midnight in Paris,” Woody Allen “A Separation,” Asghar Farhadi

Directing

Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist” Alexander Payne, “The Descendants” Courtesy photo Martin Scorsese, “Hugo” Woody Allen, “Midnight in George Clooney and Shailene Wooley star in "The Descendants," which received five nominations heading into Paris” Terrence Malick, “The Tree tonight’s Academy Awards. of Life” So it comes down to Streep, widower who explores his Newcomer Hazanavicius newfound gay lifestyle was who has been nominated finds himself on a pretty colorful and moving. I first more than any other impressive list. predicted he’d win an Oscar performer with 16 Malick has been nominated for “Beginners” as soon as I nominations (she won for writing and directing saw the film last summer — supporting actress for 1979’s 1998’s “The Thin Red Line.” “Kramer vs. Kramer” and lead and he will. His work on “Tree of Life” Oscar guess: Plummer actress for 1982’s “Sophie’s radiated with a wondrous My vote: Plummer Choice”), for her portrayal of sense of time and place, but former British Prime Minister the loopy narrative lost me. Margaret Thatcher, and Davis Payne was nominated for Actress in a supporting (previously nominated for directing 2004’s “Sideways” Actor in a leading role 2008’s “Doubt”) for her role as role (he won for its screenplay and a maid who bravely bucks the was also nominated for Demian Bichir, “A Better system. Berenice Bejo, “The Artist” writing 1999’s “Election”). His Life” It’s a tough call. Streep’s work on “Descendants” was Jessica Chastain, “The George Clooney, “The performance won the Golden undeniably masterful, and he Help” Descendants” guided Clooney to his best Melissa McCarthy, Jean Dujardin, “The Artist” Globe (for drama) and is technically brilliant – her performance. “Bridesmaids” Gary Oldman, “Tinker turn as Thatcher is This is Allen’s 23rd Janet McTeer, “Albert Tailor Soldier Spy” astoundingly uncanny. But nomination (including both Nobbs” Brad Pitt, “Moneyball” Davis won the Screen Actor’s writing and directing – he Octavia Spencer, “The Newcomer Bichir was a Guild award, and if she wins won for writing 1986’s Help” somewhat surprise nominee “Hannah and Her Sisters” and Only McTeer has been for his earnest performance as she’ll become only the second black actress (after Halle writing and directing 1977’s nominated before (lead a Mexican gardener fighting Berry) to win a lead-actress “Annie Hall”). “Paris” is his actress in 1999’s to create a better life for Oscar. Davis seems to have the “Tumbleweeds”), and her most successful film to date, himself and his son, even and was wonderfully though he was also nominated edge, but it could be a toss-up. performance in “Nobbs” was Oscar guess: Davis whimsical and creative. convincing, but hardly for the Screen Actor’s Guild My vote: Streep And Scorsese has been winning material. award. He’s the longshot here. Chastain rightfully earned a nominated 10 times for Oldman’s nomination also writing and directing (he won nom for her role as a wife recognizes his long career, but Actor in a supporting for directing 2006’s “The trying to hide her his turn as a British Departed”). His work in shortcomings from her intelligence agent isn’t getting role “Hugo” is beautiful and husband, and McCarthy buzz to win. heartfelt — it’s his love letter to pulled off a rare nod for Neither is Pitt, which is a Kenneth Branagh, “My cinema and film preservation. comedy as a masculine shame, because he delivered Week with Marilyn” But — as amazing as it is bridesmaid, but neither are his best acting ever as real-life Jonah Hill, “Moneyball” among such esteemed peers — getting buzz to win. baseball general manager Nick Nolte, “Warrior” Bejo was marvelous in a role Hazanavicius outshines them Billy Beane. Christopher Plummer, all with his work in “The that relied on physical acting So it comes down to “Beginners” with no dialogue – she could Artist.” He never let the Clooney, who won the Golden Max von Sydow, premise get gimmicky and Globe (for drama), and gave “Extremely Loud & Incredibly benefit from an “Artist” added lots of dazzling touches sweep. the best performance of his Close” But Spencer has won nearly an already stylized narrative. career as a husband and Von Sydow (previously The Director’s Guild honored all the precursor awards for father coming to grips with nominated for lead actor in him with their award, and I infidelity and mortality, and 1988’s “Pelle the Conqueror”) her superb turn as a headstrong maid, shading her think the Academy will, too. Dujardin, who radiated with was a surprise nominee here, Oscar guess: Hazanavicius performance with comedy and charm, heartache and despair but shouldn’t have been in a My vote: Hazanavicius with practically no dialogue as role that has Oscar written all rage. She deserves the Oscar, a fading silent film star. He over it (an elderly mute). Still, and could become the fifth black actress to win in this won the SAG award, and he he’s the longshot. Reach Rod Pocowatchit at category (following Hattie should win the Oscar, too. First-time nominee Hill rpocowatchit@wichitaeagle.com. Oscar guess: Dujardin portrayed Billy Beane’s My vote: Dujardin assistant general manager with impressive subdued restraint, while Nolte Actress in a leading role (previously nominated for lead actor in 1998’s Glenn Close, “Albert “Affliction” and 1991’s “The Nobbs” Prince of Tides”) gave the Viola Davis, “The Help” performance of his career as Rooney Mara, “The Girl an estranged father trying to With the Dragon Tattoo” right his wrongs with his Meryl Streep, “The Iron fighter sons. Lady” Branagh (who was Michelle Williams, “My previously nominated for lead Week With Marilyn” Mara is the newcomer here, actor in 1989’s “Henry V” and has four other nominations in for her ferocious turn as other categories) isn’t getting computer hacker Lisbeth buzz to win for his beloved Salander, and she’s the performance as Laurence longshot. Olivier. It’s a shame that Close still Plummer has been the hasn’t won an Oscar (having favorite here all through been previously nominated awards season, and giving for lead actress in 1988’s him the statuette will also “Dangerous Liaisons” and 1987’s “Fatal Attraction,” and recognize his long, distinguished career. It’s not supporting actress in 1982’s solely a sentimental vote, “The World According to though — his turn as a Garp,” 1983’s “The Big Chill” and 1984’s “The Natural”), but she won’t win this year, either, with her too-stoic turn as a woman posing as a man in 19th-century Ireland. Williams won the Golden Globe (musical or comedy category), but her performance as Marilyn Monroe isn’t getting buzz to win.

Visual effects “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” “Hugo” “Real Steel” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Writing (adapted screenplay) “The Descendants,” Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash “Hugo,” John Logan “The Ides of March,” George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon “Moneyball,” Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; Story by Stan Chervin “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

WWW.KANSAS.COM

NOW PLAYING DICKINSON THEATRES WARREN THEATRES WARREN THEATRES Northrock 14 13th Avenue 21st Street

AN UNPRECEDENTED MOTION PICTURE STARRING ACTIVE DUTY NAVY SEALS

NOW PLAYING AT THEATRES EVERYWHERE! CHECK DIRECTORIES FOR SHOWTIMES NO PASSES ACCEPTED

Still time for Eagle’s Oscar contest BY LORI O’TOOLE BUSELT The Wichita Eagle

Tonight’s Oscar night, but there’s still time for your to predict the winners for a chance to win prizes and bragging rights. Enter The Wichita Eagle’s Oscar contest online at Kansas.com/oscars by 5 p.m. today. (The awards show begins at 6 p.m. on ABC and KAKE, Channel 10.) We will notify winners by phone or e-mail, so all entries must include a daytime phone number and e-mail address. Please include your name, too. Participants in The Eagle’s Oscar contest agree to be interviewed and photographed if they are selected as one of the top three winners. One entry per person. Entrants must be at least 13 years old. Employees of The Wichita Eagle or their family members are ineligible for the contest.

How does it work? When you visit Kansas.com/oscars, click on the “play game” tab and choose the nominee you think will win in each category. Click the “Submit Your Picks” button to complete your entry. Participants must register before playing.

Are there prizes? Yes! In the event of a tie, the winners will be drawn at random from the ballots with the most correct answers. First: $100 gift certificate, four movie tickets and a year’s subscription to Entertainment Weekly magazine. Second: $50 gift certificate and four movie tickets. Third: $25 gift certificate and four movie tickets.

pringtime at the movies kicks into high gear on Friday with the highly anticipated opening of “The Hunger Games,” the first film based on the young-adult books by Suzanne Collins. But Katniss Everdeen won’t be the only draw. We’ll also get everything from the Avengers (finally) to Snow White to the return of a certain man in black. Here’s a look at what’s in store for the next couple of months (release dates are subject to change):

Above: Jennifer Lawrence stars in “The Hunger Games,” opening Friday.

S

ROD POCOWATCHIT

Alan Markfield/Courtesy photo

Taylor Schilling and Zac Efron star in “The Lucky One,” opening April 20.

MOVIE MANIAC

John Baer/Courtesy photo

Jason Statham stars in “Safe,” opening April 27.

Friday “The Hunger Games” — Takes place in a dystopian future where a boy and girl from 12 “districts” fight to the death on live television. Now that’s an entertainment-starved future! Jennifer Lawrence (an Oscar nominee for “Winter’s Bone”) stars as Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the grisly match. “October Baby” — Christianthemed drama about a college freshman who learns that she is the adopted survivor of an attempted abortion.

Hopper Stone/Courtesy photo

Eugene Levy and Jason Biggs return in "American Reunion."

March 30

Glen Wilson/Courtesy photo

Emily Blunt and Jason Segel star in “The Five-Year Engagement,” opening April 27.

Please see MOVIES, Page 2C

GUEST GALLERY: CHAR WILSON VAVRA Today’s guest photographer is Char Wilson Vavra, a retired accountant from Winfield. She developed her love of photography as a child while watching her mother take photos to use as reference material for paintings. Vavra practiced various styles of painting herself and has more recently become “hooked” on digital photography. “The ability to see the pictures instantly and to reproduce them yourself has led to my passion for photography as much as watercolor painting,” she said.

“Wrath of the Titans” — Sequel to “Clash of the Titans,” as Perseus (Sam Worthington) embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus (Liam Neeson). “Goon” — Comedy with Seann

SHARE YOUR TALENTS The Eagle and Kansas.com highlight local photographers in our Guest Gallery feature. We’ll publish one photo in the Sunday Arts & Leisure section and a couple dozen or so additional pictures in a gallery on Kansas.com. If you’re interested in being featured, please send an e-mail and one sample photo to readerphotos @wichitaeagle.com.

Courtesy of Char Wilson Vavra

A male oriole

Jay Maidment/Courtesy photo

Sam Worthington stars as Perseus in “Wrath of the Titans,” opening March 30.

OPERA REVIEW Wichita Grand Opera presents “Die Fledermaus (The Bat)” this weekend. Visit Kansas.com this afternoon to read our review of Saturday night’s performance. A second performance will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe, in Salina. Tickets are $15 to $45, on sale at the theater starting at 4 p.m. For more information, call 785-827-1998 or visit www.stiefeltheatre.org.

Courtesy photo

Wichita Grand Opera presents “Die Fledermaus” this weekend.

2C THE WICHITA EAGLE ■ SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2012

WWW.KANSAS.COM

Toto, tornado are surprise delights in ‘Wizard of Oz’ BY BOB CURTRIGHT Eagle correspondent

An adorable and amazingly unflappable Toto is one of two unexpected and happy surprises of the new production of “The Wizard of Oz” at Crown Uptown Theatre. The other is a specialeffects tornado that spins apart a human-sized Kansas farmhouse in the middle of the stage and deposits it on top of a wicked witch in a bit of cunningly chaotic choreography. The show, adapted from the 1987 stage musical by London’s Royal Shakespeare Company, is one of the largest and most ambitious productions in Crown’s 35-year history. “Oz” is such a familiar tale since the 1939 Judy Garland movie, especially to Kansans who have grown up with it — both loving it (“There’s no place like home”) and hating it (“I don’t think were in Kansas anymore”). It’s difficult to find anything new and surprising. But this version, directed by Matthew Rumsey with a stage-filling cast of 33 people to play the Munchkins and other quaint folks of Oz behind the usual Gang of Four — Dorothy Gale, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion — provides more humor. There

REVIEW

If you go ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ What: 1987 stage musical based on the classic 1939 movie of the L. Frank Baum fairy tale Where: Crown Uptown Theatre, 3207 E. Douglas When: Runs Thursdays through Sundays through April 7. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays with 12:15 p.m. matinees on select Thursdays. Tickets: $38.95 Thursday through Saturday evenings, $35.95 Sunday, $29.95 Thursday matinee, $18.95 children 12 and under. Call 316-612-7696. are punny one-liner asides to the audience, for example, from a trio of wise-guy crows taunting the Scarecrow, as well as from crabby apple trees in the gloomy forest. Even Uncle Henry (Luke Johnson) fires off a couple of understated but hilarious zingers toward that crotchety closet-witch, Miss Gulch (Addie Barnhart). And the look is total “wow,” from the versatile set by Emmy Award winner Gregory R. Crane that turns sepia Kansas

farm country into a colorsaturated Emerald City, to the dozens of quirky, colorful and sparkly costumes by Joni Simonsen. Dan Harmon’s lighting designs intensify the colors even more. Trish Epperson makes a sweet and winsome Dorothy. Her clear, lilting soprano is just right for the classic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Epperson — along with Regan McLellan as Scarecrow, Monte J. Howell as Tin Man and Nick Madson as Cowardly Lion — pay homage through occasional voice inflections and gestures to the actors who made their roles indelible in the movie. They don’t copy them, but they give just enough of Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr to make the show comfortably familiar while putting their own spin on the characters. McLellan has mastered the loosey-goosey body language of Scarecrow and has a pleasant singing voice for “If I Only Had a Brain.” Howell, who is pretty spry dancing around in a clunky suit of “armor” as Tin Man, has more timbre in his voice but also a haunting wistfulness for “If I Only Had a Heart.” And Madsen clearly is having fun hamming it up in the showy role of Cowardly Lion. His “If I Only Had the Nerve” even makes a joking reference to Disney’s “The

Photo courtesy of Crown Uptown Theatre

Crown Uptown Theatre presents “The Wizard of Oz” Thursdays through Sundays through April 7. Lion King.” Barnhart doesn’t quite have the ear-piercing cackle of the Wicked Witch of the West made famous by Margaret Hamilton, but she does have the appropriate snarl, sneer and menacing creep. One missed opportunity (not the Crown’s fault) is that everybody has a song but the wicked witch. Maybe after “Wicked,” authors will rectify that. Gigi Royle’s choreography commands the whole stage,

even going out into the audience for a couple of big production numbers, as well as the aforementioned tornado. And music director Jesse Warkentin’s orchestra soars through the familiar melodies. But Toto, a white West Highland terrier named Tessie owned by the director’s mother, is clearly a crowd favorite. She ignores the audience and stays focused on the action around her without getting underfoot (particularly during

rigorous dance sequences like “Merry Old Land of Oz”), barking or making a mess. Tessie isn’t like a trained dog constantly looking for a signal from off-stage. She seems to genuinely understand and play along without coaching or missing a cue. When not needed, she’ll lie quietly to the side, never breaking the fourth wall. She gets my vote for a local Mary Jane Teall Theater Award next year.

UPCOMING INDEPENDENT FILMS

Courtesy photo

Bruce WIllis, left, and Henry Cavill star in “The Cold Light of Day,” opening April 6.

Leah Gallo/Courtesy photo

Director Tim Burton updates “Dark Shadows” with, from left: Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Grace Moretz, Eva Green, Gulliver McGrath, Bella Heathcote, Johnny Depp, Ray Shirley, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller and Michelle Pfeiffer. making his stories a reality. “Safe” — Jason Statham stars in this actioner as a former elite agent (why are they always former agents?) who tries to rescue a Chinese girl while outwitting the Russian Mafia and corrupt New York City officials. Now that’s a full slate! “The Pirates: Land of Misfits” — Animated tale about a Pirate Captain who sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals for the Pirate of the Year award. It’s good to have goals.

MOVIES From Page 1C William Scott (“Role Models”) as a nightclub bouncer who leads a team of misfits to semi-pro hockey glory. “Mirror Mirror” — The first of two “Snow White”-inspired films this year with Julia Roberts as the evil queen, who steals control of Snow White’s kingdom. “Intruders” — Twisty thriller about two children living in different countries who are visited nightly by a faceless man (Clive Owens) who wants to take possession of them.

April 6 “Titanic in 3-D” — The Oscar-winning hit gets the 3-D treatment — because watching people plummet to their death in the ocean wasn’t already real enough. “American Reunion” — The gang from “American Pie” comes home for their high school reunion, and I’m sure they haven’t matured at all, or this movie wouldn’t exist. “The Cold Light of Day” — Action-thriller about a young American man (Henry Cavill) who uncovers a conspiracy while trying to rescue his kidnapped family in Spain. Bruce Willis also stars.

May 4 Merk Seliger/Courtesy photo

“The Avengers” — Finally, the culmination of all those superhero films, as Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and the their women when they disinternational agency cover the ladies have been S.H.I.E.L.D. form the Avengusing relationship advice ers to help save the Earth against them. from despair. “The Lucky One” — Roman“The Best Exotic Maritic drama with Zac Efron as a Marine who travels to North Carolina after serving three tours in Iraq to search for the woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war. Sacha Baron Cohen stars in the comedy “The DIctator,” opening May 11.

“Think Like a Man” — Comedy about four men who conspire to turn the tables on

gold Hotel” — Judi Dench and Maggie Smith are among the cast as British retirees who travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel.

May 11 “The Dictator” — Sacha Baron Cohen dons another disguise as a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy will never come to his country. “Dark Shadows” — Tim Burton directs this update of the TV show centering on the life of vampire Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) and his run-ins with various monsters, witches, werewolves and ghosts.

May 18 “Battleship” — Film version of the popular game about warring battleships. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone can actually pull off the line “You sank my battleship!” “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” — Jennifer Lopez stars in this romantic comedy that looks at the lives of five couples about to become parents.

May 25 “Men in Black III” — Agent J (Will Smith) travels back in time to the 1960s to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K (Josh Brolin) and changing history. “Moonrise Kingdom” —

Wonderfully quirky director Wes Anderson (“Rushmore”) brings us this period romantic comedy about a pair of lovers who flee their New England town, which causes a ruckus among the locals. Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rpocowatchit@wichitaeagle.com.

KIDS ARE FREE!

April 27

“The Five-Year Engagement” — Jason Segel reteams with his “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” director (Nicholas Stoller) to star with Emily Blunt in this comedy about an engaged couple’s up-anddown relationship. April 13 “The Raven” — When a “The Cabin in the Woods” madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by — Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”) leads a cast of overly photoge- Edgar Allan Poe’s works, a young Baltimore detective nic friends who go to spend spring break at a remote cabin joins forces with Poe (John in the woods, where — spoiler Cusack) to stop him from alert! — things go awry. “The Three Stooges” — The scariest movie ever made, because it’s further proof that Hollywood is going to remake everything.

April 20

Diyah Pera/Courtesy photo

Chris Hemsworth, left, Jesse Williams, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz and Kristen Connolly star as friends who get more than they bargained for in “The Cabin in the Woods.”

■ MARCH 23: “Rampart” — Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster star in this drama set in 1999 Los Angeles, as a veteran police officer works to take care of his family and struggles for his own survival. ■ MARCH 30: “Pina 3-D” — A tribute to choreographer Pina Bausch. ■ APRIL 13: “We Need to Talk About Kevin” — Tilda Swinton stars as a mother grappling with her destructive son. ■ APRIL TBA: “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” — Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt str in this drama about a fisheries expert who is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik’s vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert. “Coriolanus” — Directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, following a banished hero of Rome who allies with his sworn enemy to take his revenge on the city. “Being Flynn” — Robert De Niro stars as a con man and self-proclaimed poet who is reunited with his son (Paul Dano).

Bonnie Bing

Bucky Walters

Ted Woodward

Randy Brown

APRIL 12, 13 & 14 • ORPHEUM THEATRE It’s Wichita’s Original News Parody Musical Tickets: 316.755.SEAT or www.wichitagridiron.com MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY

GREAT

TRAIN EXPO

Facebook.com/GTExpo

• HUGE Operating Model Railroads! • 200+ Tables of Trains for Sale! • TRAINS Kids Can Operate! • RIDING Train for Kids! This Weekend, March 24th & 25th Sat: 10:00a to 5:00p - Sun: 10:00a to 4:00p

Century II - 225 W. Douglas Ave. Wichita, KS Adults only $7, Kids under 12 are FREE!! WWW.GTEXPO.COM

Christian Bale returns as Batman in “The Dark Knight Rises,” opening July 20.

ummertime at the box office is off to a big start with the gargantuan success of “The Avengers,” kicking off a slate of movies thicker than Black Widow’s Russian accent. There are more superheroes on the way — Batman and Spider-Man are waiting in the wings to kick some box-office booty. And, as usual, the requisite sequels and reboots are headed our way, too. Here’s a look at what’s in store for the next few months (release dates are subject to change).

S

ROD POCOWATCHIT MOVIE MANIAC

Wilson Webb/Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Josh Brolin, left, and Will Smith star in “Men in Black 3,” opening Friday.

Friday

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Andrew Garfield stars as Peter Parker in “The Amazing Spider-Man,” opening July 3.

“Chernobyl Diaries” — Horror tale about a group of young “extreme tourists” who become stranded at the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster and discover strange things inside. “Men in Black 3” — Will Smith returns as Agent J, who travels back in time to save the life of his partner, Agent K, played as a young man by James Brolin, Please see SUMMER, Page 2C

Courtesy of Pixar

Merida is a princess who must save her people in “Brave,” opening June 22.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Channing Tatum stars as a male stripper in “Magic Mike,” opening June 29.

Hunt gears up for Wichita gigs typically in a Kansas state of mind. The native of Emporia called from her Lawrence home to chat up her Kelley Hunt has been all over the date later this week in Wichita. “It’s been three years since I’ve world playing the blues. There have been some places that have touched played Riverfest,” Hunt said. “That’s too long for me. I love her heart. One spin of her 2009 Wichita, but it’s not surprising that album, “Mercy,” and it’s evident I want to play there since I’m a that Hunt is enamored with New Kansas girl. I could live anywhere, Orleans, for example. but just put me down in the Flint “That wonderful city definitely Hills and my heart rate slows down. had an effect on me,” Hunt said. It’s so beautiful all over Kansas.” “My mother’s side of the family is When Hunt takes the stage solo from there. My grandmother sang Thursday at Botanica and June 2 gospel there. It’s a great city.” Hunt loves the Big Easy, but she’s with her band at the Wichita River

BY ED CONDRAN Eagle correspondent

Courtesy photo

Kansas native Kelley Hunt performs Thursday evening at Botanica as part of its 25th anniversary celebration.

Festival, you can bet that her heart will be moving at a steady clip. “I’ll be excited,” Hunt said. “There’s no doubt about that. Whenever I perform, I get pretty charged up.” Hunt will be showcasing songs from her latest album, “Gravity Loves You,” which dropped in 2011. Hunt co-wrote nine of the moving bluesy songs with poet laureate Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg. “I’ve done some writing with her in the past, and we are just very Please see HUNT, Page 2C

NOW ON SALE! lionking.com 316.219.4849 WichitaTIX Box Office

WICHITA PREMIERE SEPTEMBER 4–30 CENTURY II CONCERT HALL

225 W. Douglas in Downtown Wichita

©DISNEY

2C THE WICHITA EAGLE ■ SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012

WWW.KANSAS.COM But romance and tension await, as always.

SUMMER

Aug. 3

From Page 1C doing his best Tommy Lee Jones impersonation. Filming started before there was even a finished script (yikes), so look for lots of Smith’s ad libs.

June 1 “Moonrise Kingdom” — Wonderfully quirky director Wes Anderson returns with this film set in 1965, following the search for a pair of preteen runaways (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward). Along for the ride are Anderson stalwarts Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, as well as Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Edward Norton. “Snow White and the Huntsman” — The second (and decidedly darker) Snow White-inspired film this year stars Kristen Stewart (the “Twilight” films) as Snow White and Chris Hemsworth (“Thor,” “The Avengers”) as the huntsman ordered by an evil queen (Charlize Theron) to kill her — but who becomes her protector instead. “Piranha 3DD” — If you couldn’t tell by the pun of the bra size in the title, this is a campy, intentionally cheesy franchise, and its third outing has the perennially hungry fishies invading a newly opened water park. Fresh meat!

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Kristen Stewart stars as the heroine in “Snow White and the Huntsman,” opening June 1.

Aug. 10

Courtesy of Lionsgate

Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Terry Crews star in “The Expendables 2,” opening Aug. 17.

June 8 “Prometheus” — Director Ridley Scott’s thriller (which is rumored to be a prequel to “Alien”) has Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender starring as explorers who discover something evil in space, where no one can you hear you scream. “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” — The zoo animals are still trying to get back to New York City but accidentally end up in Europe, where they discover a traveling circus.

June 15 “Rock of Ages” — Musical/ comedy following a smalltown girl and big-city boy who meet on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles while pursuing their Hollywood dreams. Their rock ’n’ roll romance is told through the songs of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey and other ’80s bands. The cast includes Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and Paul Giamatti — in a musical! “That’s My Boy” — Comedy with Adam Sandler as a man who fathered a son at age 13. Andy Samberg stars as said son, who shows up for an unannounced visit. Hilarity ensues, hopefully — Sandler owes us big time after “Jack and Jill.”

June 22 “Brave” — Pixar’s animated entry this year follows a princess who defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, she must rely on her bravery and archery skills to undo a beastly curse. “Abraham Lincoln: Bounty Hunter” — Yes, that Abraham Lincoln (played by newcomer Benjamin Walker), who discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States. So he vows to eliminate them. That would certainly get him re-elected. “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” — Aren’t we all? As an asteroid nears Earth, a man (Steve Carell) finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. So he decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart.

“The Bourne Legacy” — Matt Damon is out, and Jeremy Renner (“The Avengers”) is in as a new CIA operative who does, uh, spy stuff. “Total Recall” — Remake of the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi actioner with Colin Farrell starring as a factory worker who discovers that his memories have been implanted and that he may be a spy. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days” — The third film based on the books finds the protagonist trying to find something fun to do over the summer. “The Campaign” — Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis star in this comedy as two rival North Carolina politicians with presidential aspirations. “Hope Springs” — Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones star in this romantic comedy as a couple married for 30 years who attend an intense counseling weekend to decide the fate of their marriage. “Sparkle” — Remake of a 1976 musical melodrama set in the 1960s, where three sisters form a girl group and soon become Motown sensations. This is the late Whitney Houston’s final screen performance, and it was apparently a labor of love (she was also executive producer).

Aug. 17 Michael Gibson/Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Colin Farrell stars as a man who discovers his memories have been implanted in “Total Recall,” opening Aug. 3.

INDEPENDENT FILMS This is a tentative slate of indies that will play at the Warren Theatre east: ■ “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” — Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy star as retired Brits who relocate to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel, only to find it less than luxurious (May 25). ■ “Sound of My Voice” — Sundance hit about a journalist and his girlfriend who investigate a cult whose leader claims to be from the future (June 6). ■ “Lola Versus” — Greta Gerwig stars as a jilted woman who enlists her close friends for adventures to help her come to terms with approaching 30 (late June). ■ “To Rome With Love” — Woody Allen writes and directs this romantic comedy following various couples’ adventures in Rome (early July). ■ “Beast of the Southern Wild” — A little girl named Hushpuppy must rescue her father in this apocalyptic fantasia that won the grand jury prize award at Sundance (late July).

perhero franchise with Marc Webb (“500 Days of Summer”) directing, following nerdy Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield, “The Social Network”) who turns into SpiderMan after being bitten by a weird arachnid. “Savages” — Director Oliver Stone (“Platoon,” “Wall Street,” “Natural Born Killers”) returns with this story of two pot growers (Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch) who face off against the Mexican drug cartel that kidnapped their shared girlfriend. Shared? Ah, hippies.

July 13 “Ice Age: Continental Drift” — This fourth outing has Manny the mammoth (voice of Ray Romano) and friends embarking on another adventure. “Ted” — Comedy about a man (Mark Wahlberg) whose teddy bear comes to life as the result of a childhood wish. Directed by Seth McFarlane (TV’s “Family Guy”), so expect some crude comedy.

July 20 “The Dark Knight Rises” — The last installment in director Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy picks up eight years after incidents in “The Dark Knight,” as Batman (Christian Bale) battles two new villains: Bane (Tom Hardy) and Catwoman (Anne Hathaway).

“ParaNorman” — Animated comedy following a misunderstood boy who can speak with the dead. “The Expendables 2” — It’s a veritable action-star reunion, as Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris and Jet Li team up in this sequel that probably has plot, but who cares? Just blow stuff up! “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” — Based on the bestselling book, starring Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton as a childless couple who bury a box in their backyard that contains all of their wishes for the perfect child. Soon, one shows up on their doorstep, but he’s not all that he appears.

Aug. 24 “Premium Rush” — Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon star in this actioner about a New York City bike messenger who picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a corrupt cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city. “The Apparition” — A couple is haunted by a supernatural presence that is unleashed during a college experiment.

“G.I. Joe: Retaliation” — This sequel finds the Joes battling Cobra spy Zartan. Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis and Channing Tatum star. “Magic Mike” — Speaking of Channing Tatum, this is loosely based on his real-life experiences as a male stripper, following an upstart

NOW PLAYING DICKINSON THEATRES WARREN THEATRES WARREN THEATRES WARREN THEATRES WARREN THEATRES Northrock 14 13th Avenue 21st Street Movie Machine Old Town Theatre Grille

BY OLIVIA BURRESS The Wichita Eagle

Artifacts from inhabitants of Mesa Verde are on display in an exhibit at the Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology at Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount. The exhibit, “Southwest Archaeology, The Ewing Site: An Unusually Rich and Surprising Place,” opened late last month. “You will see prehistoric potter and bone tools from Southwest Colorado,” said museum director Jerry Martin. While the artifacts have been at the university since the ’70s, Martin said, it wasn’t until December 2011 that the Ewing family donat-

ed them to the school. “The collection is hundreds and hundreds of boxes,” he said. “What’s on display is only a small part.” The exhibit is broken into two parts, the first being the excavation and what they found, the second being the techniques they used. The exhibit is free to view. Official museum hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Because the exhibit is on the first floor in Neff Hall, viewers can see the exhibit as long as the building is open, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The exhibit will be open through 2013. Reach Olivia Burress at oburress@wichitaeagle.com.

category. A long time ago, I just decided to let it rip. I have to be authentic and be myself. So my music reflects From Page 1C me, it’s varied. I’m oldschool.” Indeed. Hunt avoids Pro comfortable with each othTools and digital recording. er,” Hunt said. “We wrote three on the last album, and She prefers analog. “I just love that rich, it was the two of us writing all of the tunes on this one, warm sound,” Hunt said. plus the three songs I wrote “Analog just sounds great. Call me a traditionalist. by myself. It’s nice when That’s the way I am. It you’re comfortable with works for my music. I’ll do someone.” whatever I have to do to get It’s no surprise that the the best possible sound. I’m fresh material is eclectic. not going to shortchange Hunt easily moves from anyone who listens to my blues to soul to rock. music, whether it’s recorded “I’m very much into the blues, but I do like all kinds in the studio or performed live. It’s got to be the best of music,” Hunt said. “I that it can possibly be.” can’t be put in just one

HUNT

If you go KELLEY HUNT IN CONCERT Thursday at Botanica What: Hunt will perform as part of Botanica’s celebration of its 25th anniversary, which includes special events throughout the month. Cash bar and food for sale. When: 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 6:30. Where: Botanica, 701 N. Amidon Tickets: $15, or $13 for members, available online at botanica.org or at the door For more information, call 316-264-0448.

Arkansas River Tickets: Free with a Wichita River Festival button, on sale for $5 at QuikTrip and Dillons locations For more information, visit www.wichitariverfest.com.

Sept. 30 at the Bartlett Arboretum

What: The Kelley Hunt Band will perform as part of the family-friendly Treehouse summer concert series. When: The concert starts at 4 p.m.; gates will open at 3. Where: Belle Plaine June 2 at the Wichita Tickets: $10 at the gate River Festival For more information, What: Hunt performs on the visit www.bartlettarboretumfirst Saturday of Riverfest at .com. the WaterWalk Pavilion. Food Outdoor summer and drinks, including alcohol, concerts for sale. When: The pavilion is Find a guide to outdoor scheduled to be open from 4 summer concert series in the to 10 p.m. and will feature her Wichita area attached to this performance, set for 8 p.m. story at Kansas.com/entertainment. Where: The grassy area between WaterWalk and the

Aug. 31

“Lawless” — Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Guy Pearce star in this crime drama set in Depression-era Virginia, dancer (Alex Pettyfer, “I Am where a bootlegging gang is Number Four”) who is taken threatened by authorities who under the wing of a more want a cut of their profits. experienced colleague (Ta“The Possession” — HorJuly 27 tum). Surprisingly, this is ror-thriller about a young girl directed by Oscar winner who buys an antique box at a “The Watch” — Comedy Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic,” with Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn yard sale, unaware that a “Contagion”). Hope the G.I. malicious ancient spirit lives and Jonah Hill starring as Joe fans don’t get confused inside it. That’s why I only suburban dads who form a and go to this movie by misneighborhood watch group to buy retail. take. get time away from their “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s families, only to discover a Reach Rod Pocowatchit at Witness Protection” — Another plot to destroy Earth. rpocowatchit@wichitaeagle.com. “Step Up: Revolution” — installment in Perry’s series. This fourth entry in the dancing film franchise finds Emily July 6 (Kathryn McCormick) in Miami with aspirations to be“The Amazing Spidercome a professional dancer. Man” — Reboot of the su-

June 29

Mesa Verde artifacts on display at WSU

Order tickets online before the event & save on the price of each ticket!

25 minute ride with a full size Thomas the Tank Engine Meeting Sir Topham Hatt Storytelling, Magic Shows, Build with Mega Bloks® and Much More! TM

Midland Railway 1515 W. High Street, Baldwin City, KS 66006

June 1-3 & 8-10th, 2012 For tickets and information visit: www.ticketweb.com/dowt or Call 866-468-7630 Tickets are $20 for ages 2 and up. Advance purchase is recommended. Ticket sales are final. Events are rain or shine.

‘Hobbit’ among anticipated titles coming our way ames Bond officially kicked off the holiday movie season on Friday with a bang. Literally. My ears are still ringing from all the explosions. But there are more films headed our way, as Hollywood rolls out its holiday goodies. We’ll say goodbye to certain vampires, greet a new Hobbit and update an ’80s hit, just to name a few. Here’s a look at what’s in store through the end of the year (release dates subject to change):

J Courtesy of Summit

Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) bid farewell in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2,” opening Friday.

Courtesy of DreamWorks

Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” opening Nov. 16.

ABOVE: Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” opening Dec. 14.

ROD POCOWATCHIT MOVIE MANIAC

Friday

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Hugh Jackman stars as Jean Valjean in the musical “Les Miserables,” opening Christmas Day.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Tom Cruise stars as a homicide investigator in “Jack Reacher,” opening Dec. 21.

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2” — The series concludes with Bella (perennially pouty Kristen Stewart), husband Edward (ever-pale Robert Pattinson) and best friend Jacob (ridiculously abbed Taylor Lautner) pondering their final destinies – and what acting gigs they will get after this. “Lincoln” – Steven Spielberg directs this portrait of the beloved president, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, who fights to emancipate slaves while the Civil War rages on. Please see MOVIES, Page 2C

Courtesy of MGM

Jackson Browne is more than just a singer

Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ goes ‘straight to the heart’

BY BOB CURTRIGHT Eagle correspondent

BY ALICE MANNETTE Eagle correspondent

After four decades in the spotlight, singer-songwriter-activist and double musical Hall of Famer Jackson Browne doesn’t much like to give interviews anymore. Nor does he see much need to. Browne, 64, figures that his lyrics, his well-known liberal Democratic politics and his support of the environment, education and human rights already speak volumes for him. As he quipped in connection with his sold-out Wichita concert Sunday night at the Orpheum Theatre: “I like to save my voice for the music.” And the music, from his 1972 selftitled debut album to anthems like “Doctor My Eyes,” “Running on Empty” and “Somebody’s Baby” to a concert tribute to the centennial of folk music guru Woody Guthrie this year, is what keeps everything going, he says.

The Wichita Symphony Orchestra is getting bawdy. Along with four choirs and three virtuosos, the symphony will present Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” a classic secular choral work. “It’s a very exciting, irreverent piece,” soprano Monica Yunus said. “It’s not the traditional text.” Yunus, an international opera star who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, will join operatic virtuosos tenor Matthew DiBattista and baritone Dan Kempson to sing Carmina. These three voices will be accompanied by more than 300 singers from the Wichita Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Wichita Community Children’s Choir and Friends University Singing Quakers. On Sunday, the Bethel College Concert Choir will take the place of the Singing Quakers. “It (Carmina) has a directness that is almost unmatched,” said Daniel Hege, the symphony’s music director and conductor. “It goes straight to the heart.” Because Carmina is so recognizable, having

Please see BROWNE, Page 2C

Courtesy photo

Jackson Browne will play a sold-out show at the Orpheum on Sunday.

DiBattista

Yunus

Kempson

been heard in numerous television commercials and movies, the symphony decided to add a Blue Jeans concert. All the performers, including the musicians and choir, will dress down on Friday evening. The symphony and singers will be back in black formal wear and play Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 90 in addition to Carmina during Saturday and Sunday’s concerts. “It’s probably the most exciting and engaging piece for the students,” said Mark Bartel, Friends University choral director. “It’s fun to sing something that’s the voice of real people and the voice of life.” Please see SYMPHONY, Page 2C

2C THE WICHITA EAGLE â– SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012

WWW.KANSAS.COM

MOVIES

SYMPHONY

From Page 1C

From Page 1C

Nov. 23 “Silver Linings Playbook� – Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover) and Jennifer Lawrence (“The Hunger Games�) star in this comedy/drama about a former teacher who moves back in with his parents after a stint at a mental institution. As he tries to reconcile with his ex-wife, he instead falls for a mysterious girl with problems of her own – like how to get her hair to look as good as Cooper’s. “Life of Pi� – Ang Lee (“Brokeback Mountain�) directs this adventure tale based on the popular novel about an Indian boy named Pi, who finds himself adrift on the Pacific Ocean after a shipwreck with a hyena, zebra, orangutan and Bengal tiger at his side. “Rise of the Guardians� – From DreamWorks Animation comes this tale of an evil spirit that launches an assault on Earth, causing a group of guardians to rise up and protect the children of the world. “Red Dawn� – This remake of the 1984 original follows a group of overly photogenic teenagers who gear up to save their town from an invasion of North Korean soldiers (Russian soldiers in the original). Chris Hemsworth (“Thor�) and Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games�) lead the young cast.

Dec. 7 “Playing for Keeps� – After a string of action flicks, Gerard Butler returns to romantic comedy as a former sports star who has fallen on hard times and starts coaching his son’s soccer team in an attempt to get his life together.

Dec. 14 “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey� – It’s been a long time coming through several roadblocks (and directors), but Peter Jackson (“The Lord of the Rings� trilogy) finally brings the beloved book to the big screen with all the spectacle that we expect, following curious Hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with a rambunctious group of Dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen by a dragon. Pesky dragons!

Dec 19 “The Guilt Trip� – Barbra Streisand returns to acting in

BROWNE

Courtesy of Paramount

Inventor Andrew (Seth Rogen) takes his mother, Joyce (Barbra Streisand), with him on the road in “The Guilt Trip,� opening Dec. 19.

UPCOMING INDEPENDENT FILMS

Courtesy of Suzanne Hanover

“This is 40� is being billed as a “sort-of sequel� to “Knocked Up.� It opens Dec. 21. this comedy as the overly doting mother of an inventor (Seth Rogen) who takes her along on the road to sell his latest invention. “Monster’s Inc. 3-D� — Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) return for this re-release in 3-D that will remind us what an inventive animated film this is, a refresher course for the upcoming sequel “Monsters University� in 2013.

Dec. 21 “This is 40� – Sort of a sequel to the Seth Rogen/ Katherine Heigl comedy “Knocked Up,� catching up on the lives of secondary characters Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) a few years after the events of the first film. Judd Apatow again writes and directs. “Jack Reacher� – Tom Cruise stars as a homicide investigator who digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims. Based on the popular novel series. “Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away� – The popular stage

The songs

Also working at Elektra Records between gigs, he From Page 1C began writing songs for the likes of Gregg Allman, Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt and Browne’s Wichita appearThe Eagles, and attracted ance is one of the last stops attention from Rolling Stone on his fall acoustic tour that magazine for his “mindkicked off last month, the day after he performed at the boggling melodies.� By 1972, Browne quit Nitty “Woody 100� celebration for Guthrie at the Kennedy Cen- Gritty Dirt Band, formed a ter with such fellow perform- folk group with Ned Doheny and Jack Wilce, and returned ers as Arlo Guthrie, John Mellencamp, Roseanne Cash to Los Angeles, where he finally recorded his own first and Ry Cooder. album, which included hits Browne sang “You Know “Doctor My Eyes� and “Rock the Night,� which he coMe On the Water.� He’s now wrote with Rob Wasserman up to 18 albums with sales of for the occasion. over 17 million in the U.S. In Wichita, Browne will accompany himself on guitar alone. The casual, shaggy-haired and piano and sing works Browne still has the aura of from his entire career but the sensitive California poetwith a playlist that, he says, folkie about him whose muhe varies with every perforsic has a distinct autobiomance to shake things up. Backing him up will be Val graphical flavor. Rolling Stone labeled his work as McCallum on guitars and “some of the most literate Mauricio Lewak on drums. and moving songs in popular Opening for Browne is his music,� songs “charged with special guest Sara Watkins, fiddle player with bluegrass- honesty, emotion and perfolk trio Nickel Creek, who is sonal politics.� Some of his songs have beginning to establish a solo personal meanings, from singing career with songs “The Only Child� about his like “Where Will You Be?� oldest son, Ethan (now an and “Take Up Your Spade.� aspiring actor/model), to She will be joined by her “Sleep’s Dark and Silent brother Sean Watkins on Gate� inspired by the tragic guitar and Tyler Chester on death of his first wife, Phyllis bass and organ. Major, from a drug overdose. Born in Germany, where There’s also “Hold Out� as his soldier father was staa tip-of-the-hat to his second tioned, Browne grew up in wife, Lynne Sweeney (now Los Angeles and, as a teen, divorced), with whom he began singing folk music in had a second son, Ryan (now local such venues as the famed Troubadour Club and a singer and bass player). He is also known for comAsh Grove. After graduating from high memorating important events, like Nelson Mandela’s school in 1966, he joined birthday with “When the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Stone Begins to Turn.� But moved to New York and he’s not above penning slyly hung out in the clubs of Greenwich Village for a cou- naughty tunes like “Redneck Friend� and “Rosie,� which ple of years.

show hits theaters. Because seeing it live is so boring.

Christmas Day “Django Unchained� – Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist Western follows a slaveturned-bounty hunter who sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Starring Jamie Foxx, Don Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio. “Les Miserables� – Adaptation of the beloved stage musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel set in 19th-century France, about a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean, who seeks redemption. The high-brow cast includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter. “Parental Guidance� – Comedy starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler as a couple whose old-school parenting techniques don’t work when they look after their three grandchildren while their daughter (Marisa Tomei) is away at work.

These titles are slated to open at the Warren east: ■“The Sessions� — John Hawkes (“Winter’s Bone�) is getting awards buzz for this Sundance Film Festival audience awardwinner as a man in an iron lung who wants to lose his virginity. So he enlists the help of a professional sex surrogate (Helen Hunt). (Opening Friday) ■“Anna Karenina� — Keira Knightley and Jude Law star in this drama set in late 19th-century Russia, where an aristocrat enters into a life-changing affair with an affluent man. (Nov. 30) ■“The Paperboy� — Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman and John Cusack star in this steamy drama that follows a reporter who returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a case involving a death row inmate. (Dec. 7) ■“Hitchcock� — Anthony Hopkins plays the filmmaker in this look at the love story between him and Alma Reville during the filming of “Psycho� in 1959. (Dec. 14)

Bartel had his students read translations of the mostly Latin text. By understanding the language, the students become more engaged in the piece, he said. Bartel holds a master’s degree in sacred music, as well as a doctor of musical arts. He focused much of his research on 18th-century musical theory and choral music. For Carmina, Orff, a native of Munich, Germany, took medieval secular poems that were preserved in a Bavarian monastery and set them to music. Much of Carmina’s primal energy is demonstrated by five percussionists whose instruments range from glockenspiel to bass drum. Although the work has an abundance of repetition, Hege said that Orff understood just how many times to repeat a phrase. “It has harmonic language and rhythmic underpinnings,� Hege said. “He’s using medieval-sounding music but bringing in a much more modern approach. He knows how to ratchet up the tension to create engaged interest throughout the work.� This audience-pleaser, with a stage full of children and adult choral members, professional musicians and top-notch opera singers, will

WICHITA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S CARMINA BURANA What: Concerts featuring guest artists Monica Yunus, Matthew DiBattista and Dan Kempson and guest choirs the Wichita Symphony Orchestra Chorus (Fri.Nov. 18), Wichita Community Children’s Choir (Fri.Nov. 18), Bethel College Concert Choir (Nov. 18) and Friends University Singing Quakers (Fri.-Sat.) Where: Century II Concert Hall, 225 W. Douglas For information on the Classics and Blue Jeans concerts, go to www.wso.org. balance instruments and . voices to invite listeners to come along on a journey. “This piece is talking about jolliness, enjoying life, love, sensuality and enjoying the pleasures of the earth: dancing, drinking great wine and eating great food,� Hege said. But Carmina also delves into aspects of fate and examines what the cosmic wheel of fortune might have in store for us. “This music is very artful. It can speak to the base side of the human spirit,� Hege said. “It’s brilliant.�

,QWHUHVWHG LQ SODFLQJ D

DQQRXQFHPHQW"

*R WR KWWS ZZZ NDQVDV FRP VV DGBUDWHV WR GRZQORDG DQG SULQW WKH IRUPV RU SLFN WKHP XS LQ RXU RIILFH IURP D P S P 0RQGD\ WKURXJK )ULGD\ $QQRXQFHPHQWV PXVW EH VXEPLWWHG E\ QRRQ 7XHVGD\ EHIRUH WKH UHTXHVWHG 6XQGD\ SXEOLFDWLRQ GDWH WR DSSHDU LQ WKH 6XQGD\ (DJOH &DOO RU HPDLO FHOHEUDWLRQV#ZLFKLWDHDJOH FRP IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RU WR WR KDYH KDYH IRUPV PDLOHG WR \RX LQIRUPDWLRQ RU IRUPV PDLOHG WR

WICHITA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2012–2013 SEASON Daniel Hege | Music Director & Conductor Life is Better with Music

WSO.ORG • 316.267.7658

CARMINA BURANA

Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rpocowatchit@wichitaeagle.com.

BLUE JEANS (GENERAL ADMISSION) Friday, November 16 at 8pm

have strong sexual innuendo laced through the lyrics. But he will forever be celebrated by most fans for songs like “Lawyers in Love,� “Take It Easy,� “The Pretender,� “These Days,� “Running on Empty,� “Doctor My Eyes� and “Somebody’s Baby� that are just as much fun as they are approachable and meaningful.

CLASSICS (RESERVED SEATING) Saturday, November 17 at 8pm Sunday, November 18 at 3pm Century II Concert Hall Monica Yunus | soprano Matthew DiBattista | tenor Dan Kempson | baritone Wichita Symphony Orchestra Chorus Wichita Community Children’s Choir Bethel College Concert Choir Friends University Singing Quakers

Activism Although he was inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2007, Browne considers music only part of his legacy. He co-founded the antinuclear-power MUSE – Musicians United for Safe Energy – in 1979 shortly after the Three Mile Island nuclear plant accident. He is frequently performing for causes such as FarmAid and Amnesty International. And he is a constant fighter for education through Success Through the Arts Foundation. As a result, he’s been honored with the John Steinbeck Award (works exemplifying environmental and social values), Duke University’s LEAF Award (Lifetime Environmental Achievement in the Fine Arts), the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award (world hunger) and an honorary doctorate from Occidental College in Los Angeles for a career that “successfully combines an intensely personal artistry with a broader vision of social justice.� Despite acclaim from critics and fans, Browne says he doesn’t particularly like his own singing voice. “I always wanted to be a singer – and I’m still working on it.�

If you go

Orff: Carmina Burana Haydn: Symphony no. 90 (November 17 & 18 only)

Soprano Monica Yunus

YOUTH ORCHESTRAS

Underwritten by The S.M. & Laura H. Brown Charitable Trust KNSS 1330/KEYN 103.7/KFBZ 105.3

Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestras Fall Concert Sunday, November 11 at 3pm Century II Concert Hall Sponsored by The Sam and Rie Bloomfield Foundation

ITALIAN SYMPHONY

Saturday, January 12 at 8pm Sunday, January 13 at 3pm Century II Concert Hall Eliot Fisk | guitar Christopher Wilkins | guest conductor Rossini: Italian in Algiers: Overture Vivaldi: Guitar Concerto Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez Mendelssohn: Symphony no. 4, “Italian� Underwritten by Mrs. Velma Wallace, in memoriam

FOR TICKETS: WSO.ORG • 316.267.7658

Century II Concert Hall, Suite 207 | Wichita, KS | 67202 Senior citizen, active military personnel and student discounts are available for all Classics concerts!

Daniel Day-Lewis gave a phenomenal performance as "Lincoln."

From a noble president to an Iron Man, there was plenty to love in 2012

hen I look back at the best movies of the year, I remember films that I admired for their artfulness or technical prowess, but I also remember films that reminded me why I love movies — the ones that truly had spirit. Here, then, is my list for the Top 10 movies released in 2012. Let me know how it compares to yours. 1. “Argo” — Ben Affleck has won me over. Before, I thought he was merely tolerable in boring roles, just skating by on his good looks. But after “Gone, Baby, Gone” and “The Town,” he has matured into a fine filmmaker, and “Argo” is his greatest achievement to date. Set during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, the film follows a CIA agent (Affleck himself) who stages a daring mission to rescue six U.S. diplomats by disguising them as members of a Hollywood film crew. The film is ambitious, and its re-creation of actual events (which are illustrated in photos during the end credits) is impressively meticulous. Overall, the film’s tension is riveting — we root for the crew the entire harrowing way, and Affleck puts us right there beside them. 2. “Zero Dark Thirty” — Director Kathryn Bigelow’s account of the long, tireless, almost impossible mission to find Osama bin Laden pounds with an overwhelming sense of urgency. It’s a taut tale that moves swiftly, covering lots of ground — it’s 2 1⁄2 hours long, but doesn’t feel like it at all. And as the CIA agent obsessed with

W

ROD POCOWATCHIT

Claire Folger/Courtesy of Warner Bros.

John Goodman, left, Alan Arkin and Ben Affleck star in "Argo."

Zade Rosenthal/Courtesy photo

Thor (Chris Hemsworth, left) and Captain America (Chris Evans) were among "The Avengers," the top-grossing film of the year.

MOVIE MANIAC

Please see MOVIES, Page 2C

Courtesy photo

"Life of Pi" was breathtakingly beautiful. Courtesy photo

Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Quidam’ opens door to imaginary world BY ALICE MANNETTE Eagle correspondent

Matt Beard/Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil’s "Quidam" will be at Intrust Bank Arena starting Wednesday through Jan. 6.

They’ll fly. They’ll leap. They’ll spin. They’ll leave audience members breathless. Later this week, more than 50 of the world’s greatest acrobats will perform in Cirque du Soleil’s “Quidam” in Wichita. A “Quidam” is a nameless person on a nameless street

in a nameless city: He or she is one of the masses. But these people, through the use of imagination, bring light into a young girl’s darkness. Zoe, performed by Alessandra Gonzalez, is upset with her parents. She does not feel she is important to them. “In the beginning she is really sad,” said Gonzalez, a native of Rome who was chosen out of 2,000 actresses

for the lead role. “At the end, she grows. She can find the happiness being with her family.” Patrick McGuire from Pittsburgh plays Zoe’s elusive father. This world-class juggler manipulates a bowler hat, an umbrella and a briefcase. “She’s desperately trying to get our attention,” McGuire Please see ‘QUIDAM’, Page 2C

If you go CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S “QUIDAM” Where: Intrust Bank Arena When: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2-6; 3:30 p.m. Jan. 5; 1 & 5 p.m. Jan. 6 Tickets: $35-$100, with discounts available for students, seniors, military members at Wed., Thu. and Sun. shows. Available at www.select aseat.com, 316-755-SEAT, Select-A-Seat outlets or the Intrust Bank Arena box office. For more information: Visit www.intrustbankarena.com

2C THE WICHITA EAGLE ■ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2012

WWW.KANSAS.COM

Sedgwick singer, guitarist to launch national tour BY MATT RIEDL The Wichita Eagle

Caleb McGinn was far away from his home in Sedgwick, stuck in London without a flight, when he started writing songs. Almost four years later, he’s about to embark on his first national tour, in January. Before he leaves, you can hear him sing the National Anthem at the Wichita State women’s and men’s basketball games Sunday, at 1 and 5 p.m., respectively. McGinn, 28, was studying in England when he first started writing music. After he missed his flight and had to wait for another one that he could afford, “I realized I wouldn’t be able to get home for a few weeks, so I bought a guitar and started playing at various London venues,” McGinn said. “I would just play little shows

here and there.” McGinn had been playing guitar since he was 19 and had performed at his alma mater, Kansas State University, many times. But he graduated with a degree in business, never envisioning a career in music. “It’s pretty crazy,” McGinn said. “It’s something I didn’t see myself doing in high school, even in college.” Now McGinn is fresh off winning the 2012 International Acoustic Music Award for best song (“Spring”) in the Acoustic Open Genre category. He was also a top-10 finalist in a national Guitar Center singer/songwriter competition, out of 17,000 entries. He said his acoustic singer/ songwriter sound is similar to that of John Mayer, Joshua Radin and Matt Nathanson. In 2011, he released an EP, “Bigger Picture.” Some of the songs have earned him in-

ternational success, he said. For his song “Girl of My Dreams,” he started a contest where fans sent him pictures of themselves holding up their favorite lyric. After receiving submissions from countries around the world, such as Spain, Brazil, Taiwan, Russia, Colombia and the Philippines, he decided to assemble a video of the fans, which can be seen on his YouTube channel and on his website, calebmcginn.com. Some of the fans who submitted photos received prizes such as free T-shirts and access to a private online concert. “It turned into my most popular song,” McGinn said. “I’ve got fans from all over the world.” That includes here in Wichita, where he has played shows in the old America’s Pub space and at the Riverside Perk, Botanica and Innovo Christian Fellowship.

“When I was little, I grew up and loved Garth Brooks,” McGinn said. “I don’t really consider my music country, but he’s an entertainer. He goes through a lot to put on a good show, and I’ve tried to take after that.” In May, he played at a fundraising auction for the WSU basketball team, which led to his gig at the games Sunday. “It’ll be the biggest live audience I’ve ever played in front of,” McGinn said. Most importantly, McGinn said he hopes people who listen to his music can pick up on the self-empowerment message he conveys. “I want people to see that they can do what they love,” McGinn said. “They just have to take the appropriate steps to get there.” McGinn’s music can be found on his website, caleb mcginn.com. His EP is free to download until Tuesday.

Courtesy photo

Singer-songwriter Caleb McGinn of Sedgwick will sing the National Anthem at the WSU basketball games Sunday before heading out on his first national tour.

MOVIES From Page 1C finding bin Laden, Jessica Chastain gives an intensely focused performance. We’ll never know how much of the story is true, but the film itself is gripping, enthralling — and one of the most important films of the year. (It’s set to open in Wichita on Jan. 11.) 3. “The Avengers” — I didn’t have a better time at the movies this year than with these misfit heroes who join forces to save Earth. With so many bigger-than-life characters (and egos) to contend with, this could have been a huge disaster. But cult favorite writer/director Josh Whedon managed to give every hero his personal shining moment and them unite them for a breathtaking grand battle. Hulk, smash! But Whedon knocked it out of the park. 4. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” — A strangely cathartic experience, about a girl named Hushpuppy living deep in the Delta bayou who must fend for herself and her defiant but deathly ill father when a tsunami ravages their Louisiana community. The film is part fable, part survival tale, but it’s entrancingly dreamlike and full of grand emotional swells. I was in tears after the film — not because of sadness, but because I felt like I had just witnessed something beautiful. And as the young heroine, Quvenzhane Wallis as Hushpuppy is a revelation. 5. “Silver Linings Playbook” — Director David O. Russell’s wonderfully emotional drama dissects another hopelessly dysfunctional family (after “The Fighter”) with a ragingly brilliant Bradley Cooper at the core as a broken man dealing with bipolar disorder and heartbreak. Jennifer Lawrence as a young widow with her own troubles is equally wonderful as is a strong supporting cast. The film reminds us that we aren’t always in control of our worlds, but that isn’t something to be afraid of. 6. “Life of Pi” — Ang Lee’s magical parable about a boy and a Bengal tiger adrift in a lifeboat (based on the bestseller by Yann Martel) is encompassing, absolutely gorgeous and a marvel to behold.

Courtesy photo

Bradley Cooper gave the best performance of his career in "Silver Linings Playbook." Courtesy photo

ambitious film to date. “Spider-Man” franchise, but ■ “Safety Not Guaranthe one we got was a fresh twist that was dark and excit- teed” — Crudely made on a es” — He set a bar so high for ing, driven by a heroic perfor- low budget, but captivatingly year, a smart, slam-bang, himself with “The Dark Knight mind-bending time-travel tale mance from Andrew Garfield. funny as a woman investiRises,” that director Christogates a man who advertises ■ “Skyfall” — One of the that had me guessing pher Nolan certainly had his for a partner to follow him throughout — and when every- best James Bond films ever work cut out for him. And back in time. The surprising was nicely ominous and had thing comes together, I marThe top 10 highest while “Rises” may not have ending left me soaring. surprising emotional heft. veled at it. domestic-grossing films of the same pop culture impact ■ “Moonrise Kingdom” — ■ “The Amazing Spider2012: that “Dark” did, it still was a Wes Anderson at his wonder- Reach Rod Pocowatchit at Man” — The world didn’t 1. “The Avengers” ($623 solid, more than satisfying fully quirky best with his most rpocowatchit@wichitaeagle.com. really need a reboot of the billion total) way to go out. As the young 2. “The Dark Knight Rises” hero who becomes Batman’s ($448 billion) ally, Joseph Gordon-Levitt 3. “The Hunger stole the show — and gave it Games”($408 billion) WICHITA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2012–2013 SEASON heart. 4. “The Twilight Saga: Daniel Hege | Music Director & Conductor 9. “Lincoln” — Daniel DayBreaking Dawn Part 2” Lewis further cements himself ($282) Life is Better with Music as one of the greatest actors 5. “Skyfall”($280 billion) of our generation with his 6. “The Amazing SpiderWSO.ORG • 316.267.7658 extraordinary performance as Man” ($262 billion) the 16th president of the 7. “Brave”($237 billion) United States, who campaigns 8. “Ted” ($219 billion) to end the Civil War and abol9. “Madagascar 3: ish slavery. The script was Europe’s Most Wanted” overly talkative for me (and I ($216 billion) hated the over-talking of lines 10. “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” — it felt a lot like a David Ma($214 billion) Source: Boxofficemojo.com met script) but director Steven Spielberg still delivered a Saturday, January 12 at 8pm moving, engaging, honorable portrait of one of our most But against such a large fanSunday, January 13 at 3pm tastical backdrop, Suraj Shar- beloved presidents. Century II Concert Hall 10. “The Sessions” — A ma gives a wondrous perforfunny, intimate, life-affirming mance that makes the story Eliot Fisk | guitar story about quadriplegic poet an indelibly human one that and journalist Mark O’Brien, touches us in different ways. Christopher Wilkins | guest conductor The film’s bigger-picture sym- who, at age 38, seeks out a bolism is up for debate, but its sex surrogate to help him lose Rossini: Italian in Algiers: Overture mysticism was comforting and his virginity. It’s thoroughly Vivaldi: Guitar Concerto an adult tale told in an untouching. Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez flinching, matter-of-fact, un7. “Les Miserables” — Not Mendelssohn: Symphony no. 4, “Italian” sensational way, grounded in everything worked, but Tom beautiful, fully realized perHooper’s lush adaptation of Underwritten by formances by John Hawkes the Broadway musical was Mrs. Velma Wallace, in memoriam Guitarist Eliot Fisk and Helen Hunt. They bravely rich, thrilling and sometimes bare their bodies, but they’re seeping with heartache. As Friday, January 25 at 8pm willingness to bare their souls the tortured mother-turnedGENERAL ADMISSION was most impressive. prostitute Fantine, Anne Hathaway gives the best perCentury II Concert Hall formance of her career with Runners-up Dan Kamin her emotionally potent rendimime, comedian, buffoon soloist tion of “I Dreamed a Dream.” ■ “Looper” — One of the 8. “The Dark Knight Rismost inventive scripts of the Jessica Chastain plays a member of the elite team of spies and military operatives who secretly devoted themselves to finding Osama bin Laden in "Zero Dark Thirty.”

WHAT YOU THOUGHT

ITALIAN SYMPHONY

CHARLIE CHAPLIN IN BLUE JEANS

An uproarious evening of comedy, film and music with the Classical Clown Dan Kamin and two Charlie Chaplin feature films with live orchestral accompaniment by the Wichita Symphony.

‘QUIDAM’ From Page 1C said. “We’re in our grownup world. When she gets fed up with that, she gets lost in her imagination.” And it is the world of imagination that transforms the stage into a larger-than-life arena. By using swings, high wires and vibrant colors, cast members from 18 countries, including Russia, England and Japan, intertwine storyline, cultural techniques and artistry. Many performers in the Quebec-based troupe bring their country’s acrobatic traditions to the stage. Chinese acrobats perform the diablo or the Chinese yo-yo. Acrobats from Germany spin in a wheel – often defying gravity. Artists from Spain dive and twist above the stage by using their native land’s web technique.

…and be sure to wear your blue jeans! Sponsored by Cessna, Emprise Bank, KSN, Armstrong Chamberlin and Tallgrass Film Festival

Matt Beard/Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil’s "Quidam" will be at Intrust Bank Arena starting Wednesday through Jan. 6. Although there is a story line, the main thrust of the show is breathtaking acrobatic performance supported by 52 cast members wearing 250 costumes, 30 hats and more than 250 pairs of handpainted shoes. “The show opens the door to the imaginary world that Zoe is going into,” said Jessica Leboeuf, a spokeswoman for Cirque du Soleil. “People connect organically from one human to another.” But, she

said, the message is not forced on the audience. “Two people sitting next to each other will get different messages from the show.” What “Quidam” does best is entertain on all levels, she said. Through the use of aerial images, acrobatics and lighting, this performance shows off human skill and discipline in an inspirational way. “But we keep it intimate,” Leboeuf said. “You always know where to look.”

CHARLIE CHAPLIN AT THE SYMPHONY

Saturday, January 26 at 8pm Sunday, January 27 at 3pm RESERVED SEATING Century II Concert Hall Dan Kamin mime, comedian, buffoon soloist An uproarious evening of comedy, film and music with the Classical Clown Dan Kamin and two Charlie Chaplin feature films with live orchestral accompaniment by the Wichita Symphony. Underwritten by Cessna

FOR TICKETS: WSO.ORG • 316.267.7658

Century II Concert Hall, Suite 207 | Wichita, KS | 67202 Senior citizen, active military personnel and student discounts are available for all Classics concerts!

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.