Star City Blog

Ross Film Theatre Hit by Budget Cut

Story and photos by Terry Hatch

“We’re already a lean organization with only myself and two other full time staff” said long time Ross director Danny Lee Ladely. 

In a near record year at the box office for the movie business as a whole, Lincoln’s Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center is faced with a budget cut of $50,000.  University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman recently announced the reduction as part of a $3.7 million University wide budget shortfall. 

City Budget Challenges May Impact the Arts

By Cory Kibler

Recently, the Lincolns Arts Council posted a message on their website (http://tinyurl.com/rc9fxh) urging local supporters to e-mail Mayor Chris Beutler and the Lincoln City Council in order to speak up in favor of local arts.  The reason?  Soon, the Mayor will present the 2009-2010 budget to the Council for approval, and the Lincoln Arts Council’s “funding [from the city government] may be in jeopardy.”

Movies on the Green Returns to UNL July 9th; Showing Free Depression Era Movies

The stars will shine again on the University Of Nebraska-Lincoln campus as the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center and the University Program Council unspool the annual Jensen’s Cinema 16 Collection Movies on the Green 2009 series.

The theme for this year’s series is “Depression Era Movies.”  During the Great Depression, Hollywood was at its peak and thousands upon thousands of people flocked to the movies to escape the oppressive reality that was pervasive all around them.  Some of Hollywood’s best films were created during the thirties and forties, many of which are included in this year’s Movies on the Green series.

Scheels Fantasy Tour de France

Scheels Fantasy Tour de France is a no entry fee competition to help cycling enthusiasts enjoy the greatest race on two wheels!  On Sunday night June 28th at 6:00pm a draft will be held at the Lincoln Scheels store.  This will be a live in-person draft and attendance is mandatory to compete.

Seven rounds of drafting will put 20 fantasy players in competition against each other for prize packages from Blue Competition Cycles, Fuji Bikes, and Scheels.

Local Playwright Offers "The Living Room" for Your Saturday Entertainment

By Marcus Scheer

The latest on the Lincoln theatre scene is a comedy from local playwright Robert Stewart entitled, “The Living Room.” The show runs serially on the last Saturday of each month in Lincoln’s Tugboat Gallery (116 N 14th St).

“The Living Room” focuses on the lives of the Templeton family. Stewart plays the father, Brawn, who has moved the family into the living room for some mysterious reason. With no communication or window to the outside world, the family is stuck in their living room.

Jazz in June Features John Riley Trio on June 30th

By Tom Ineck

Few jazz drummers have both the ability and the credibility to convincingly lead a group in performance. One of these lucky few is John Riley, who will front a trio June 30th at the final Jazz in June concert of the 2009 season.  

Riley’s impressive resume stretches back over 30 years and features recordings and performances with a wide range of jazz artists, including guitarists John Scofield and Mike Stern, big band legend Woody Herman and jazz icons Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Stan Getz and Miles Davis. He currently performs and records with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, saxophonist Bob Mintzer, trumpeter Jon Faddis and saxophonist Joe Lovano.

Sheldon Offers Free Opening Reception for Jun Kaneko June 26th

Jun Kaneko is internationally recognized for his large ceramic dangos, but few people know that he was first a painter. This summer a two-part exhibition explores the relationship between Kaneko's monumental ceramic sculptures and his paintings, his first and lesser-known medium.

In addition to sculptures and new, large-scale paintings, the works on view include the artist's drawings for opera costume designs as well as ceramic and glasswork. The exhibitions will be on view through October 11.

2009-10 School Budget up for Final Vote

By Sylvia Hermanson

After months of work crafting a budget for the 2009-10 school year, the Lincoln Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the spending plan June 23rd. 

The proposed general fund budget, as it has been recommended to the full board by the Finance Committee, totals $305.8 million, a 4.3 percent increase over the 2008-09 general fund budget.  State aid will provide $79.2 million of this total, another $60.2 million will come from a combination of county, state and federal funds – including financial support for special education – but the largest source of revenue for school district spending comes from city property taxes.  

Kite from Dad

By Aaron Franco

Editor's note: I wish I had found this in time for Father's Day.  Nevertheless, here it is; Aaron Franco's personal tribute to Fathers, both present and remembered.

International Line-Up For a Nebraska Tradition - The Meadowlark Music Festival

Meadowlark Music Festival has an outstanding array of world-class musicians lined up for the 9th Annual Festival, which will be held across Nebraska July 13 – 18, 2009. Meadowlark focuses on bringing classical music to all Nebraskans with concerts in comfortable and casual venues and “this year is no exception”, according to Jane Rohman, President of the Board of Directors.  

The Festival starts off with a one-of-a-kind concert at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Lincoln. Adam Peithmann, a native of Hebron, Nebraska, will join Lincolnites Graham House, Joe Holmquist, and Edwin Mukusha in this unique concert on July 15 Peithmann plays organ, House Alp Horn, Mukusha Bagpipes, and Holmquist rounds out the ensemble on the xylophone.