Through a child's eye

The 25th anniversary of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts was a
spectacular yearlong celebration of the arts. It also was an incredible
learning experience for third and fourth graders at Leal School in Urbana
who documented the anniversary year and delved far deeper into the
innerworkings of the Krannert Center.

Under the direction of team teachers Colleen Brodie and Nancy Coombs, the
students wrote and illustrated a 70-page book - the fourth in a series of
class projects beginning in 1989. Like the others, the latest was printed
by UI Printing Services.

In compiling the book, students during the 1993-94 school year interviewed
Krannert Center architect Max Abramovitz, acoustician Cyril Harris, artists
on the Marquee series, Krannert Center Director Terrence Jones, and other
members of the Krannert Center staff. They also researched archival
materials, and spent many hours touring the building and its various
technical shops.

Produced completely by the students themselves, the material in the book
includes drawings of the building and of key people, and both poetry and
prose text.

Krannert Center held a reception and book-signing of "The 25th Anniversary
of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts" in the lobby Sept. 17 following
the performance of Fred Garbo and Company. The book is on sale at
Krannert's Promenade gift shop.