Monthly Archives: April 2012

LION, WITCH, WARDROBE at Children’s Theatre

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In the same week that Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre alum David Auburn had his latest show open on Broadway, the Children’s Theatre opens the final show of the 2011-2012 season.  The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe will run from April 27 – May 13, 2012.

“The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is the story of four courageous siblings who embark on a wonderful adventure,” said Artistic Director Bradley Anderson. In this Children’s Theatre production, C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece transports your
family to a world of magic and enchantment when siblings Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund embark on an epic journey and learn the true meaning of loyalty, courage and sacrifice.

The cast for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe includes Allison Light as Susan; Will Nicholson as Peter; Lucy Miller as Lucy; Dean Patterson as Edmund; Jimi Brewi as Mr. Tumnus; Vanessa Sterling as White Witch; Josh Rice as Fenris Ulf; Kati Campbell as Mrs. Beaver; Mark Hansen as Mr. Beaver; John Isner as Aslan; Mattingly Bartole and Margaret Lowery as Rabbits; Brooke Melton and August Fitzgerald as Nymphs; Park Lanford, Aaron Eley and Nate Buursma as Wolves; Morgan Maxwell and Rachel Caffey as Two Nyads; Anna Newman and Jacqui Harvey as Dryads; Ashton Brass, Becca Hughes and Jhonika Wright as Foxes; and Wylie Greer and Anna Tess as Squirrels.

The set design is by Keith Smith, technical direction by Jimi Brewi, costume design by Erin Larkin, lighting design by Penelope Poppers and production stage management by Sinovia Mayfield. Lori Isner is the musical director.

Performance times for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe are Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Single tickets are $14 for adults and $11 for children.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is proudly presented by Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and Joshua Kolden. The production is sponsored by the Edmonda and Richard M. Logue, M.D. Marcus Worth Logue Memorial Gift. The media partner for the 2011-2012 Children’s Theatre season is Little Rock Family.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 501-372-4000 or visit http://www.arkarts.com.

Architeaser – April 26

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Yesterday’s Architeaser was the AT&T building on Capitol Avenue.  Over the years, it has been called the Southwestern Bell Telephone Building, SBC Building and now the AT&T building. At a distance it appears that the off-white is a solid surface, perhaps a concrete — but most of it is composed of bricks.

Today’s Architeaser also features brickwork.  This one, from an older building, shows off the creativity of a different patterns which can be used in brick.

Ark. Arts Center Conversation this Sunday

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The Arkansas Arts Center will present a “conversation” with Mia Hall as part of the Friends of Contemporary Craft annual lecture series on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 6 p.m. in the Arkansas Arts Center Lower Lobby.

Mia Hall is an artist and educator based in Little Rock, where she is heading the Furniture Design Department at UALR as well as producing one-of-a kind works that are exhibited locally and nationally. She works with both conceptual, self-narrative sculptural forms and formal sculptures based on observations in nature, as well as functional furniture with an interest in concrete.

Though born in Sweden, Hall studied and graduated from the San Diego State University with degrees in Applied Design and Furniture Design. She has taught workshops at Arrowmont, OCAC and Marc Adams
and has been an artist-in-residence at the Oregon College of Art in Portland, OR.

Tickets to attend the “conversation” are $15 for FOCC members and $20 for nonmembers.

A light dinner will be served. Reservations are required. Call 501-372-4000 or email FOCC@arkarts.com to make reservations.

Friends of Contemporary Craft are Arkansas Arts Center Members share an interest in contemporary craft media. To become an Arkansas Arts Center member and to join the FOCC, contact 501-372-4000 or visit http://www.arkarts.com.

Architeaser – April 25

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Yesterday’s Architeaser was the 501 Building.  That is its imaginative name now – not taken from the fact that it is the area code of Central Arkansas, but taken from the street address on Woodlane Drive.  Most Little Rock residents still refer to it by the name the building had when it opened in 1955 – the National Old Line Building.

Here is today’s Architeaser, also for a building which has changed names.

UALR to Honor Sotomoras at FINALE

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UALR will honor Eileen and Dr. Ricardo Sotomora at the seventh annual Finale at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 28 at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the UALR Fine Arts Building.

Reservations to the black-tie optional event are $150 with $110 being deductible.

Finale celebrates the arts in Central Arkansas and is the premier fundraising event for UALR’s fine arts programs. The dinner gala features performances and artwork by students.

Dr. Sotomora is the only pediatric cardiologist in private practice in Arkansas. He is the exclusive provider of cardiology services for children at Baptist Health Medical Center and St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center, in Little Rock, and Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock. His cardiology practice is managed by Eileen.

The Sotomoras were instrumental in founding the American Heart Association’s annual “Heart Ball,” in Arkansas, a debutante ball that not only raises proceeds for the organization but strives to teach girls about volunteerism and health. In 2006, Dr. Sotomora received the “Worthen Cornett Award,” the highest honor given to a person for work on behalf of the American Heart Association in Central Arkansas.

In 2008, they chaired the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Opus XXIV. Currently, Dr. Sotomora is a trustee of the Arkansas Arts Center Board and a member of the development committee. Both of the Sotomoras are members of the Director’s Circle.  The Sotomoras are supporters of the Venezuelan “El Sistemia,” a government-funded program that currently assists nearly one million Venezuelan children in learning classical music.

“Eileen and Ricardo are amazing leaders in the Central Arkansas community,” said Deborah Baldwin, dean of the UALR College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “We are honored that they would assist us in raising awareness about how arts programs enrich the communities in which we live.”

Finale 2012’s performance will feature UALR music students performing scenes from the Broadway musical, “Into the Woods,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. Craig O’Neill of Today’s THV will serve as master of ceremonies. This is his fourth year to host the event.

In the live auction, Finale will feature a designer jewelry piece created by Sissy’s Log Cabin.

Presenting sponsors of the 2012 event are Glazer’s Distributors of Arkansas and Sissy’s Log Cabin. Premier sponsors include Pediatrix, Terri and Chuck Erwin, and Chip and Cindy Murphy. Sustaining sponsors are Simmons First National Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield, East-Harding, Inc., Entergy, US Bank, and HBO/Time Warner.

Arts organizations from around the region lend their support to Finale each year. This year’s participating arts partners are Accademia dell’Arte, Arkansas Arts Center, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
Reservations to Finale are $150 each. Call Rivka Kuperman at (501) 765-9636 or at rekuperman@ualr.edu for more information.

Architeaser – April 24

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Yesterday’s Architeaser was an archway on the facade of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre building.  It was posted on Shakespeare’s birthday; the Rep often produces the Bard including Henry V which will start next year’s season.  The building was originally built as a department store and was transformed into a theatre in the 1980s.  The archway is  no longer over a working doorway but continues as an ornamental decoration on the building.

Today’s Architeaser is below.

Free Arkansas Symphony Concert This Afternoon

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The Arkansas Symphony Brass Quintet will present a free concert this afternoon on the UAMS campus.
As a part of the Dr. Ruth Marie Allen Concert Series, it will start at 4:30pm in the music lobby.
Featuring the Arkansas Symphony Brass Quintet:
     Richard Jorgensen, trumpet
     Carl Mason, trumpet
     David Renfro, horn
     Michael Underwood, trombone
     Kevin Sanders, tuba
Johann Sebastian Bach
My Spirit Be Joyful (trans. Harry Herforth)
John Cheetham
Scherzo
Victor Ewald
Quintet No. 3 in D-flat Major, Op. 7
Samuel Scheidt
Canzona Bergamasca (arr. Conrad de Jong)
George Gershwin
Prelude No. 2 (arr. Norbert Carnovale)
Wilke Renwick
Dance
Directions

From Markham, turn south onto Hooper St.
Follow signs to Parking Lot 1.
Enter the lot, which goes underground.
Take the elevator to the “top” of the parking Lot 1, which immediately adjoins the back side of the lobby. The Music Room is at the west end of the lobby, behind the grand piano.