Yearly Archives: 2014

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Mercedes McCambridge

Posted on by

Rock the TonysMercedes-McCambridgeMERCEDES MCCAMBRIDGE

Little Rock connection: Lived in Little Rock for a few years in the 1980s.  In 1986, she starred in ‘night, Mother at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

Tony Awards connection: She was nominated for a Tony for Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in The Love Suicide at Schofield Barracks. She also was a replacement cast member in the Tony winning Best Plays Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Lost in Yonkers (succeeding actresses who had received Tony Awards for their performances).

Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Puppets, Kings and Robbers Hightlight 2014-2015 Season of Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre

Posted on by

aac_logo_childrens_theatreAs the state’s leader in international, visual and performing arts, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre announces a sensational lineup of productions for the 2014–15 season.

“Our 2014-15 season has a diverse and innovative line-up of talented actors and compelling stories that reflect our continued tradition of bringing joy and laughter into the hearts of our audience,” said Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre artistic director Bradley Anderson. “Our upcoming season will offer something for everyone and we can’t wait to bring our audience back for six consecutive productions sure to delight children of all ages.”

The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre will open the 2014-15 season with Go, Dog. Go! September 17 – October 5, 2014. Watch the stage explode with a delight of color, motion, music and dogs in this captivating adaptation of P. D. Eastman’s famous canine extravaganza. Go, Dog. Go! is adapted for the stage by Stephen Dietz and Allison Gregory.

Magic and morality abound this fall when Pinocchio takes the stage on October 24 – November 9, 2014. One day, by a stroke of incredible luck, this commonplace piece of lumber found its way into the skilled hands of Geppetto the wood carver. And so, the world’s most famous marionette, Pinocchio, was born. Come join the fun as the little puppet runs away to discover the world. The audience will enjoy the fun and share Geppetto’s delight as his little Pinocchio learns an important lesson. The production is written by Alan Keith Smith based on the story by Carlo Collodi.

Spend quality time with the family this holiday season with The Velveteen Rabbit on November 28 – December 21, 2014. The audience will be thrilled with this Christmas themed childhood favorite as the story of a stuffed rabbit and his quest to become real through the love of his owner come to life on stage. The Velveteen Rabbit is written by Alan Keith Smith and based on the story by Margery Williams.

arkartsTake a break from the winter wonderland to see the world famous Grimm’s fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin take the stage January 21 – February 8, 2015. Watch as the miller whose bragging mouth was nearly as grand as the king’s greed gets his lovely daughter into a bit of a mess. The story takes the audience on an adventure while the characters facing life-altering decisions, broken promises and an array of mysterious events through the power of friendship, the destructive nature of vanity and greed and the value of forgiveness. Rumpelstiltskin is adapted for the stage by Alan Keith Smith.

Ever been stuck inside when the weather is blue? The Cat in the Hat has fun in store for you as one of the most familiar and beloved picture books of the last half century erupts with fun on the Children’s Theatre stage on March 5 – March 29, 2015. Sally and her brother are miserably bored on a rainy day until they cross paths with the Cat in the Hat and he’s just in time to show the kids a Thing or two about fun. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss is adapted for the stage by Katie Mitchell.

Just in time for spring, audiences will rally with Robin Hood and his merry band as they outwit and outclass the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham in The Legend of Robin Hood on stage April 24 – May 10, 2015. Join the Children’s Theatre on a glorious adventure with charm and wit that never fails to rouse our hearts in the age-old battle of good versus evil. The Legend of Robin Hood is written by Alan Keith Smith.

Current presenting sponsors for this Children’s Theatre season are Landers Fiat, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Centennial Bank, JPMS Cox and the media partner is Little Rock Family magazine.

Tickets are $12.50 for children and adults and $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members. Season ticket packages are available. For more information, visit arkansasartscenter.org or call (501) 372-4000.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Contact: (501) 372-4000

Location: Arkansas Arts Center – 9th and Commerce, Little Rock, AR 72202

Gallery Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Closed Monday & Major Holidays

 

Arkansas Arts Center programs are supported in part by: the City of Little Rock; the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau; the City of North Little Rock; and the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Austin Pendleton

Posted on by

Rock the Tonysaupendleton200AUSTIN PENDLETON

Little Rock connection: Directed Arkansas Repertory Theatre production of William Inge’s A Loss of Roses. While in Little Rock appeared on a panel at the Clinton School which can be viewed here.

Tony Awards connection:Was nominated for the Director of a Play Tony Award for his production of The Little Foxes which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Maureen Stapleton.  Starred in the Tony winning original production of Fiddler on the Roof.

2014 Movies in the Park Lineup Announced

Posted on by

20140507-054510.jpg

The 10th annual Movies in the Park lineup was announced.

June 11: Man of Steel (PG-13)

June 18: Office Space (R)

June 25: Eat Pray Love (PG-13)

July 2: Frozen (PG)

July 9: Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone (PG)

July 16: The Hunger Games (PG-13)

July 23: Friday Night Lights (PG-13)

July 30: E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (PG)

Films start at sundown in Riverfront Park at. The First Security Amphitheater. The park opens an hour prior.

ROCKing the Tonys – Case Dillard

Posted on by

Rock the Tonys

Photo by Deen Van Meer

Photo by Deen Van Meer

Case Dillard

Little Rock connection – Little Rock native; grew up appearing at Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre and Weekend Theater

 Tony Awards connection – Was in original Broadway cast of Mary Poppins and appeared on Tony Awards segment

Case has appeared on Broadway and the national tour of Mary Poppins as well as dancing with Ballet Arkansas and acting at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.  He is currently back in Little Rock. He has recently appeared in Baby at Community Theatre of Little Rock and The Water Children at Weekend Theater.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS: Scott Joplin

Posted on by

Rock the Tonysscott-joplin-1Scott Joplin

Little Rock connection: A native of Texarkana, he visited Little Rock from time to time throughout his early life and early career. His second wife, Freddie Alexander, was from Little Rock. He met her on a visit here and dedicated his composition The Chrysanthemum to her.  In June 1904, he married Freddie. She died ten weeks later of pneumonia. Aspects of her life, as well as his mothers, form the story for his opera Treemonisha.

Tony Awards connection: Treemonisha was never performed during Joplin’s lifetime. In 1975 it was produced on Broadway. Joplin received a 1976 Tony nomination for Best Score for Treemonisha – 59 years after he had died.

MacPark 5K set for this Friday

Posted on by

macpark 5kThe 7th annual MacArthur Park 5k race is set for Friday, May 9, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. The race is for people of all ages and fitness levels… and it’s great for dogs and kids too! The race is hosted by the
MacArthur Park Group.

100% of proceeds benefit MacArthur Park and its affiliated programs. Race registration includes a t-shirt (while supplies last), Lawn Party with food and drink and a goody bag.

The lawn party will immediately follow the race, featuring The Steve Giles Band. Food and beverages will be provided by local vendors.

The race is for individuals, or your business can enter a “Corporate Cup” team of four individuals.

The MacArthur Park Group of public and private stakeholders stay focused on enhancements to the park, many recommended in the award-winning Connections: MacArthur Park Master Plan. The park keeps getting better and better!

The park features the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, the Arkansas Arts Center, and MacArthur Park “Unleashed” dog park.

Registrations may be dropped off at the Downtown Little Rock Partnership (523 South Louisiana, Suite 305) or mailed to P.O. Box 1937, Little Rock, AR 72203. Entries may also be emailed to
downtownpartnership@downtownlr.com.

For more information, please call the Downtown Little Rock Partnership at 501-375-0121. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, May 7. There will be no corporate cup registration on race day.