Monthly Archives: March 2015

Night Serenades by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra tonight

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The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (ASO), Philip Mann, Music Director and Conductor, continues the 2014-2015 Intimate Neighborhood Concerts series with Night Serenades, featuring one of the most well-known pieces in the classical genre: Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. The event is held March 12th at 7:00 PM at the St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Dr., Little Rock, AR.

Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and ASO Composer of the Year John Corigliano’s Aria for Oboe and Strings, featuring Lorraine Duso Kitts, share the remainder of the program.

The Intimate Neighborhood Concerts series is sponsored by the Stella Boyle Smith Foundation.

Tickets are $25; active duty military and student tickets are $10 are can be purchased online at http://www.ArkansasSymphony.org; at the St. James United Methodist Church beginning 60 minutes prior to the concert; or by phone at 501-666-1761, ext. 100.

PROGRAM:

MOZART: Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade, K. 525)

CORIGLIANO: Aria for Oboe and Strings; Lorraine Duso-Kitts, oboe

TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 49th season in 2014-2015, under the leadership of Music Director Philip Mann. ASO is the resident orchestra of Robinson Center Music Hall, and performs more than sixty concerts each year for more than 165,000 people through its Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks Series, ACXIOM Pops LIVE! Series, Landers FIAT River Rhapsodies Chamber Music Series, and numerous concerts performed around the state of Arkansas, in addition to serving central Arkansas through numerous community outreach programs and bringing live symphonic music education to over 26,000 school children and over 200 schools.

ANNIE (1982 version) at the Ron Robinson Theater tonight

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Leapin’ Lizards, the John Huston-directed 1982 version of ANNIE is being shown on the big screen at the Ron Robinson Theater tonight.  The film starts at 7pm; admission is $5. 

Based on the 1977 Tony winning musical and the 1930s Harold Gray comic strip, the film stars Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry, Raymond Thorne, and Geoffrey Holder. Playing the title role is Aileen Quinn.  

In the depths of the 1930’s, Annie is a fiery young orphan girl who must live in a miserable orphanage run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. Her seemingly hopeless situation changes dramatically when she is selected to spend a short time at the residence of the wealthy munitions industrialist, Oliver Warbucks. Quickly, she charms the hearts of the household staff but can Annie charm the seemingly cold-hearted Mr. Warbucks or discover what happened to her real parents? 

Peanuts character Franklin is focus of Clinton Center program today at noon

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Today at noon at the Clinton Presidential Center Great Hall, Harriet Glickman and Ken Kelly will share the story of a schoolteacher who changed the course of Peanuts history.

During this special presentation, “The Story of Franklin: Just Another Kid in Peanuts,” the duo will describe their roles in the creation of Franklin, the first African American character in the Peanuts comic strips. The event will be held in conjunction with the two temporary exhibits, “Pigskin Peanuts” and “Heartbreak in Peanuts.”

In the wake of the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ms. Glickman, a Los Angeles school teacher, began a vibrant correspondence with Peanuts creator, Charles Schulz, as a result of her outreach to nationally syndicated cartoonists regarding the lack of diversity in popular comic strips.

She shared the response she received from Mr. Schulz with Ken Kelly, a longtime friend and father with young children, who then wrote a letter of support to Schulz from the perspective of an African American parent.

Construction begins on March 16 on new parking deck at CALS downtown

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Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) plans to begin construction on a new parking deck at thcalse corner of Rock Street and President Clinton Avenue on Monday, March 16.

Rock Street will close from the corner to the alley on the north side of the Main Library to accommodate construction barriers. Access to Rock Street is from 2nd Street, and through traffic will be routed through the alley.

“We will more than double the number of parking spaces at the Main Library with the addition of the new deck,” said Bobby Roberts, CALS director.

“More than 800,000 people visited the Main Library campus last year, so having more parking spaces will make it easier for our patrons to use books and computers and attend meetings and programs.”

Construction should be completed by November, 2015. The new deck will have about 130 spaces, with an estimated $3.9 million construction cost. Little Rock voters approved a bond issue in 2012, which provided funds for the construction.

For more information contact 918-3086 or sgele@cals.org.

Marines of Montford Park focus of film at MacArthur Museum tonight 

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The winter weather delayed this event twice, but tonight the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History will show the film The Marines of Montford Point: Fighting for Freedom.  the movie will start at 6:30 at the museum in MacArthur Park.

Hosted and narrated by Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr., this movie profiles the first African Americans recruits in the United States Marine Corps. It begins with their experiences at Montford Point Base, a segregated boot camp in the heart of the Jim Crow South.

All-black battalions from Montford Point loyally served their country (some as officers) in three major conflicts: World War II, Korea and Vietnam.  All the while they were fighting for their country, they were also fighting for their own civil rights back home.

During the film, Montford Point veterans recount the racism they encountered both within and outside the military. They also reminisce about the rigors of basic training, the harsh conditions of the barracks, and the perils of combat.

There is no admission cost.  Light refreshments will be available.

The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History is a program of the City of Little Rock Parks & Recreation Department.

Local Live tonight with Chuck Dodson and Joe McMahan

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At 7:30 tonight at South on Main, tweek’s installment of our Local Live concert series features Chuck Dodson and Joe McMahan! 

Presented by the Oxford American magazine, Local Live showcases the best of local and regional music talent and is always free and open to the public. 

Call ahead to South on Main to make your reservations and ensure a table: (501) 244-9660. Local Live is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Cosmic Cowboy Music.

Hailing from Hot Springs, Chuck Dodson (keys) has been a mainstay in central Arkansas for years. Joining him onstage is Nashville-based guitarist Joe McMahan. Mc Mahan is co-founder of the group Luella and the Sun. He is also a respected producer who’s helmed records by Webb Wilder, Patrick Sweany, Altered Statesman, Kevin Gordon, Mr. Hazelwood, and Jeff Finlin, among many others.

Little Rock Wind Symphony in concert tonight. 

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Getzov

After inclement weather last month, the Little Rock Wind Symphony will be in concert tonight at 7:30pm at Second Presbyterian Church with Diabolical! 

Under the baton of Israel Getzov, conductor candidate, it will feature guest artist Blake Tyson on marimba. 

The program includes: 

  • Leonard Bernstein: Three Dance Episodes from “On the Town”
  • James Barnes: Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Paganini
  • Hector Berlioz: “March to the Scaffold” from Symphonie Fantastique
  • Blake Tyson: Anubis for Marimba and Wind Ensemble World Premiere
  • Howard Hanson: Symphony No. 2 (“Romantic”), Third Movement
  • Julius Fučík: Thunder and Blazes

Sponsored by Robert and Jo Ann McQuade