Monthly Archives: September 2018

Arkansas Rep announces news about Rep founder Cliff Baker

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Arkansas Repertory Theatre board chair Ruth Shepherd announced today (September 2) that Rep Founder Cliff Fannin Baker is in the hospital in New York City.

On Monday, August 27, while participating in a corporate workshop, Cliff collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where he received surgery due to an intercranial brain hemorrhage.

Shepherd said, “Members of The Rep board, staff and all who love Cliff are praying for his recovery. His spouse Guy Couch, also a long time Rep employee, is with him. We ask that all respect their privacy at this difficult time.”

Since April 24, when The Rep announced suspension of MainStage productions, Baker has been serving as an artistic advisor and has been very involved in planning for the re-opening of a new season at The Rep in 2019.

orationes pistorum retrudi iussit in praeceps

 

Little Rock Look Back: Arkansas Arts Center study group heads to China

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TIna Poe, Raida Pfeifer and Jeane Hamilton at the Great Wall of China (photo from collection of Jeane Hamilton)

On September 1, 1975, a group from the Arkansas Arts Center left Little Rock for a study tour of China. This was the first non-governmental group from the United States who had been authorized to tour the People’s Republic of China.

Fred Poe, of Poe Travel, and Jeane Hamilton were the organizers of the trip.  It was part of the annual travel seminars the Arts Center  would take to locations throughout the world to learn more about art and culture.  It took many months of planning as wells as mounds and pounds of paperwork to get this trip underway.

Persons interested in the trip had to apply and be approved by the Chinese government in order to participate in the trip.   The Chinese government selected eighteen AAC members from submitted applications and the group visited Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, Kweilin, and Guangzhou.

The AAC Traveling Seminar participants in front of Mao’s birthplace. (Photo from the Jeane Hamilton collection.)