Monthly Archives: April 2019

Jazz in the Park kicks off with Bijoux tonight

Posted on by

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, text

Jazz in the Park is a free happy hour style event featuring different Jazz musicians weekly from 6pm-8pm in the History Pavilion in Riverfront Park. Family and Pet Friendly.  It is offered each Wednesday in April and September.

First up is Bijoux.

Bijoux—a native of Little Rock – is a sultry  singer adept in various styles. The daughter of West African parents, Bijoux grew up in a household exposed to differing genres of music including folk, classic rock and roll, makossa, country, and R&B. Her jovial spirit, endearing vocals, vibrant entertaining, and musical versatility make her concerts engaging and fun.

No Coolers Please. Lawn Chairs Welcome. (Rain Location is East Pavilion at River Market)

Free ASO Concert at UAMS this afternoon

Posted on by

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Philip Mann, Music Director and Conductor, presents the Spring concert in the Dr. Ruth Marie Allen Concert Series at UAMS.

Musicians from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra are featured in the UAMS Hospital Lobby Gallery on Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. The free-to-the-public performance includes ASO musicians performing Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango, along with works from Haydn and Ibert.

“It is my hope that these concerts will promote the beautiful music of the ASO,” said series founder Dr. Ruth Marie Allen.” The concerts also aim to provide the opportunity for celebration and renewal to hardworking UAMS students, staff, and faculty, according to Allen.

Concerts in the Dr. Ruth Marie Allen Concert Series at UAMS are free and open to the public. Parking is available for a fee in Parking Deck 1. For more information please contact the ASO Box Office at (501) 666-1761, ext. 1.

Program
HADYN  — Trio in D Major, Hob. XV, No. 16 arr. for Harp, Flute, and Cello
IBERT — Trio for Harp, Violin, and Cello
PIAZZOLLA  — Histoire du Tango

Artists
Alisa Coffey, harp
Carolyn Brown, flute
Katherine Williamson, violin
David Gerstein, cello

Little Rock Look Back: Voters approve funds for completion of Robinson in 1940

Posted on by

Though Joseph Taylor Robinson Memorial Auditorium opened in February 1940, there was still money that needed to be raised to finish the construction and the building’s furnishing.  Ten days after the auditorium opening, the City Council approved an ordinance to call a special election on April 2, 1940, for the purposes of approving bonds for three separate projects.  One of these was for $30,000 for the completion of the auditorium; the bonds would not require any additional tax levy.

At the same meeting, a letter was read from the Young Men’s Business Association expressing support for the auditorium in the election, which was to be held in conjunction with the annual municipal general election. The Auditorium Commission had previously asked the City Council to consider issuing the bonds to pay for additional equipment for the building.  In their request to the aldermen, the members stressed that due to the current bond structure, these new bonds would not necessitate any tax increase.

The campaign for the new bonds used a similar structure and message as the 1937 election to build the auditorium.  There were newspaper ads by the steering committee (this time simply called the Citizen’s Committee and led by Omar Throgmorton) and support from civic organizations.  One thing very different from the 1937 campaign was the presence of an actual building.  On Sunday, March 31, just two days before the election, there was an open house for the public to explore the edifice.

On April 2, 1940, Little Rock voters approved the new bonds 1,413 to 423.  Every precinct in every ward of the city voted in favor of the new bonds.  Shortly after the election, the bonds were issued.  The auditorium construction which had first been broached in 1904 was now completed in 1940.

Final 2018-2019 Evening with History focuses on End of Reconstruction

Posted on by

Join the UA Little Rock History Department for the last lecture in this year’s Evenings with History series!

In his last public lecture before retirement, Dr. Carl Moneyhon will present “The End of Reconstruction and the Long-Term Cost of Conservative Redemption.” His talk will examine the tactics of Conservative and Democratic opponents of biracial governments during Reconstruction and the long-term social and economic impacts on the South and nation.

The program starts at 7pm at Historic Arkansas Museum.

ARmusica in concert at 7pm tonight

Posted on by

ArMusicaFestival of the Senses, the free performing arts series sponsored by Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church at 4106 JFK Boulevard, again presents the ARmusica duo of Julie Cheek on piano and Andrew Irvin Tuesday, April 2, at 7:00 p.m. in a program of “Spring Surprises”: music by composers Arvo Pärt and Ludwig von Beethoven, plus a selection of beloved musical themes from the movies by Ennio Morricone and John Williams.

Julie Cheek, a Little Rock native who made her professional debut at age 14 as a soloist with the Arkansas Chamber Orchestra, has performed and held master classes with orchestras across America and Europe and has traveled around the world as a popular entertainer on several cruise lines. She continues to teach at Interlochen and elsewhere and to concertize throughout the U.S.

Violinist Andrew Irvin, concertmaster of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (ASO), has played his 1765 Gagliano violin in concerts throughout North America and Europe. In addition to being a cofounder of ARmusica in 2012, he is a member of the Irvin/Christopher Duo and the Camino Trio and has recorded on the Potenza and Naxos labels.

This season marks the eighth year of Festival of the Senses, with nine events spotlighting some of the region’s most distinguished and dedicated musicians and artists. Designed as a gift of the arts to the community to entertain, enlighten, and inspire, all events are free and open to the public. The performance will be followed by a reception in the parish hall for attendees to meet and greet the performers.

Arkansas Launch of “The People” tonight at the Clinton School

Posted on by
The People was born out of a question that original members social activist Andrew Shue and well-known conservative pollster Frank Luntz asked themselves: “Do the American people really have irreconcilable differences?”
If you are interested in working across the political aisle to restore the will of the people in the United States, ThePeople.org wants you. The People is a nonprofit organization with a mission to bring Americans together to engage in civil discourse and to establish and carry out nonpartisan governmental reforms.
By doing so, people will live in a truly representative democracy. By activating all citizens and bringing the country together, one collective voice will be established and the average person can be heard. The organization will help individuals organize around common causes, rounding out strengths and weaknesses, and connecting them with others to accelerate their efforts. This will help the organization to facilitate productive dialogue between those with variation in beliefs and promote action to address needed governmental reforms.
The event at the Clinton School is one of more than 30 meetings the organization is holding across the country to provide a forum for finding shared issues, creating solutions at the grassroots level, and recruiting volunteers to join the movement and take action.
Join them for the Arkansas launch session with a representative from The People.

All Clinton School Speaker Series events are free and open to the public. Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or by calling (501) 683-5239.

Fringe Festival of New Student Work presented this week by UA Little Rock Theatre Arts and Dance

Posted on by

Image may contain: 1 person, textFringe Festival of New Student Work, Presented by the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. The festival (Fringe V), includes 12 new plays, monologues, and choreographic work from 11 playwrights and one senior capstone.

The festival is divided into two events: PG to OMG night and Women’s Voices night. The events will run in rotating repertory (PG/OMG April 2 – 4) and Women’s Voices (April 3 & 5). Much of the work was created in a Special Topics course: Page to Stage taught in the fall.

This semester student playwrights and directors have revised the written work and brought the pieces to life onstage. Other works on the festival include a Senior Capstone, by Jessi Ley and work generated from Dr. Lawrence Smith’s Intro to Theatre & Dance course. The plays offer a range of content and theatrical styles. Students have been free to explore subject matter that inspires and challenges their ideas of theatre-making.

Fringe V is directed by students and alumni, and for the first time, the Fringe has a design component. Theatre major, Thomas Jackson’s scenic design serves as his senior capstone. In addition, Conor Van Lierop serves as lighting designer and Blake Morris serves as Sound Designer. Mykenzie Gordon, Jessi Ley, Thomas Jackson, and Conor Van Lierop’s work is supported by Signature Experience grants. Stacy Pendergraft, Associate Professor, is the Artistic Director for the event.

WHEN: April 2 & 4 (PG to OMG Theatre), April 3 & 5 (Women’s Voices); All performances are at 7:30pm

WHERE: Haislip Theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts on the UA Little Rock campus + Google Map >

BOX OFFICE & TICKETS: As a grassroots, a student-driven theatre event, the performances are FREE. Tickets are distributed on a first come first seated basis. The theatre doors will open at 7pm.

CONTENT ADVISORY: All viewers should be advised that both nights of theatre contain Adult Themes, Strong Language, Sexual Content & Graphic Violent Situations. The event is suitable for ages 18 and up.