Author Archives: Scott

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About Scott

A cultural thinker with a life long interest in the arts and humanities: theatre, music, architecture, photography, history, urban planning, etc.

Arkansas Arts Center Looks Back and Forward with TABRIZ

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tabriz-logoThis year, the Arkansas Arts Center’s biennial Tabriz marks 50 years.  What started out as a blacktie dinner and dance as the Beaux Arts Bal (sic) in 1963 transformed by 1971 into Tabriz – an auction event.  Over the years, the one evening has grown into three different events.

Thursday, May 2, 6 p.m., Alice Pratt Brown Atrium
Tabriz: Moroccan Market Silent Auction

The Thursday, May 2, event will be a casual party featuring a silent auction with over 350 unique items for every interest. Beginning at 6 p.m., attendees will enjoy entertainment, specialty drinks and light fare with a Moroccan twist. Tickets are $50 per person. Guests are invited to bid online with bidpal.net/tabriz. www.Tabriz2013.org

 

Saturday, May 4, 6 p.m.,Alice Pratt Brown Atrium
Tabriz Gala Dinner: A 50th Anniversary Ball

A Moroccan market-themed black-tie gala will be held Saturday, May 4, at 6 p.m. There will be silent and live auctions featuring items such as premiere destination vacations, elegant jewelry, marvelous parties and various other art and cultural experiences available for bidding, premium cocktails and an elegant dinner. Tickets are $750 per person and include admission to the Studio Party 50th Anniversary Celebration Ball immediately following the gala at 9 p.m.

 

Saturday, May 4, 9 p.m.,Alice Pratt Brown Atrium
Tabriz Studio Party

Following the Gala Dinner, guests will enjoy exciting entertainment with The Jump Street Band, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Tickets to attend the Studio Party 50th Anniversary only are $100 per person.www.Tabriz2013.org

May is Arkansas Heritage Month

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HM 2013This year’s theme is: Saving our Heritage: Arkansas’s Historic Structures.

Arkansas is fortunate to have preserved so many historic structures. Homes, businesses, churches, bridges, courthouses, banks, log cabins and even entire historic districts have been preserved and protected. But there may be structures in your town that need attention and resources so they can be saved.

A wealth of assistance is available through the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program to help save important places in Arkansas, including educational materials, federal tax credit program information, and technical resources to name just a few.

From local museums and historical societies to private homes and businesses, preserving our past is something Arkansas does well.

For more information, visit the Department of Arkansas Heritage at www.arkansasheritage.com.

Two LR theatre alums among 2013 Tony nominees

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The nominations for the 67th Tony Awards were announced this morning.  At least two of the nominees have connections to Little Rock.

Trice at last year's Tony Awards (photo by Lisa Pacino)

Trice at last year’s Tony Awards (photo by Lisa Pacino)

Little Rock native Will Trice, who won a Tony Award last year for producing the revival of Porgy and Bess, has been nominated for producing this season’s revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  That production earned a total of five nominations.

Trice (who is an associate of one of Broadway’s leading producers Jeffrey Richards) was also represented on Broadway this season with a revival of Glengarry Glen Ross and the new play The Anarchist.  He is currently working on projects for next season including a transfer to Broadway of an acclaimed revival of The Glass Menagerie which stars two-time Tony winner Cherry Jones, two-time Tony nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger and Zachary Quinto.

Weideman

Weideman

Japhy Weideman received a Tony nomination for his lighting design of the new play The Nance.  For several seasons, Weideman was a lighting designer at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.  Though he has extensive credits Off Broadway, in regional theatres and in opera, this season is Weideman’s first on Broadway.  He also designed the lighting for a Broadway revival of Cyrano de Bergerac earlier this season.

In 2005 and 2007, Weideman received Drama Desk nominations for his design of Off Broadway productions.  His recent theatre credits include two Pulitzer Prize finalists: 4000 Miles and Sons of the Prophet.  His work has been seen throughout the US, Scotland, England and Greece.

April 30 Architeaser

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IMG_5069

Yesterday focused on the entrance to the old Museum of Fine Arts.  When the new Arkansas Arts Center opened in May 1963, the architectural firm of Ginocchio, Cromwell, Carter, Dees & Neyland (now the Cromwell firm) had designed a new entrance.  This one created a more modern look and reoriented the building toward the south and MacArthur Park.  Just off the entrance and lobby are studios, galleries and a theatre.

Since the 2000 renovation and expansion, this has functioned as an entrance for the Museum School and the Children’s Theatre and is now most commonly referred to as the lower lobby.

As this is the last day of April, it will be the last daily Architeaser.  Starting in May, it will shift to a twice a week (generally Tuesdays and Thursdays) feature.

Ark Rep’s SALESMAN featured at Clinton School Lecture on May 1

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Salesman (1)The Arkansas Repertory Theatre works in partnership with the Clinton School of Public Service to participate in the UACS’s Distinguished Speaker Series, hosting educational panel discussions on various Rep productions. The latest in these takes place today,  Wednesday, May 1 at 12 noon at Sturgis Hall in Clinton Presidential Park.

Join Rep Producing Artistic Director and Death of a Salesman director Robert Hupp as he hosts the cast from The Rep’s current production. Why do critics call Death of a Salesman the greatest American play, and what relevance can audiences draw from this 50 year-old production? Call the Clinton School at (501) 683-5239 for reservations.

Death of a Salesman opened last Friday night and  runs through May 12. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening performances are at 7 p.m., Friday, Saturday evening performances are at 8 p.m. Sunday Matinees performances are at 2 p.m.

clinton-school-logo

April 29 Architeaser

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IMG_5067Later this week the Arkansas Arts Center will host its Tabriz fundraiser event.  In keeping with that, today’s Architeaser features the entrance to the old Museum of Fine Arts in MacArthur Park.  When the Museum was reorganized into the Arkansas Arts Center and the building was expanded, the former entrance was incorporated into the new building.

The original building was designed by architect H. Ray Burks.  It was built by the Works Progress Administration and incorporates the art deco and neo-classical elements which were usually found in WPA buildings.  The entrance typifies this.  The arches contain the ridges, clean lines and fluting often found in art deco as well as classical figures in a frieze.

Two Tales from the South this week

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talesfromsouthHawthorne wrote of Twice Told Tales.  This week, Tales from the South offers two shows.

On Tuesday, April 30, the program will focus on “Lost and Found” featuring stories by Mary Lester, Wetzel LaGrone and May Griebel.  Music that night will be provided by Justin McGoldrick and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

On Wednesday, May 1, Heritage Month will kick off with a Historic Preservation of Arkansas show.  It will feature stories by Deborah Carroll, James King and Sandra Hamilton. Mark Currey and blues guitarist Mark Simpson will provide the music.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host, in conjuction with Temenos Publishing Company. The show is taped live on Tuesday nights at Starving Artist Cafe’in the Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock, Arkansas.

The program offers dinner and a show, and shows are $7.50 admission and open to the public. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

Doors open at 5:00pm. Dinner is served from 5:00 to 6:30pm (dinner price not included in admission charge).  The program starts at 7:00pm.  Advance reservations are required.