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.

CALS commissions new art to Celebrate Centennial

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The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) has commissioned a piece of public art celebrating its 100 years of service to the community.

To help complete the work, through Thursday, December 29, CALS is gathering translations of the word “celebrate” in as many in different languages as possible. Patrons wishing to participate may submit a translation and identify the language on the CALS website, http://www.cals.org. Each entry of a correct translation of the word celebrate will be included in a drawing for a $50 gift certificate for “gently read” books, supplied by CALS’s River Market Books & Gifts. The drawing will be held on Friday, December 30.

Arkansas artist Michael Warrick (who is on the faculty of UALR and has pieces throughout the US as well as China) has designed a top which will incorporate the translations of the word in a ring around the piece. The Main Library campus will host the art, which is expected to be completed in 2012.

A Capital Christmas in 2011

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Contrary to popular belief, the Little Rock Culture Vulture doesn’t live at the Capital Hotel.  But since it is a hub of cultural performances, it is appropriate to feature it on this site.

During the holiday season, the halls are decked and the walls festooned with greenery, lights and ribbons.  This year, in addition to the tall tree in the lobby, there is a gingerbread village with two trains.

Performances from a variety of schools and other groups are ensuring that the sounds of Christmas cascade throughout the colonnades in addition to the sights of lights.

 

Holiday Music with the ASO

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For many Arkansans, the Christmas season is marked by attendance at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra December pops concert.  This year, it is entitled simply “Happy Holidays” and the music is programmed to ensure that audience members leave happy and full of the holiday spirit.

Music Director Philip Mann will take the podium and lead the musicians of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Christmas and Hanukkah music both old and new.

Among the selections are: Tyzik: “The Skater’s Overture,” Styne: “Let It Snow,” Anderson: “Sleigh Ride,” Vivaldi: “The Four Seasons: Winter” (featuring violin solo work by co-concertmaster Kiril Laskarov), Gabrieli: “Canzon Noni Toni,” Richman: “Holiday Cheer!” Biegel: Hanukkah Fantasy,” Tchaikovsky: Selections from The Nutcracker,” Bob Hupp narrating “The Night Before Christmas,” Rimsky-Korsakov: “Snow Maiden Suite: Dance of the Clowns” Tyzik: Ave Maria,” “The Wonderful World of Christmas/Silver Bells” and Finnegin: “Christmas Singalong.”

In addition to Hupp, special guests include performances by the O’Donovan School of Irish Dance, Ballet Arkansas, Episcopal Collegiate School Steel Drum Band, baritone Darren Drone, Winter Pops Chorus, and Cathedral School Choristers.  And of course, St. Nicolas himself, that jolly old elf Santa Claus will be on hand.

The concert is sponsored by Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.  Performances began last night and continue tonight at 8pm and tomorrow at 3pm.  At 2pm on Sunday, a children’s fair with arts and crafts will take place.  Also on Sunday, because of the sponsorship of Entergy Arkansas, children from Kindergarten through 12th grade are admitted for free with a paying adult.

Weekend Theatre: Judgment at Nuremberg

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The Weekend Theatre’s production of Abby Mann’s Judgment at Nuremberg concludes this weekend.  Ralph Hyman directs this tale of honor, humanity, justice, and duty.

The cast is led by Alan Douglas and Tom Crone as opposing forces in this tug of war between different aspects of the justice system.  Also in the cast are matt Maguire, Frank Butler, Ebon Jones, Tucker Steinmetz, Chris Biagini, Thomas Sullivan, Wyatt Jones, Ovid Lamb, David Anderson, Byron Taylor, Jenifer Hamel, Deb Lewis, Johnnie Brannon, Drew Ellis, Samantha Porter and Patti German.

The show plays at 7:30pm tonight and tomorrow.  To reserve tickets, $16 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors age 65 and older, call (501) 374-3761 or visit the Web site at www.weekendtheater.org.

Classical Piano by Gio at Afterthought

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Giovanni Antipolo will be performing classical solo piano pieces at the Afterthought tonight.

As the Afterthought says, “There are piano players and then there are PIANO players…Giovanni fits this last description as he treats the crowd to everything from classic to very modern tunes. Come enjoy with us!”

A Little Rock Central graduate, Gio himself describes the evening as “an an effort to deliver classical music to the masses in informal venues.” An expert on the keyboard, he is as comfortable playing Rachmaninoff and the Razorback fight song.

Among the composers who will be featured are Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, and Prokofiev.

The evening starts at 8pm, but for guaranteed seating an earlier arrival is recommended.  There is no cover charge.

On Stage at Children’s Theatre: A Frog and a Toad

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The charming Tony nominated musical A Year with Frog and Toad returns to the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre for the 2011 holiday season.  It continues through this Sunday, December 18. 

Based on Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad stories, it was written by brothers Willie and Robert Reale.  One of the show’s original producers was Lobel’s daughter Adrienne.  Lobel’s son-in-law Mark-Linn Baker was one of the original actors.  The production premiered at the Children’s  Theatre Company in Minneapolis and then played Off Broadway before transferring to Broadway.  The Broadway production received three Tony nominations: Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score.

The cast is led by Mark Hansen and Dennis Glasscock as the title characters respectively.  The other parts are played by Paige Herschell, Vanessa Sterling and Chris Straw.  The set design is by Miranda Young, costume design by Erin Larkin, lighting design by Adam Britt and Lori Isner is the musical director.

Children’s Theatre alum Scott Ferguson is the guest director of this production.  He was a fixture on the Children’s Theatre stage in the 1980s as a teen. Since then he has received recognition as a director and author.  His work Schoolhouse Rock Live!has been performed Off Broadway, nationwide and on the Arts Center stage.  Based in Chicago, he is Artistic Director, Theatrebam Chicago; Collective Member/Director of Project Development, Bailiwick Chicago; a director and teacher at the National High School Institute of Northwestern University; Artistic Associate, About Face Theatre and a residency artist and teacher for Urban Gateways: Center for Arts In Education.

QQA – Festivus

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Festivus Founder Frank Costanza inspects the original Festivus pole

An organization dedicated to historic preservation is making history by hosting the first ever official Festivus party in Little Rock.

Festivus is a festival for the rest of us.

No Festivus is complete without the airing of grievences or the feats of strength.  There will also be the official ceremonial pole which has no decorations because “tinsel is too distracting.”

When: Tuesday, December 13 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Where: Concordia Hall at the Arkansas Studies Institute

401 President Clinton Avenue Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

 Tickets are $50 and available at the door.  The price includes food and open bar.

Proceeds benefit the preservation programs of the Quapaw Quarter Association.