Category Archives: Arts & Humanities Month

Creative Class of 2015: Mark Binns

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mark binnsComposer, arranger, vocal coach, musical director, pianist, teacher, performer.  Mark Binns is all of these things.

He has been involved with Arkansas Repertory Theatre for six seasons now as a keyboardist, musical director and composer. Mark has been the Rep’s musical director for White Christmas, Les Miz, Memphis, and Elf. He has is currently at work on their upcoming The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  For the Rep, he has also worked on their Summer Musical Theatre Intensive for several years.

In addition to the Rep, he often works with the Studio Theatre and Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre.  Other regional Musical Director credits include Hairspray, Oliver!, Cinderella, Pippin, The Last Five Years and Fiddler on the Roof. He has composed original music for the University of Central Arkansas’ production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle and served as Vocal Director/Arranger for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Fantasy.

When not working on a show, he can often be found performing at the Lobby Bar, the Afterthought or any number of other venues in Little Rock.

Tonight, South on Main welcomes Gina Chavez to the stage

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som ginaSouth on Main is pleased to welcome Austin-based Gina Chavez to the stage, with Arkansas’ own Handmade Moments opening. Doors open at 4:00 PM, show begins at 9:00 PM. Wristbands can be purchased for $10 after doors open.

Gina Chavez is a multi-ethnic Latin pop artist and Austin’s 2015 Musician of the Year. Her independent release, Up.Rooted, won praise from The Boston Globe, USA Today and shot to the top of the iTunes and Amazon Latin charts after a feature on NPR’s All Things Considered.

An eight-time Austin Music Award winner, Gina and her band have shared the stage with Grace Potter, Grammy winners La Santa Cecilia, Gaby Moreno, and Grupo Fantasma, winning audiences throughout the U.S. and abroad. She took home the Grand Prize in the 2014 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for “Siete-D,” a song about her experience volunteering in a gang-dominated suburb of San Salvador where she founded Niñas Arriba, a college fund for young Latinas.

Handmade moments is a folk/jazz duo from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Their music is reminiscent of 20’s dance hall hits and viper era jazz standards mixed with current themes… Plus some beatboxing. Although modern and fresh, Joel Ludford and Anna Horton’s songwriting contains a subtle and humble vibe. Every show leaves fans lusting over Anna’s prolific voice, while Joel’s guitar grooves continue to ring in their bobbing heads.

Tonight at the Governor’s Mansion, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in concert with First Lady Susan Hutchinson

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first-lady-pianoThe Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by First Lady Susan Hutchinson, presents a concert for the benefit of The Governor’s Mansion Association. A champagne and dessert reception will follow the concert.

The concert begins at 7pm.  Gates open to the Governor’s Mansion at 6:15pm.

The Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association is a 501 (C)3 non-profit organization that raises funds for the restoration and preservation of the mansion.

The Governor’s Mansion is located in the historic Quapaw District in downtown Little Rock, and was completed in 1950 during the term of Governor Sidney McMath. Our current Governor, Asa Hutchinson is the 12th Governor to reside in the Mansion.

Little Rock Look Back: JFK in the ARK

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JFK LROn October 3, 1963, President John F. Kennedy delivered remarks at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds.  Only a few weeks later, he would be felled by an assassins bullet in Texas.  In the speech, the President praised Arkansas’ congressional delegation including Senators John McClellan and J. William Fulbright and Congressmen Took Gathings, Bill Trimble, Wilbur Mills and Oren Harris.  Each of these men held senior leadership positions in key committees.

The main focus of the speech was to discuss President Kennedy’s vision for a new economy in the South.  He tied that to improvements in the state’s universities and colleges as well as public works projects.

The President was actually in the state to speak at the dedication of the Greers Ferry Dam. He agreed to make that appearance as a part of a negotiation with Congressman Mills as they were deadlocked over changes to the tax code.  He had previously visited Little Rock in 1957 when he came to the state to address the Arkansas Bar Association meeting in Hot Springs.

He arrived at the Little Rock Air Force Base, then only a few years old, and proceeded to Heber Springs via helicopter. Students and civic leaders from nearby Batesville were present to help welcome the President and his entourage.  Following the ceremony at Greers Ferry, he and his party ventured to Little Rock.

It was an exceptionally hot October day (temperatures were in the lower 90s), but all else seemed perfect according to media reports.  The Little Rock School District dismissed classes on that day (which was a Thursday) so students could attend the President’s remarks at the Fairgrounds.

Creative Class of 2015: Bijoux

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BijouxBijoux is a sultry, soul singer adept in various styles.  The daughter of West African parents, she  grew up in a household exposed to differing genres of music including folk, classic rock and roll, makosa, country, and R&B.  As a child she grew up singing in talent shows she produced, as well as church and school choirs.

After years of high school and collegiate choral experience (madrigals, sacred African-American chamber, etc.), she discovered a love for jazz .  In 2009, she emerged onto the scene again as a featured artist with groups like Rodney Block & The Real Music Lovers and Onyx The Band.

Bijoux has opened for and sung with the likes of Kim Burrell, Anthony Hamilton, Dwele, Maurette Brown Clark, Sunday Best Season One Winner Crystal Aiken, Sunday Best Season Two Winner Y’Anna Crawley, DeWayne Woods, and Beverly Crawford.  I have been featured on several local projects for Rodney Block, Epiphany, Kwestion, and more. She frequently performs at various Little Rock music venues.

Sad Daddy returns to South on Main tonight!

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som sadTonight at 10pm, Sad Daddy returns to the South on Main stage! Doors open at 4:00 PM. Wristbands can be purchased for $10 after doors open. Call ahead to South on Main to make your reservations and ensure a table: (501) 244-9660.

Sad Daddy began as the meeting of three musical minds—Brian Martin (guitar), Melissa Carper (bass), and Joe Sundell (banjo). The dynamic songwriting of the original three members carried the group’s 2010 self-titled release and won them a loyal following in and around the great state of Arkansas. However, with Carper and Sundell residing in Austin, TX and Martin far away in Ozark country, the group’s opportunities for collaboration and performance were few and far between.

Now, with the original members all back in Arkansas, as well as with the addition of standout fiddler Rebecca Patek, Sad Daddy is embarking on the next chapter of their musical journey, which includes a follow up album in the works and a full schedule of tour dates. While Sad Daddy’s musicianship and stagecraft are worthy of mention, the songwriting of Martin, Carper, and Sundell remains the cornerstone of the group’s allure and allows them to connect with a wide range of audiences.

Final Weekend of PUSS IN BOOTS at Ark. Arts Center Children’s Theatre

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PussInBoots_posterThis weekend marks St. Francis Day.  He was the patron saint of animals.  It is also the final chance to see the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre production of Puss in Boots.

Based on Charles Perrault’s world famous feline fun-time fairytale, Puss in Bootsis an electric story set in song and dance. This fun for all ages show will run Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. 

Be amazed as swashbuckling Puss the Cat raises his master, Claude, from a down-and-out miller’s son to the heights of happiness. Enjoy all the madcap fun as Puss brandishes, not his sword, but his superior feline intellect to conquer kings, ogres and even a few rabbits along the way. It’s all about brain over brawn. Oh, and you’ll just love his shoes.

The cast includes:

  • Chad Bradford of Little Rock as Puss
  • Mark Hansen of Little Rock as Claude
  • Katie Campbell of Little Rock as Coquette
  • Nick Spencer of Nashville, Tenn. as Major Domo
  • Jeremy Matthey of Little Rock as the King
  • Lauren Linton of Memphis; Aleigha Morton of Beebe; and Moriah Patterson of Sheridan as the Trio.

Bradley D. Anderson is the artistic director for the production. Costumes are designed by Erin Larkin and Nikki Webster, technical direction by Drew Posey, lighting design by Mike Stacks, setting and properties design by Miranda Young, choreographed by Erin Fowler and Sarah Gasser is the stage manager.  

The 2015/2016 season of the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre will feature six Main Stage shows: Puss in Boots;The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; The Gingerbread Man; The 13 Clocks; Schoolhouse Rock Live! and The Adventures of Peter Rabbit. And is sponsored by: Presenting Sponsor, Arkansas BlueCross Blue Shield; Fall Season Sponsor, Centennial Bank; Spring Season Sponsors, The Fine Arts Club of Arkansas and Dr. Loren Bartole, ‘Family Foot Care’; Additional Support Provided by The Morris Foundation and Media Sponsor, Little Rock Family Magazine.

$12.50 General admission, $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members, $10 per person for groups of 10 or more (Children 2 years of age and under are free, however the child must remain in an adult’s lap at all times.)