Category Archives: Literature

Reel Classics with the Rep: Treasure Island

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In conjunction with the current production Treasure Island, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s monthly film series tonight will feature a film version of Treasure Island.  Reel Classics with the Rep starts at 6:00 pm.

Prior to the film, members of The Rep’s creative team will discuss the World Premiere of Treasure Island, The Musical by Brett Smock, Carla Vitale and Corinne Aquilina at Laman Library in North Little Rock.

Treasure Island runs through March 31.

This new musical offers a fresh take on the famous story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Set to a thrilling musical score and full of action, adventure and excitement, treasure hungry pirates and mutinous crew battle to discover the coveted Isle of Treasure.

Other special events in conjunction with Treasure Island include:

LITTLE ROCK FAMILY DAY
Saturday, March 23 | 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.
Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main Street, Little Rock
A fun day for families with activities in The Rep lobby, a preshow talk and a matinee performance of Treasure Island, A New Musical at 2:00 p.m. Sponsored by Little Rock Family.

PARTY LIKE A PIRATE sponsored by Colonial Wines & Spirits

Thursday, March 28 | 6 p.m. -7 p.m. |

Sample light bites, specialty rums and rum drinks in Foster’s prepared especially for you by local mixologist Joel DiPippa! Then grab your VIP seating in the First Mezzanine for Treasure Island, A New Musical at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Colonial Wines & Spirits.

 

A Princess, a Prince and a Pea at the AAC

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The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre marches into the new month with a new take on an old tale.  The AAC revisits the Hans Christian Andersen classic The Princess and the Pea.  Alan Keith Smith wrote the adaptation and Artistic Director Bradley Anderson directs this production.

In Smith’s take on the classic tale, there is an added twist of mistaken identity as the Princess’ servant is thought to be the actual Princess.  Though there are new twists, this story still has a Prince, a Queen, twenty mattresses and one tiny pea.

The cast is led by Rachel Haislip as Princess Cordelia, Lucy Miller as her servant Jane, Jeremy Matthey as Prince Perry, Aleigha Morton as Queen Perimeta, John Isner as Womlitt, Michael Pere as Count Quint and Brooke Melton and Rachel Caffey as servants.  Though a play, it features a musical score by Lori Isner.

The Princess and the Pea opened public performances on Friday and runs through March 24.  During Spring Break week, there will be special matinees at 2pm from March 19 through 22.

While at the Arkansas Arts Center, visitors can also check out numerous outstanding exhibits including Edward Weston: Leaves of Grass and Wendy Maruyama: Executive Order 9066.  Dr. Todd Herman is the Executive Director of the Arkansas Arts Center.

TREASURE ISLAND at Clinton School

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Treasure-IslandThe 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,  Thursday, March 7 at 12 noon at Sturgis Hall in Clinton Presidential Park.  The Arkansas Rep is presenting a world premiere musical Treasure Island, which will be the focus of today’s program.

The panel discussions are led by Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp and include insights from guest directors, actors and Bob himself on bringing compelling stories to The Rep stage.  Join Rep Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp, Treasure Island director and co-author Brett Smock and the creative team as they discuss the brand new musical production Treasure Island and how it came to be staged at The Rep. What is involved in creating an entirely new take on such a famous story?.  Call the Clinton School at (501) 683-5239 for reservations.

UACSThis new musical offers a fresh take on the famous story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Set to a thrilling musical score and full of action, adventure and excitement, treasure hungry pirates and mutinous crew battle to discover the coveted Isle of Treasure.

Treasure Island is directed, choreographed and co-written by Brett Smock.  Carla Vitale co-wrote the book with a musical score by Corinne Aquilina.  The production opens tonight and  runs through March 31. 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.

TREASURE ISLAND starts world premiere at Rep

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ATreasure-Island world premiere musical adaptation of Treasure Island has dropped anchor at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

This new musical offers a fresh take on the famous story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Set to a thrilling musical score and full of action, adventure and excitement, treasure hungry pirates and mutinous crew battle to discover the coveted Isle of Treasure.

Bored by his mundane life at the Admiral Benbow Inn, and entranced by the mysterious Captain Billy Bones and his wild seafaring tales, young Jim Hawkins yearns for a life of adventure. His wish is soon granted as members of the infamous Captain Flint crew pursue Bones and his hidden treasure map.

When Bones dies in a struggle for the map, Jim narrowly escapes with his life and Bones’ prize possession. With a sturdy crew in place led by Long John Silver, and with Jim under the protection of a doctor, a nobleman and a stoic ship’s captain, they set sail in search of their fortunes. As greed escalates, mutiny threatens and loyalties are forever broken.

The production is directed and choreographed by Brett Smock who also co-authored the libretto with Carla Vitale.  The songs are written by Corinne Aquilina who also serves as music director.

The cast is led by Logan Rowland, Richard B. Watson, Kristy Cates and Tony winner Cleavant Derricks.  Others in the cast include Gregory Butler, Mark Campbell, Christopher Carl, Matt Farcher, Eric Gunhus, David Hess, Michael Thomas Holmes, Patrick Richwood and Cross Brandon.

The creative team includes Frederick Alden Terry (orchestrator), Stanley A. Meyer (scenery), Rafael Colon Castanera (costumes), Dan Ozminkowski (lighting), Lynda J. Kwallek (props), Allan Branson (sound) and D. C. Wright (fight choreography).  Robert Hupp is the producing artistic director of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

Treasure Island starts previews tonight and opens officially on Friday, March 8.  Performances continue through Sunday, March 31.

NATURAL STATE NOTABLES book launched on Monday

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natural_state_notablesSchool-aged children can learn about famous Arkansans in Natural State Notables: 21 Famous People from Arkansas by Steven Teske, a new book from Butler Center Books. Teske will read from the book and sign books, which will be available for purchase, on Monday, March 4, at 4:00 p.m. in the Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS) Children’s Library and Learning Center at 4800 W. 10th Street.

Biographies on Arkansans including Maya Angelou, Johnny Cash, Bill Clinton, John Grisham, Scottie Pippen, Winthrop Rockefeller, Mary Steenburgen, and Sam Walton highlight the accomplishments and backgrounds of some of Arkansas’s most celebrated sons and daughters. The book features pictures, timelines, and information on each Arkansan.

Natural State Notables author Steven Teske works as an archival assistant for the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies. He has also written Unvarnished Arkansas about famous people in Arkansas in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and he co-wrote Homefront Arkansas about life in Arkansas during wartime from the war with Mexico in 1848 to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the twenty-first century. He has worked for the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, the Butler Center’s online resource about the state of Arkansas, and he teaches college classes in history and comparative religions for the Arkansas State University-Beebe’s campus on the Little Rock Air Force Base.

Butler Center Books is a project of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, a department of the Central Arkansas Library System. This publishing program was made possible by a gift from John G. and Dora “DeDe” Ragsdale. Butler Center Books publishes volumes that increase knowledge about and appreciation of the history and culture of Arkansas. The University of Arkansas Press in Fayetteville is the distribution agent for Butler Center Books.

The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies was founded in 1997 to promote the study and appreciation of Arkansas history and culture. The Butler Center’s research collections, art galleries, and offices are located in the Arkansas Studies Institute building at 401 President Clinton Ave. on the campus of the CALS Main Library.

The event, which will include a reception and a preview tour of the new facility, is free and open to the public. RSVP to marey@cals.org or 918-3033. The Children’s Library will open on Saturday, March 16.

CALS celebrates READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY in honor of Dr. Seuss

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CALS Celebrates Read Across America Day

read_across_americaOne fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. 

Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) at events during Read Across America Day. Crafts and parties encourage patrons to pick a book and read with the whole family.  All events are free and open to the public.

Activities started yesterday and continue today.

At Park Plaza Mall from 11am to 2pm, there are Read Across America Day crafts.  Events at Park Plaza Mall are provided by the new Children’s Library and Learning Center, 4800 W. 10th Street, which will open to the public on March 16.

A Dr. Seuss Birthday Party will take place at the Fletcher Library today at 10am.  In addition, a Bilingual Dr. Seuss Birthday Party will be at the Main Library at 10:30am.

On Monday at 6pm, the McMath Library will host a Dr. Seuss Pajama Party.  Let’s face it, most Dr. Seuss characters look like they are wearing pajamas.

On Wednesday, the Terry Library will host a Dr. Seuss Birthday Sock Hop at 6:30pm.  No word on whether they will be Hopping on Pop.  So go and find out.

CALS libraries in Little Rock include:

  • Main Library, 100 Rock Street;
  • Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road;
  • Fletcher Library, 823 North Buchanan Street;
  • Oley E. Rooker Library, 11 Otter Creek Court;
  • Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive;
  • Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle;
  • Williams Library, 1800 Chester Street;
  • McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road.

CALS libraries in surrounding communities include:

  • Max Milam Library, 609 Aplin Avenue, Perryville;
  • Maumelle Library, 10 Lake Pointe Drive, Maumelle;
  • Esther D. Nixon Library, 703 W. Main Street, Jacksonville
  • Amy Sanders Library, 31 Shelby Drive, Sherwood

Lard and the Bard, or Shakespeare in the South Part II

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schedule~~element27Following the success of last year’s special Shakespeare in the South at Tales from the South, the second edition returns tomorrow night, February 12. (It is Lincoln’s birthday – and he was a fan of Shakespeare, so you can celebrate the 16th President’s birthday by attending.)

Authors Jay Jennings, Hope Coulter and Greg Brownderville will regale the audience with stories centered around finding themselves, others, and even the South in the Bard. The live taping of the radio series will be at Starving Artist Café in the Argenta Arts District. Live music by Shelley King and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

Doors open at 5pm, dinner is served 5pm-6:30pm and the show starts at 7pm. Tickets are $5 for the show, plus the cost of dinner. Seating is very limited. Tickets can be purchased online at www.talesfromthesouth.com.

“Tales from the South” is recorded on Tuesdays during “Dinner and a Show” at Starving Artist Café. The show airs locally on KUAR Thursdays at 7pm and is syndicated by World Radio Network, a satellite radio distribution service, available to more than 130 million listeners worldwide.

Shows are also distributed nationwide to multiple public radio stations by PRX (Public Radio Exchange). Podcasts are available on ITunes, the NPR website, the KUAR website, the PRX website, and the “Tales from the South” website.