Category Archives: Theatre

Final Weekend of FOOL FOR LOVE

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foolforloveJust in time to get prepared for April Fool’s Day, Precipice Theater is presenting Sam Shepard’s FOOL FOR LOVE.  The final three performances are tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm.

A dark comedy, the “fools” in the play are battling lovers at a Mojave Desert motel. May is hiding out at said motel when an old childhood friend and old flame, Eddie, shows up. Eddie tries to convince May to come back home with him and live in the trailer on the farm they always wanted to buy. May refuses because she has started a new life and knows that if she goes back to Eddie their relationship will repeat the same destructive cycle it has before. The play, and the characters, unravel as old battles are waged again, and dark secrets are brought to light.

Presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Services, Inc.

A portion of all proceeds to benefit The Wolfe Street Foundation

Cast:
Eddie: Ricco Ardemagni
May: Heather D. Smith
Martin: Cory Cotham
Old Man: Mark Troillett
Old Man: Paul Seminara
Live Music: Charlotte Taylor & The Music Factory: Wythe Walker, Ray Wittenberg, Bill McCumbe.

Reservations: LRPrecipiceTheatre@gmail.com
Adults: $ 14.00
Students/Seniors – $11.00
The Public Theater – 616 Center Street, Little Rock

Spring Break Activities continue in LR

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For those who stayed in town over Spring Break and may now be hearing “I’M BORED!” or “There’s Nothing to Do,” Little Rock’s cultural institutions offer plenty of activities.

CPC42 SpringbreakThe Clinton Presidential Center is partnering with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra on an Instrumental Petting Zoo for kids Pre-K through 5th grade. For those in 6th through 12th grades, there is a “Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII” video game free play with a tournament on Saturday.  The hours of the Petting Zoo and the Blazing Angels are from 10am to 2pm through Friday.  While at the Clinton Presidential Center, visitors can take in the Presidential Pets exhibit as well as the “Spies, Traitors and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America” exhibit which is in on loan from the International Spy Museum in Washington DC.

BoyWolfThe Arkansas Arts Center galleries are open featuring the exhibits “The Crossroads of Memory: Carroll Cloar and The American South,” “Woodworking Instructors Exhibition,” “Paul Signac Watercolors and Drawings: The James T. Dyke Collection,” “Earthly Delights: Modern and Contemporary Highlights from The Permanent Collection,” “Ties That Bind: Southern Art from the Collection” and “Art In Context.”  In addition, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre is presenting The Boy Who Cried Wolf for its final performances today and tomorrow at 2pm.

sid scienceThe Museum of Discovery has partnered with Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) to bring Sid the Science kid to the museum on Thursday, March 27, and Friday, March 28. Visitors can meet and have their photo taken with Sid and participate in science experiments seen on the popular science show. Sid will meet visitors both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum of Discovery is offering spring break visitors the chance to enjoy science demonstrations and animal programs on the museum floor in addition to the 90 hands-on exhibits and the current temporary exhibit, Tech City.

 

ACANSA Arts Festival Receives $10,000 Planning & Implementation Grant

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acansa

 

The newly founded ACANSA Arts Festival accepted a $10,000 check from the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District (CAPDD) on Monday, February 24th. The distribution comes from CAPDD’s General Improvement Fund and is awarded through a grant process to qualifying organizations for the planning and implementation of economic and community development projects. The ACANSA application had the endorsement of Arkansas State Representative Warwick Sabin.

The CAPDD award adds to growing level of interest and support for the new arts festival to be held over 5 days in September. “Cultural enrichment opportunities that bring people together in Little Rock and North Little Rock both address the “quality of life” issues our board endeavors to support and generate viable economic opportunities in our community over their duration,” remarked CAPDD Executive Director Rodney Larsen.

Warwick Sabin and Rodney Larsen presented the check to Charlotte Gadberry, founder of the ACANSA Arts Festival and ACANSA Executive Director Renay Dean.

ACANSA Arts Festival is a southern celebration of visual and performing arts, premiering its inaugural event September 24-28, 2014, in Central Arkansas.

The Play’s The Thing at UALR Shakespeare Scene Festival

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bardofavonThe annual Shakespeare Scene Festival started yesterday at UALR.  It continues this morning. The Shakespeare Scene Festival is a UALR event sponsored by the Departments of English and Theatre Arts and Dance. It takes place in March in the UALR Center for the Performing Arts (University Theater). Its main purpose is to provide teachers and students a venue for the performance of Shakespeare’s plays.  One of the purposes is to demystify Shakespeare for students in school.

It was founded by Roslyn Knutson in 1998 and inspired by a workshop at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

The schedule for today includes:

9:35 – 10:00
In Fair Verona
Central High, Drama I
Instructor: Dr. Rhonda Fowler

10:05-10:20
From A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Sheridan Middle
Instructor: Amber Forbush

10:25 – 10:50
Richard III
J.A. Fair High, GT 10
Instructor: Allison McMath

10:55 – 11:20
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act III, Scenes 1 & 2 and Act V, Scene 1
J.A. Fair High, Freshmen Troupe
Instructor: Christina Cereghini

11:25 – 11:40
The Banquet Scene from Macbeth
Mayflower High, Drama
Instructor: Di Baldwin

11:45 – 12:00
From A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Sheridan Middle
Instructor: Amanda Honea

12:05 – 12:30
From Much Ado about Nothing, The Tempest, Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, and The Taming of the Shrew
Parkview Arts-Science Magnet High School
Classic Scene Study
Instructor: Fred Boosey

Among yesterday’s presenters were Central High, Mayflower High, Sheridan Middle and Warren Dupree Elementary.

Les Miserables Continues at Ark Rep

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replesmizTwenty-seven years ago today, on March 12, 1987, Les Miserables opened on Broadway.  The production won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. It eventually ran for 6,680 performances.  After being revived on Broadway in 2006 and spawning an Oscar winning movie in 2012, another Broadway revival is currently in New York.

Arkansas residents do not have to travel to New York (or Netflix) to see Les Miserables.  The Arkansas Repertory Theatre has brought the production back to life on its Little Rock stage.  Following an acclaimed 2008 production, Rep Producing Artistic Director Robert Hupp has again directed the show for Arkansas audiences.  It opened last Friday night and runs through April 6.

Douglas Webster and Christopher Carl return to their roles of protagonist and antagonist as Jean Valjean and Javert, respectively.  Joining them are Christopher Behmke as the romantic revolutionary Marius, Matthew Hugg as pint-sized revolutionary Gavroche, Karenssa LeGear as Valjean’s adoptive daughter Cosette, Mary Little as the waif Eponine, Caleb Reese as revolutionary leader Enjolras, Danielle Erin Rhodes as the doomed Fantine, Sydni Whitfield as Young Cosette, and Michael Sample & Terey Summers and the scheming Thenardiers. Others in the cast are Kelsie Adkisson, Alex Bush, Price Clark, Monica Clark-Robinson, Darren Drone, Hannah Eakin, Marisa Kirby, Bailey Lamb, Greg Robinson, Makayla Shope, Alyssa Sowers, Benjamin Stidam, Billy Clark Taylor and Paul Thiemann.

In addition to Hupp as director, the creative team includes choreography by Robert Kolby Harper and music direction by Mark Binns. The design team features Mike Nichols (scenery), Rafael Colon Castanera (costumes), Yael Lubetzky (lighting), Allan Branson (sound), Lynda J. Kwallek (props) and Rob Pickens (wigs).

Performances are Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm and 7pm.  During the run, there are Tuesday performances at 7pm on March 18 and April 1.

BOY crying WOLF at Ark Arts Center Children’s Theatre

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BoyWolfMarch came in like a Lion.  But at the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre, it is coming in like a Wolf.  This month, the AAC Children’s Theatre presents The Boy Who Cried Wolf March 7 – 28 with special spring break matinees March 25-28.

“This thrilling adaptation of a popular children’s tale is brought to life by a gifted ensemble of actors,” said Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre artistic director Bradley Anderson.“Audiences young and old are invited to join in on an exciting adventure with this charming production.”

In this familiar tale, a little shepherd boy is tired of watching the flock of sheep all day and wants some excitement in his life. So he decides to make things interesting by raising the wolf alarm just for his own amusement. The villagers come running but discover that the little shepherd boy has pulled the wool over their eyes. The Boy Who Cried Wolf is written by Alan Keith Smith and is based on Aesop’s fable.

The cast for The Boy Who Cried Wolf includes:

  • Jeremy Matthey as Georgie
  • Aleigha Garstka as Jackie
  • Mark Hansen as Orson
  • Moriah Patterson as Gracie
  • John Isner as Old Pops Foley

Bradley D. Anderson is the artistic director. Keith Smith is the production director, choreography by Erin Fowler, composer and musical direction by Lori Isner, costumes are designed by Erin Larkin, technical direction by Drew Posey, lighting design by Penelope Poppers, scenic design by Keith Smith, properties by Miranda Young and Rivka Kuperman is the production stage manager.  Todd Herman is the executive director of the Arkansas Arts Center.

Presenting sponsors are Landers FIAT in Benton, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and in honor of Dorothy and Fallon Davis by Dr. Scott and Shannon Davis. The production is also sponsored by Dr. Loren Bartole, ‘Family Foot Care.’ The Media Sponsor for this production is The Point 94.1.

Recognized by The Drama League as one of the best regional theatre companies in America, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre is the only professional company in Arkansas that produces children’s literary works for the stage. Since 1979, Children’s Theatre has been creating unique experiences for family audiences. During the 2012-13 season, nearly 43,000 children and families enjoyed Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre productions which included more than 200 schools across Arkansas.

For more information, visit arkansasartscenter.org or call (501)372-4000. “Like” the Arkansas Arts Center on Facebook for the most up-to-date information on exhibitions, events and educational offerings.

 

BARD BALL tomorrow night

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AST_logoFriday is only March’s SEVENTH NIGHT, but tis the appointed evening for the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre BARD BALL.

Join Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre at this year’s Bard Ball and travel back to the Big Band era for an evening of swing music, savory appetizers and a sneak peek at the upcoming theatrical season.

March 7th, 6:30 p.m.
Junior League Building
401 Scott Street
Little Rock, AR
Cocktail Attire

Dance the night away in the Junior League Building‘s enchanting ballroom to the sounds of Sinatra and his gang, as performed by John Willis. Bid on fabulous live- and silent-auction items while enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer. Get a glimpse at the 2014 season when Jordan Coughtry, this summer’s Hamlet, plays original music he is composing for upcoming performances of Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Artist Steve Griffith will be doing a live painting at this Friday night’s Bard Ball, and the lucky highest bidder can walk away with this original piece at the end of evening. Special thanks to him and all the other artists who have donated INCREDIBLE work for this event!

Tickets for the Bard Ball–which can be purchased here–are $75 in advance or $650 for a table of 10. Admission is $90 at the door. All proceeds from the night go toward the AST 2014 summer season.

To put you in a mood – some Shakespeare quotes about dancing:

MERCUTIO

Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.

ROMEO

Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes
With nimble soles: I have a soul of lead
So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.

Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene 4

PROTEUS

For Orpheus’ lute was strung with poets’ sinews,
Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones,
Make tigers tame and huge leviathans
Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands

Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act III, Scene 2

LORD POLONIUS

And let him ply his music.

Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2

For more information on the event, contact Liz Parker at 501-450-5092 or lizp@uca.edu.