The Arkansas Repertory Theatre stage will be like Arkansas most years on December 25th. In other words, no White Christmas. Repeat, tonight’s performance has been cancelled.
Ticket holders for tonight’s performance should call the Rep Box Office at 501-378-0405.
This is also a good time to remember the Rep in year end giving.
The Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s delightful production of White Christmas continues through December 30. Most performances before Christmas are sold out, but the final week has great seats available, so book now.
Based upon the Paramount Pictures film, White Christmas, was written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank. The show features music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake. The production is directed by Nicole Capri.
When a pair of song and dance men follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters to their Christmas show at a Vermont inn, they realize a lack of seasonal precipitation is causing hard times.
Through delightful plot twists and a dazzling Irving Berlin score that includes “Blue Skies,” “I Love a Piano,” “Happy Holiday,” “It’s Cold Outside” and of course, “White Christmas,” the fellows launch an all-out campaign to save the inn and win the sisters’ hearts.
“White Christmas is the perfect holiday musical,” says Rep Producing Artistic Director Robert Hupp. “It’s a trip down memory lane for those who remember the music and the movie, and it’s sure to inspire new appreciation for the timeless songs of Irving Berlin – one of America’s greatest composers – for younger generations.”
To order tickets, visit the Rep’s website.
It’s sleigh-loads of Christmas excitement at the City Mouse house with a whole lotta stirrin’ going on this Christmas Eve! It’s hardly the “silent-night-hot-cocoa-and-candy-canes-by-firelight” Christmas that Country Mouse expected with his City Mouse cousin. And to top it all off like a star on a tree, you’ll never believe who comes to visit!
This year’s holiday offering is an original script written by Keith Smith for the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre. The musical is very loosely based on Aesop’s fable “Town Mouse and Country Mouse.” Full of physical comedy, this production is a refreshing twist on a classic story.
The production opens tonight and runs through December 16. Public performances are Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 1 and 3 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
The Weekend Theater’s next production opens this Friday. It is the stage adaptation of S. E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders.
For those unfamiliar with the novel or the 1980s movie, The Outsiders tells the story of two groups of teenagers whose bitter rivalry stems from socioeconomic differences. However as the plot unfolds there are some characters who realize these differences in social class do not necessarily make natural enemies of the two groups.
Directed by Ryan Whitfield the cast includes Damon McKinnis, Harley Burks, Colin Galloway, William Hughes, Will Nicholson, Blaise Galloway, Madison Hannahs, Wendy Darr, August Fitzgerald, Morgan Henard, Henry Ledbetter, Mark Burbank, Gillian Anderson, Hillary Bell, David Monteith, Don Bright and Mary Ann Hansen.
The play runs on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm through December 15.
The Weekend Theater’s production of Joe Pintauro’s Raft of the Medusa opened last weekend. It is scheduled to continue this weekend and next on Friday and Saturdays at 7:30pm. However, due to a car crashing into the Weekend Theatre building, further performances may be postponed. Please check the Weekend Theatre’s website for updates.
Joe Pintauro’s drama presents a microcosm of those affected by AIDS in the earlier days of the crisis through the device of a diverse therapy group clashing, confronting, and comforting each other as they work through their emotions about their devastating diagnosis.
The cast includes Alan Douglas, Ryan Whitfield, Jimmy Walker, Brad Burleson, Rachel Bland, Dale Ellis, Drew Ellis, Madison Hannahs, Morgan Henard, Grace Lytle, Josh Peace, Byron Taylor and Manny Urban. Ralph Hyman directs, marking his 50th production at the theater.
Tickets, $16 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors age 65 and older, can be purchased on-line at http://www.weekendtheater.org or, based on availability, at the door. For information only, call 501-374-3761; reservations are not taken by phone.
The first week of each month, Tales from the South features one person sharing their life story. They call it Tin Roof Project. November features actress Ann Talman. Born in West Virginia, she has had a film and stage career since the 1980s.
Talman has costarred with Elizabeth Taylor, Jerry Stiller, Ben Stiller, Maureen Stapleton, Nathan Lane, Kate Burton, Elisabeth Shue, Frances Conroy, John Mahoney, Stockard Channing, Swoosie Kurtz, Henderson Forsythe, Rue McClanahan, Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Tilley, Jennifer Coolidge, Kristen Johnston and Amy Ryan — just to name a few.
Music is by the Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson
Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. 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.
The program takes place at Starving Artist Café. Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm. Admission is $5, not including dinner.
You MUST purchase your ticket before the show
Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.
Tonight at 7 and tomorrow at 2 and 7 are the final three times to catch the Arkansas Rep Young Artist production of Singin’ on a Star. The show is all about the actor’s journey from stardust to stardom, set to a toe-tapping soundtrack of modern song selections from the top pop charts and the Great White Way.
The production is directed by Nicole Capri, who is the Rep’s Resident Director and Director of Education. Karen Q. Clark serves as Music Director. Choreography is provided by Capri, Stacy Hawking, Marisa Kirby and Stephen K. Stone. The design team includes Mike Nichols (sets), Shelly Hall (costumes), Dan Kimble (lighting), Lynda J. Kwallek (props) and Allan Branson (sound).
The cast is composed of of over 50 junior high and high school students who will literally fill the stage with their acting, singing and dancing. They include: Skylar Bartlett, Cross Brandon, Matthew Carey, Calvin Chester, Cayla Christian, Jacob Clanton, Drew Clark, Andrew Curzon, Drew Dame, Spencer Davis, Anna Bliss Dean, C.J. Fowler, Jennifer Fuller, Melody Garrett, Zach Graham, Kayla Gray, Katie Greer, Christian Hickingbotham, Matthew Hugg, Sydney Ippolito, Mary Kate Jackson, Grace Jackson, Nia Jackson, Jackson James and Dalton Johnson.
Others in the cast include Riley Knight, Bailey Lamb, Julia Landfair, Maddie Lentz, Malik Marshall, Cass Martin, Annie McCurdy, Damon McKinnis, Elena McKinnis, Helen Melhorn, Henry Melhorn, Ella Moody, Angela Morgan, Michael Myers, Annie Niswanger, Yasmin Newman, Caroline Osborn, Adrianne Owings, Cassidy Ratliff, Marina Redlich, Molly Russ, Kennedy Sample, Sterling Saul, Allie Scott, Jake Scott, Abby Shourd, Heidi Sohl, Alyssa Sowers, Sheffield Spence, Shelby Spooner, Mary Katelin Ward, Mia Waymack, Jhonika Wright and Charl Young.
For some observations from one of the summer performances of this production, click here.
Little Rock Culture Vulture 