Category Archives: Theatre

Governor’s Arts Awards

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Governor Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Arts Council will present the Governor’s Arts Awards at a ceremony and luncheon at noon, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, at The Peabody Little Rock.

Sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council, the Governor’s Arts Awards recognize individuals and corporations for their outstanding contributions to the arts in Arkansas. The recipients were nominated by the public and then selected by an independent panel of arts professionals from around the state. Each recipient will receive an original work of art created by glass artists Charles and Michael Riley of Hot Springs, owners of Riley Art Glass Studio in Hot Springs. The following is the list of 2012 recipients. Click HERE to read each recipient’s bio.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Zeek Taylor – Eureka Springs

ARTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Jeff Baskin – North Little Rock

ARTS IN EDUCATION AWARD
Christen Burke Pitts – North Little Rock
Clayton Scott – Fayetteville

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OF THE ARTS AWARD
TRUE Marketing − Jonesboro

FOLKLIFE AWARD
Marty Phillips – Crossett

INDIVIDUAL ARTIST AWARD
John Jeter – Fort Smith 

PATRON AWARD
Drs. Mack and Vern Ann Shotts – Paragould

JUDGES RECOGNITION AWARD
Jim D. Johnson – Little Rock

BUNNICULA at Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre

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The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre presents Bunnicula through November 11.  Based on the book by Deborah and James Howe, it features a book and lyrics by Jon Klein.  Music was written by Chris Jeffries.

Bunnicula has been a hit with kids and their parents since the book was published in 1979. When the Monroe family brings home a small black-and-white bunny they find in the movie theater after seeing Dracula, Chester the cat and Harold the dog are instantly suspicious. After the vegetables in the Monroe kitchen start turning white, Chester and Harold are certain that Bunnicula is a vegetarian vampire.

Bunnicula is directed and designed by Keith Smith.  Bradley Anderson is the Artistic Director of the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre.  Todd Herman is the Executive Director of the Arkansas Arts Center.

Performances are at 7pm on Fridays, 3pm on Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays through November 11.

Rocky Horror in the Rock

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A production of The Rocky Horror Show opens tonight and runs through Halloween.  Performances are at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Reservoir Rd and begin at 7pm from October 24 – 27 and again from October 29 – 31.  There will also be a 10:30pm performance on Halloween.

The cast features Patty Miller-Marshall (Narrator), Jonathan Tatus (Dr. Frank-N-Furter), Jason Willey (Brad Majors), Brittany Sparkles (Janet Weiss), Danette Perry (Rif Raf), Kelani Campbell (Magenta), Rachel Warnick Hampton (Columbia), Anthony James Gerard (Eddie), Duane Jackson (Dr. Scott), Erin Murphey Martinez (Usherette) and Kyle Wigginton (Rocky).  Rounding out the cast are Beth Ross and Libby A. Smith as Phantoms.

The production is co-directed and designed by Liz Clarke, Justin Pike and Danette Perry.  It is choreographed by Lisa Luyet.

Absolutely NO outside items may be brought in to Rocky Horror. This includes, but is not limited to: hotdogs, waterguns, rice, toilet paper, newspaper, noise makers, feathers, lighters, etc.  Prop participation bags will be available at the door.

The show, written by Richard O’Brien, premiered in London in 1973.  A production was mounted on Broadway in 1975 and ran less than a month.  The movie version became a cult classic and kept the show in the public’s eye.  In 2000, a Broadway revival opened and ran for over 400 performances.

Ark Rep’s Young Artists go “Singin’ on a Star” this week

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This past summer, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s Summer Musical Theatre Intensive (SMTI) presented workshops of Singin’ on a Star.  This week, the final version of Singin’ on a Star opens for a two week run on the Rep’s stage.

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.

There is a preview performance on Wednesday the 24th with opening night on Friday, October 26.  Performances will continue with evening performances at 7 on Saturday, October 27 as well as November 1 – 3.  There will be 2pm matinees on October 27 and 28 as well as November 3.

For some observations from one of the summer performances of this production, click here.

 

Final weekend of MADELINE AND THE GYPSIES

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The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre kicks off its 33rd season with Madeline and the Gypsies.  This is the final weekend for the show with performances Friday at 7, Saturday at 3 and Sunday at 2.

Gretchen Bush leads the cast in the title role.  Diondre Wright plays Pepito and Jillian Flood plays Miss Clavel.   Others in the cast include Jimi Brewi, Abby Bannerman, Annie Forunte, Claire Havens, Kyndall Jackson, Margaret Lowry, Emily Pyron, Jenna Sims, Phoebe Tillemans, Sophie Wacaster, Maddie Woziwodzki, Jenny Zhang, Anna Newman, Melissa Griffith, Cassandra Nary, Jeremy Matthey, Kaiya Griffith, Alta Griffith, Karlie Barnett, Rachael Caffey, Timothy Espejo, Garrett Flood, Anna Grace Estes and Mark Hansen.

The play is based on Ludwig Bemelmans’ tales of Madeline and her friend Pepito.  It was adapted by Barry Kornhauser and features a musical score by Michael Koerner.  John Isner is the director, while the production is designed by Miranda Young.  Erin Larkin is the costume designer and Penelope Poppers designed the lighting. Bradley Anderson is the Artistic Director of the Childrens Theatre, and Todd Herman is the Executive Director of the Arkansas Arts Center.

Accademia dell’ Arte presents “Art for Sale”

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COMMEDIA DELL’ ARTE TROUPE TO PERFORM IN LITTLE ROCK

The Tut’Zanni Ensemble will perform its commedia dell’ arte show Art for Sale at an event Friday, September 28 at Argenta Community Theatre. The event is hosted by Amici dell’Arte (“Friends of the Arts”), an auxiliary group for Accademia dell’ Arte, a study-abroad performing arts school in Arezzo, Italy, founded by Little Rock native Dr. Scott McGehee.

Tut’Zanni’s primary inspiration is traditional Italian street theatre called Commedia dell’Arte. This “people’s theatre” is combined with other forms of physical theatre such as clown, mask, music, puppetry, storytelling and visual arts. “We strive to expand the views of not only what theatre can be but also what people can be,” says Tut’Zanni co-founder and Fayetteville, Arkansas native Dory Ford Sibley. “Also, it’s just plain fun for us and the audience.”

Art for Sale premiered at the CrisisArt Festival in Tuscany this summer and most recently was part of the New York International Fringe Festival.

Tut’Zanni is made up of six artists who met in 2006 while studying physical theatre at Accademia dell’Arte. “We are thrilled to bring our show to Little Rock where so many supporters of the Accademia live,” says Sibley. Other members of the ensemble include co-founder Ali Landvatter, Patrick Berger, Allegra Libonati, Liam Mulshine and Molly Tomhave.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception featuring Italian food and wines; the performance is at 7:30 p.m., followed by Italian desserts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $50 per person and may be purchased by phone at (501) 663-7836 or by email at susan@themurphygroupar.com

Little Rock Responds to September 11

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The Little Rock arts and culture community responded to September 11 as all sectors did.

Two of the groups in particular come to mind. When airspace was closed on September 11, several flights were grounded in Little Rock. The passengers on those planes became unexpected visitors to Little Rock.   The Arkansas Rep had opened its production of You Can’t Take It with You on Friday, September 7. The show was already scheduled tonbe dark on September 11, but on Wednesday, September 12, 2001, the performances resumed. That night the Rep offered these unexpected Little Rock guests free tickets to the performance.  Seeing a play which was both heartwarming, comic and full of Americana was the perfect balm for audiences who were weary, confused and nervous in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Also on September 12, 2001, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra presented a previously scheduled concert with Michael Bolton.  He had been traveling by bus so was able to get to Little Rock.  His concert was cathartic for the 2000 plus attendees at Robinson Center Music Hall. It offered not only a communal experience but also a welcome break from 24 hour coverage.  Three days later, on September 15, the ASO kicked off its MasterWorks series.  As has been tradition since the days of Francis McBeth as conductor, that first concert of the season began with the National Anthem.  The audience and musicians gathered and sang and played with unprecedented gusto that night.