Category Archives: Theatre

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE for the Community Theatre of Little Rock

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Little Rock’s oldest theatre organization The Community Theatre of Little Rock presents It’s a Wonderful Life.  The show opened on Thursday, November 17 and runs through Sunday, November 27.

The cast includes Harold Dean, Jerry Woods, Jim Troillet, Mary Ann Hansen, Terry Harrison, Brian Polansky, Jeffrey Lewellen, Kathy Bartholmey, John Thomas Nicolai, Katie McManners, Danny Troillett, Brandy Allen, and Ginny Greer.  Troillett and Andrews serve as co-directors of this play adapted for the stage by James W. Rodgers.

Performances are at the Public Theatre, located at 616 Center Street in downtown. Reservations can be made by calling 410-ACT3 or (410-2283).

Weekend Theatre explores THE QUALITY OF LIFE

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This weekend is the final chance to catch the latest show at the Weekend Theater.  Jane Martin’s The Quality of Life plays Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm.

Directed by Allison Pace, this play explores two couples who are at once polar opposites and facing similar situations.  The cast includes Stephanie Gunderman, Scott Minor, Fran Jameson and Alan Douglas.

The play has been described as “this magnetic work of theater, filled with compassion, honesty and humor” which “explores a myriad of ethical, religious, and moral beliefs, as well as personal rights issues concerning life and death.”

Precipice Theatre’s FOOL FOR LOVE

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Little Rock’s newest theatre company, Precipice Theatre, presents its inaugural production — Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love.

There are six performances over four days later this week.  The schedule is:

Thursday, November 10th at 8 p.m.
Friday, November 11th at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Saturday, November 12th at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Sunday, November 13th at 2:00 p.m.

On opening night, November 10th at 7p.m. there will be a complimentary California wine tasting sponsored by Lulav Restaurant in the lobby of the Public Theatre.

Tickets: $13 Adults, $10 Students and Seniors (cash or check at the door)

$3 of each ticket purchase will be donated to the THEA Foundation, supporting the importance of the arts in the development of our youth.

Reservations:Please send an email to LRprecipicetheatre@gmail.com with your party’s name, number of seats required, and a contact phone number. Any reservations that are still unclaimed 15 minutes prior to the start of the performance will be released to the general public.

Cast:
Old Man – Jerry Rice
Eddie – Ricco Ardemagni
May- Heather D. Smith
Martin – Terry Harrison

Directors:
Paul Seminara
Aaron Berg

Producers:
Ricco Ardemagni
Evan Tanner
Heather D. Smith

Last Chance for 80s Blast

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The 80s come to an end tonight with the final performance of That ‘80s Show.  The Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s Summer Musical Theatre Intensive (SMTI) has been affectionately nicknamed “Smitty.”  Since 2005, SMTI has been offering Arkansas youths the opportunity to experience a two week summer conservatory which culminates in a staged performance.  Many of the SMTI youth then return for the production during the school year.

This fall, The Rep’s Young Artists are performing That ‘80s Show” which they have subtitled “We Built this “SMITTY” on Rock and Roll!” (Some might argue that not only is the pun a groaner, but the song title it references is one of the 1980’s nadirs.) Though none of the performers were even born in the 1980s (some probably weren’t even born in the 1990s), these scores of kids will sing, dance and charm the audiences.  Nicole Capri, who recently received the Governor’s Arts Award for Arts Education, has again devised and directed this musical, which features musical direction by Karen Q. Clark.

Performances are NOT on stage at the Rep this year.  Instead they are at Wildwood Park for the Arts in the Lucy Lockett Cabe Theatre.

So hop in your DeLorean or Chrysler K-Car, flip up the Izod collar, slip into the vans, put the Ray-Ban Wayfarers on and relive the decade of New Coke, cassette tapes, TRS-80 computers, Reaganomics, This Can’t Be Yogurt, Dynasty, The Preppy Handbook, Yuppies and MTV actually playing music.

Arts & Humanities Month: SHREK

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Celebrity Attractions brings the national tour of Shrek to Robinson Center Music Hall.  The production opened its Little Rock stand last night and continues through Sunday evening.  Originally directed on Broadway by Arkansan Jason Moore, Shrek features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori.

The musical is based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film. It tales the story of an ogre, a princess, a talkative donkey, a vertically-challenged prince, and many other fun, lovable characters from fairy tales and nursery rhymes.

The national tour is directed by Stephen Sposito and choreographed by Chris Bailey.  The design team includes Tim Hatley (costumes and original scenic design), James Kronzer (tour scenic design), Paul Miller (lighting) and Shannon Slaton (sound).  The cast is led by Lukas Poost as Shrek, Liz Shivener as Princess Fiona, Andre Jordan as Donkey and Merritt David Janes as Lord Farquaad.

Arts & Humanities Month: AAC Children’s Theatre presents CINDERELLA

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The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre continues its 2011-2012 season with the new original musical Cinderella: A Rockin’ New Musical in 3D.

Under the direction of Artistic Director Bradley Anderson, the Children’s Theatre (founded in 1979) continues its mission of entertaining children and adults with new takes on old tales.  Written by the Children’s Theatre resident playwright Keith Smith, the show opens today and runs through November 6.  It was inspired by the classic tale of Cinderella as told by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm.  This production is sponsored by Metropolitan National Bank.

Cinderella is the second of six shows in the Children’s Theatre 2011-2012 season.  In addition, the Children’s Theatre presents the Summer Theatre Academy, Summer Arts Academy, Children’s Theatre on Tour and a variety of workshops throughout the state throughout the year.  This is one of the many artistic and educational programs of the Arkansas Arts Center under the leadership of Todd Herman.

Arts & Humanities Month: Governor’s Arts Awards

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Governor Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Arts Council are presenting the Governor’s Arts Awards at a ceremony and luncheon today in Little Rock. The recipients include:

  • LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Vincent Insalaco – North Little Rock
  • ARTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AWARD: John Gaudin – North Little Rock
  • ARTS IN EDUCATION AWARD: Nicole Capri – Little Rock
  • CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OF THE ARTS AWARD: Thoma Thoma – Little Rock
  • FOLKLIFE AWARD: Mike Shirkey – Fayetteville
  • INDIVIDUAL ARTIST AWARD: Larry Foley – Fayetteville
  • PATRON AWARD: Hershey and Denise Garner – Fayetteville
  • JUDGES’ SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD: Claire Haun – North Little Rock

The awards are sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.  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 Arkansas artist Winston Taylor of Russellville, recipient of the 2011 Arkansas Living Treasure award.

Also at the luncheon, the recipients of the Individual Artist Fellowships will be recognized.  This year’s recipients are:

MUSIC COMPOSITION

  • Richard Salonen – Farmington
  • Rena Wren – Hot Springs
  • Shannon Wurst – Fayetteville

POETRY

  • Mary Angelino – Fayetteville
  • J. Camp Brown – Fort Smith
  • Cynthia King – Fayetteville

SCULPTURE/INSTALLATION ART

  • Ty Brunson – Russellville
  • John Rankine – Eureka Springs
  • Cary Voss – Conway