Category Archives: Theatre

Today at Clinton School – Ark Rep production of Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”

Posted on by

ScottishPlayThe 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, September 10 at 12 noon at Sturgis Hall in Clinton Presidential Park.  It focuses on the Rep’s upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s Scottish Play.

Arkansas Repertory Theatre producing artistic director, Bob Hupp, will host a panel discussion on the upcoming production of Shakespeare’s tragedy set in the moors of Scotland. Telling the tale of the Thane of Cawdor, his wife, and Duncan, Banquo, Malcolm, Fleance and others, it explores the meaning of valor, honor, treachery and destiny.

“The original House of Cards. It’s fitting to start off a milestone season with the English language’s greatest author,” said Bob Hupp, Producing Artistic Director at Arkansas Repertory Theatre. “Shakespeare keeps us honest, and tests our mettle when we seek to tell great stories that demand to live on a stage

The play opens officially on Friday evening and runs through Sunday, September 27.

Today at noon – The Rep offers “Macbeth 101”

Posted on by

ScottishPlayMACBETH 101

Dramaturg and Assistant Director Paige Reynolds leads a brown bag lunch that will enrich your play-going experience. Paige will explore the real Macbeth and his influence on William Shakespeare’s production.

Paige Martin Reynolds also worked on The Rep’s production of Henry V. She holds a Ph.D. in British Renaissance Drama and is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, where she specializes in Shakespeare Studies. Paige supervises the dramaturgy program for the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, where she has also performed such roles as Olivia (Twelfth Night), Prospera (The Tempest), Desdemona (Othello), Luciana (The Comedy of Errors), and Lady Capulet (Romeo and Juliet).

ACANSA preview – Theatre

Posted on by

The second annual ACANSA Arts Festival runs from September 16 to 20.  It will feature a variety of art forms at a variety of venues downtown.  This week, we will preview some of the acts.  Up first – theatrical offerings.

ACANSA Late Night - The Dork Knight
Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18, Jason O’Connell returns to Little Rock and brings his one man show The Dork Knight.
O’Connell brings an iconic interpretation of his relationship with Batman through the years. His impersonations are so lifelike that if you close your eyes, you would swear you were in the room with Christian Bale or Jack Nicholson. O’Connell keeps audiences in rapt attention, at times laughing hysterically or mesmerized in complete silence and he takes you with him on this journey with Batman.
Little Rock audiences have seen O’Connell on stage at Arkansas Rep in All My Sons, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, and Frost/Nixon. He was most recently here in Clybourne Park.
Both performances begin at 9:00 pm and will take place in the Rep’s Black Box space in the new Creative Corridor location in the 500 block of Main Street.
Blood at the Root

Based on a true story of the Jena Six, Blood at the Root, written by Dominique Morriseau, is a play that touches on many social issues. Directed by Steve Broadnax, head of the Pennsylvania State theatre program, this play has received international acclaim on its tours through South Africa, Scotland and Australia.

It is an exciting piece of work that breaks traditional convention. The show speaks to where America is right now racially, economically, and socially. It is also a fun show with musicality, and an emphasis on movement. The inclusion of many different perspectives makes for an exciting, thought provoking performance. Please note: This performance contains strong language.

Show time is 8:00 pm for all performances. They will take place at the Argenta Community Theatre.

Tickets to both events, as well as festival passes, can be purchased at the ACANSA website.
For more information, 501-663-2287 or email admin@ACANSAartsfestival.org

2015-16 ASO Pops includes Cirque, Broadway, Movies and Holiday Favorites

Posted on by

aso_2-colorThe Arkansas Symphony Orchestra returns to the Connor Performing Arts Center on the Pulaski Academy campus for the 2015-2016 season.  There is still time to order your tickets.

Things get started on October 24 & 25 with “Cirque Musical.” Debuting this summer at the Hollywood Bowl, this evening will feature contortionists, balances and jugglers providing a visual feast for the eyes while the ASO will play classical and contemporary music.

From December 18 to 20, it will be “Holiday Pops with the ASO.” This long-running tradition will feature Christmas carols and other holiday songs

February 13 & 14 will be “Broadway Rocks!” Featuring Broadway stars Christiane Noll, Carpathia Jenkins and Rob Evans, this evening will feature songs from such Broadway shows as Rent, Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Lion King, The Wiz and The Phantom of the Opera.  A lot of people throw around the term “Broadway stars” but these three deserve it.  If they are in a show, they steal it!

The Pops season will conclude with “The Movie Music of John Williams” on May 7&8.  The ASO will play selections from some of Williams’ mist famous movies. He has win 5 Oscars, 6 Emmys, 25 Golden Globes and 22 Grammys.

DEATHTRAP, first show of CTLR 60th season, continues

Posted on by
CTLR DeathtrapThe Community Theatre of Little Rock begins its 60th Season with the Tony-nominated murder mystery Deathtrap by Ira Levin.  It opened on September 3rd and continues tonight, tomorrow afternoon at September 10-13th The Studio Theatre, 320 West 7th Street in downtown Little Rock.

Regular admission is $16 for adults and $14 for military, students (10yrs – College) and seniors age 65+. $6.00 for Children (4-9 yrs). Children age 3 and under are given free admission. Groups of 10 or more can get in for $14. Bring a pair of gently used running shoes and receive $1.00 off your admission.
Seemingly comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a “dry” spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college—a thriller which Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway hit. Sidney’s plan, which he devises with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student, an idea which the younger man quickly accepts. Thereafter suspense mounts steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness, and with such an abundance of thrills and laughter, that audiences will be held enthralled until the final, startling moments of the play.
The cast includes Harold Dean, Jennifer Lamb, Jeremiah Elliott, Miki Thompson and Chris Boggs (who is also the producer). Jerry Woods is the director, and Karena White is the stage manager.
Performances on Thursday – Saturday ~ Box office opens at 6:30 pm, curtain rises at 7:30 pm.  Performances on Sundays ~ Box office opens at 1:00 pm, curtain rises at 2:00 pm.

Go “Behind the Theme” of Ark Rep’s production of The Scottish Play tonight at 7

Posted on by

11217159_10152962291451105_7983945027521499908_nTonight, the Arkansas Rep launches a our new speaker series for their 40th anniversary season, Behind the Theme.

The programs are designed to enhance audience understanding of the themes present in each of our MainStage productions. For the production of The Scottish Play (‪#‎MacbethatArkRep‬), UALR Professor Michael Heil will discuss the nature of kingship and power in medieval Europe at the time of the historical Thane of Cawdor.

The discussion will begin at 7 p.m. in Foster’s at The Rep. To attend, please RSVP to agattin@therep.org.

The production opens on Friday, September 11 and runs through Sunday, September 27.  There will also be opportunities to learn more about the production at a September 9 brown bag, September 10 Clinton School Speaker Series program, and pre-show director talks on September 9 & 10 prior to the preview performances.

Through these, audience members can “Brush Up Their Shakespeare.”

New Deputy Director for Arkansas Heritage announced

Posted on by

DAH Dep DirStacy Hurst, director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage (DAH), announced today that she has named Rebecca Burkes as the new deputy director for DAH. Burkes holds an M.S. in operations management from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and a Juris Doctorate from the Baylor University School of Law.

“I am very happy to bring Rebecca on board to help lead and manage DAH,” said Hurst. “Her skills in managing organizations and people will be a tremendous asset to us. Our seven separate agencies, operating under the larger umbrella of Heritage, will benefit greatly from her skills.”

Burkes most recently was an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison. Previous to that, she lived in Northwest Arkansas, where she practiced law in Fayetteville (1993-95), was corporate counsel at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., in Bentonville (1995-98) and was vice president and chief counsel for the Burkes Company, a diversified real estate development, construction and brokerage company (1998-2011).

The Department of Arkansas Heritage, through its seven agencies, seeks to recognize the state’s heritage and to enhance Arkansas’s quality of life through the discovery, preservation and presentation of the state’s cultural, natural and historic resources. The agencies are Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Delta Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and Old State House Museum.