ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy

Rock the TonysJones CassidyShirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy

Little Rock connection: Academy Award winner Jones has appeared with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. She and Cassidy, her son, will star in a production of The Music Man which Celebrity Attractions is bringing to Central Arkansas next year.

Tony Awards connection: Jones and Cassidy co-starred in the Tony winning revival of 42nd Street.  Cassidy also starred in the Tony nominated Best Musical Leader of the Pack and was featured at the 1985 Tony ceremony with that production.  Jones’ first husband (and Cassidy’s father) Jack Cassidy was a Tony winning actor.

Day 3 of 2014 LR Film Festival features ACTRESS, E-TEAM and more Golden Rock Narrative Films and Arkansas Shorts

LRFFselectionWith the third day of the Little Rock Film Festival, screenings start earlier in the afternoon. They include Alejandro Fernandez Almendras’ To Kill a Man, Emillio Aragon’s A Night in Old Mexico, and Zachary Wigon’s The Heart Machine which are all in competition for the Golden Rock Narrative Award.

There are three sets of Arkansas Shorts being shown today.

  • “Arkansas Up Close” which includes – “The 21 Mile Marathon” by Tyler Tarver, “An Uncertain Bill of Health” by Eric White, “Flokati Films Presents ‘Red Octopus’” by Johnnie Brannon and “Glass Eyes of Locust Bayou” by Simon Mercer.
  • “Face to Face” including – “Watch the Rhine” by Taylor Dan Lucas, “Homefront” by Eric White, “Man of God” by Matthew Aughtry, and “Sacred Hearts, Holy Souls” by Mark Thiedeman.
  • “Altered States” which features “Origin” by Caleb Fanning, “Strangers” by Justin Nickels, “Mal” by Joshua Harrison and Michael Armstrong, “An Ode to Angeline” by Sarah Jones and “Collection Day” by Scott Eggleston.

At 6pm the documentary E-Team by Katy Chevigny and Ross Kauffman will screen at the Clinton School of Public Service. It is a contender for the Golden Rock Documentary.

At 8:15 at the Ron Robinson Theater, Robert Greene’s Actress will be shown. “When Brandy decides to reclaim her life as an actor, the domestic world sheʼs carefully created crumbles around her. Actress is both a present tense portrait of a dying relationship and an exploration of a complicated woman, performing the role of herself, as she faces the desires that exist outside of her home.”

The evening will conclude with the “Made in Arkansas Party” at The Fold at 10pm.

During the day today the LRFFYOUTH! Film workshop will take place at the Museum of Discovery.

For more information, visit www.littlerockfilmfestival.org.  When attending events use the hashtag #LRFF2014 on social media posts.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Harry Belafonte

Rock the Tonysharry-belafonteHARRY BELAFONTE

Little Rock connection: Was honored guest at Little Rock Film Festival’s Reel Civil Rights Film Festival in September 2012.

Tony Awards connection: Won the Featured Actor in a Musical Tony Award in 1954 for John Murray Anderson’s Almanac.  He became first African American male to win a Tony Award. He has subsequently appeared as a presenter at Tony Awards ceremonies.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS: Katharine Hepburn

Rock the Tonyskatharine-hepburn-old-ladyKATHARINE HEPBURN

Little Rock connection: Appeared at Robinson Auditorium in 1941.

Tony Awards connection: Received a Tony nomination for Actress in a Musical in 1970 for Coco and a Tony nomination for Actress in a Play in 1982 for The West Side Waltz.  Hepburn famously eschewed awards programs, making only one Oscar appearance in her lifetime (not to accept an award, but to present the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to Lawrence Weingarten).  Not only did she not skip the Tony Awards, with the cast of Coco she performed on the 1970 Tony telecast. That segment ran for over 15 minutes and is the longest excerpt from a show to ever appear in a Tony ceremony.

Today marks the anniversary of her birth.  She was born on May 12, 1907.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Liza Minnelli

Rock the Tonyslizatony2009LIZA MINNELLI

Little Rock connection: Appeared with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in 2004. During that visit she was made an honorary Little Rock citizen.

Tony Awards connection: Won first Tony in 1965 for Flora, The Red Menace; received a Special Tony in 1974; and won a Tony in 1978 for The Act. She was also nominated in 1984 for The Rink. Her show Liza’s at the Palace… won the 2009 Tony for Special Theatrical Event. She has appeared as a presenter and performer for several Tony ceremonies. She hosted the 1993 ceremony.

LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER on Mother’s Day

ltymListen To Your Mother is a national series of live readings in celebration of Mother’s Day – quite literally giving motherhood a microphone. This year, LTYM shows will take place in 32 cities across the country, and appear in Little Rock for the very first time!

Local writers, bloggers, and storytellers will share their own original writing, showcasing motherhood in all its complexity, diversity, and humor. Listen To Your Mother is the perfect way to spend your Mother’s Day. Come with your f­amily or a group of your friends, and get ready to be amazed at the stories Little Rock has to offer!

LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER: Little Rock

Sunday, May 11, 3:00 pm at The Rep

Featuring stories from:

  • Jane Morgan Balgavy
  • Carolyn Bechtold
  • Katherine Blackmon
  • Leah Braswell
  • Bobby Harrison
  • Ginny Hensley
  • Allison Herndon
  • Jennifer Holsted
  • Julie Kohl
  • Melissa McCurdy
  • Sarah Orsborn
  • Jennifer Barnett Reed
  • Barbara Scorza
  • Kendra Skaggs
  • Stacey Valley

 

Listen To Your Mother aims to support motherhood creatively through artistic expression, and also financially–through contributions to non-profit organizations supporting families in need. Each LTYM show donates a minimum of 10% of ticket proceeds to a local cause, as well as providing the cause awareness/fund-raising opportunities.

For tickets, call The Rep at (501) 378-0405.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Christopher J. Hanke

Rock the TonysChrisHankeyHeadshotCHRISTOPHER J. HANKE

Little Rock connection: A native of Central Arkansas, he starred in the Arkansas Rep production of Damn Yankees.

Tony Award connection: Performed on the Tony Awards ceremonies with casts of Cry-Baby and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying. Currently he is starring Off Broadway in Buyer and Cellar playing a fictional employee of double Tony nominee Barbra Streisand.