Marvin Hamlisch
Little Rock connection: Appeared with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at Robinson Center Music Hall. One of his appearances was conducting a concert version of the Tony nominated musical They’re Playing Our Song.
Tony Awards connection: Won a Tony Award for composing A Chorus Line. Also nominated for Sweet Smell of Success. Appeared as a presenter at the 1982, 1993, 2002 and 2007 Tony ceremonies.
Brian Lane Green
Little Rock connection: Starred as Joseph in the 2000 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Arkansas Repertory Theatre.
Tony Awards connection: Nominated for Actor in a Musical in 1989 for his performance in Starmites. (The show opened on Broadway 25 years ago today.)
Photo courtesy of Playbill
Ann Duquesnay
Little Rock connection: Starred in Cookin’ at the Cookery at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Though Tony nominees had appeared on Rep stage before, she was the first Tony winner to appear on Arkansas Rep stage in a play.
Tony Awards connection: Won the 1996 Featured Actress in a Musical Tony for her performance as “‘da Singer” in Bring in ‘da Noise/Bring in ‘da Funk.
In 2013, she starred in the New York City premiere of Cookin’ at the Cookery, which explores the life of blues singer Alberta Hunter.
Horton Foote’s Tony winning play The Trip to Bountiful is the next offering of the Community Theatre of Little Rock.
This is the poignant story of Mrs. Watts, an aging widow living with her son and daughter-in-law in a three-room flat in Houston, Texas. Fearing that her presence may be an imposition on others, and chafing under the watchful eye of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Watts imagines that if she can get away and return to her old home in the town of Bountiful, she is sure to regain her strength, dignity and peace of mind.
She attempts to run away, and when she reaches a bus station on the last part of her short journey, she falls into the hands of a sheriff whom her son and daughter-in-law have put on her trail. The sheriff, a kindly fellow, allows her to complete the final stage of her journey, so she proceeds to Bountiful and makes a lonely pilgrimage to the scene of her old home.
Only too soon she learns that the friends of her youth have all died or scattered, and her home is no longer the spacious mansion of her memories but a crumbling wreck. But she has the supreme satisfaction of plunging her hands into the strength-giving earth, and this leaves her with a sense of that strength and dignity that will give her the courage to survive. When her son and daughter-in-law appear on the scene to take her back to Houston, she consents to return quietly, secure in the knowledge that the remainder of her existence will be enriched as a result of her last contact with Bountiful.
The cast is led by Jane Morgan Balgavy as Carrie with Chuck Massey as her son, Ludie and Susan Troillet as her daughter-in-law Jessie Mae. Others in the cast include Kate Lauck, Chris Boggs, Mark Troillett, Jerry Woods and Tim Sopel.
The production is directed by Harold Dean with Jerry Woods as Stage Manager. Chris Boggs is Executive Producer with Liz Turner as producer.
The production opens tonight at 7:30. Performances are April 25 & 26, May 2 & 3, and May 9 & 10 at 7:30. Matinees at 2pm are offered on April 27 and May 4.
The Trip to Bountiful will be presented in the Mini-Auditorium of NLR High School Freshman Campus (2400 Lakewood Rd) behind Target.
The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre will bring the enchanted Sleeping Beauty to life from April 25 – May 11.
“This production is filled with colorful characters brought to life by a talented group of actors in this magical journey,” said Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre artistic director Bradley Anderson. “Share this classic fairytale of love, courage and the triumph of good over evil with the whole family.”
For years, the king and queen have wanted a child. So when their sweet princess is finally born, they invite the entire kingdom with the exception of one bad fairy. What follows is sure to leave audiences of all ages feeling happily ever after. Sleeping Beauty is written by Alan Keith Smith and is based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
The cast for Sleeping Beauty includes:
Bradley D. Anderson is the artistic director and director for the production. Musical direction by Lori Isner, costume design by Nikki Webster, technical direction by Drew Posey, lighting design by Penelope Poppers, scenic design by Mary Alyce Hare, properties by Miranda Young and Sarah Gasser is the stage manager.
Presenting sponsors are Landers FIAT in Benton, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and in honor of Dorothy and Fallon Davis by Dr. Scott and Shannon Davis. The production is also sponsored by Dr. Loren Bartole, ‘Family Foot Care.’ The Media Sponsor for this production is The Point 94.1.
Recognized by The Drama League as one of the best regional theatre companies in America, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre is the only professional company in Arkansas that produces children’s literary works for the stage. Since 1979, Children’s Theatre has been creating unique experiences for family audiences. During the 2012-13 season, nearly 43,000 children and families enjoyed Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre productions which included more than 200 schools across Arkansas.
Guests are invited to experience a night full of merriment and magic at the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre Sleeping Beauty Ball on Saturday, May 10 from 6 – 8 p.m. Admission to the event is $20.
For more information, visit arkansasartscenter.org or call (501)372-4000.
Rocco Landesman on stage at the Arkansas Rep
Rocco Landesman
Little Rock connection: Visited Little Rock in 2012 in his capacity as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts for the Obama Administration.
Tony Awards connection: As a Broadway producer, won Tony awards for the musical Big River (which opened on this day in 1985), The Grapes of Wrath (1990 Best Play), City of Angels (1990 Best Musical), Guys and Dolls (1992 Best Revival), Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (1993 Best Play), Angels in America: Perestroika (1994 Best Play), Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995 Best Play), The King and I (1996 Best Musical Revival), Titanic (1997 Best Musical), Death of a Salesman (1999 Best Play Revival), Proof (2001 Best Play), The Producers (2001 Best Musical), 42nd Street (2001 Best Musical Revival), Into the Woods (2002 Best Musical Revival), Jersey Boys (2005 Best Musical), Hair (2009 Best Musical Revival) and Kinky Boots (2013 Best Musical). He has been nominated for 33 additional Tony Awards.
At the 1989 Tony Awards, photo by Anita & Steve Shevett
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Little Rock connection: Danced in an event produced by Ballet Arkansas in 1983 at Robinson Center Music Hall.
Tony Awards connection: Nominated for Actor in a Play for his performance as a man turned into a cockroach in a stage adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis.
To see what Ballet Arkansas is currently producing, attend Momentum this weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The Ballet Arkansas company will be performing on the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s stage.
Little Rock Culture Vulture 