Tag Archives: Argenta Community Theatre

LRFF 2013 – Day 1

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Slide-523x350The 2013 Little Rock Film Festival kicks off tonight and runs through Sunday, May 19.

Tonight’s opening movie, Short Term 12, plays twice. It starts at 6:30pm at the Argenta Community Theatre and 7:30pm at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.  Following each showing, members of the cast and crew will be present.

Short Term 12 is told through the eyes of Grace (Brie Larson), a twenty-something supervisor at a foster-care facility for at-risk teenagers. Passionate and tough, Grace is a formidable caretaker of the kids in her charge – and in love with her long-term boyfriend and co-worker, Mason (Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr). But Grace’s own difficult past – and the surprising future that suddenly presents itself – throw her into unforeseen confusion, made all the sharper with the arrival of a new intake at the facility: a gifted but troubled teenage girl with whom Grace has a charged connection. While the subject matter is complex, this lovingly realized film finds truth – and humor – in unexpected places.

The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. It is in contention for the Golden Rock Narrative Award, which will be presented the final evening.

Following the film, at 9:30pm, the Kick Off party will commence in the lobby of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.  In addition to an opportunity to mingle with filmmakers and other film patrons, the evening features music by Little Rock’s own world-wide acclaimed Bonnie Montgomery.  Food is provided by The Fold Botanas Bar. This event is open to Gold, Silver, Sponsor and Filmmaker Badges, as well as Ticket holders for Short Term 12.

 

8 THE PLAY tonight at Argenta Community Theatre

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8 The Play“8” The Play is not a prequel to the musical Nine.  It is a documentary play written by Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black which chronicles the federal Proposition 8 court case in California.

Since premiering in a one-night only all-star reading on Broadway in 2011, “8” The Play has been performed all over the country to wide acclaim.  It speaks to issues which are not just about California or about gay rights.  It discusses human rights and equality.  The play is written in the style of  verbatim theatre using transcripts from the federal trial, journalist records and media interviews from the plaintiffs, defendancts and proponents involved.

This reading of “8” The Play features community leaders, professional and local actors and is directed by Arkansas Repertory Theatre Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp.

There will be a pre-show reception at 6:30pm. The performance starts at 7pm.  Following the performance, there will be a post-show discussion led by Just Communities of Arkansas.

Tickets are $20 and are available at the Arkansas Rep box office in person, by phone (501-378-0405) or online at www.therep.org.

The performance will be at the Argenta Community Theatre on Main Street in North Little Rock.  The presenting sponsor is the Tenenbaum Foundation.  Judy Tenanbaum and Vincent Insalaco are producers of this production of “8” The Play.

Start Celebrating with CABARET

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Argenta Community Theater's CabaretThe Argenta Community Theatre is inaugurating producing its own productions with the Tony winning Cabaret.  Unfortunately, if you don’t already have a ticket, you won’t be able to “come to the Cabaret” because this production has been sold out for over a week.

Cabaret, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1967, is a musical adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories” and John van Druten’s I Am a Camera.  It features a book by Joe Masteroff and score by John Kander and Fred Ebb.

Producer Vince Insalaco and director Robert Hupp have assembled a cast and creative team to transform the Argenta Community Theatre into the Kit Kat Klub.  The choreographers are Marisa Kirby and Christen Burke Pitts with Kurt Kennedy serving as musical director.

Kirby leads the cast as tragic heroine Sally Bowles. Cipher-like scribe Cliff Bradshaw is played by Michael Klucher.  Brandon Higdem is the leering MC of the Kit Kat Klub.  Also starring are Tricia Spione and Alan Rackley as a mismatched pair of older Germans struggling with their relationship in the midst of the onset of the Third Reich.

Others in the cast are David Weatherly, Jessica Smith, Carl Carter, Matt Morley, Kris Waltermire, Dylan Dugger, Sydney Ippolito, Emily Karnes, Bailey Lamb, RaeLeigh Narisi, Rachel Powell and Brittany “Sparkles” Rorie.

Insalaco hopes to produce a musical and a play at the Argenta Community Theatre each year.

2012 Little Rock Film Fest Day 1

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20120528-164836.jpgThe 2013 Little Rock Film Festival kicks off tonight with the screening of the documentary, America’s Parking Lot.

Here is the LRFF description:

Pull up a front row seat with Tiger and Cy, two die-hard fans of ‘America’s Team’, as they scramble to preserve their place in AMERICA’S PARKING LOT. When the Dallas Cowboys move to the first stadium built for a billion dollars, the shifting politics and economics of major league sports threaten to dissolve friendships and traditions, and force Tiger and Cy to make the costly choice to follow their beloved team

The film will be shown at 7pm at the Argenta Community Theatre. At 6pm, Gold Pass holders can attend a special reception on site. Following the film at 9pm, a tailgate party will take place outside. Montgomery Trucking will provide musical entertainment while guests eat food provided by Whole Hog and Ben E. Keith.

Arts & Humanities Month: Arkansas Repertory Theatre presents The Second City

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The Arkansas Repertory Theatre brings The Second City troupe back to the Rock for another rollicking visit.  To kick things off, The Rep’s popular “Brew-Ha-Ha” event is tonight at 6pm.  Tickets are $30 and include beer, pizza and the performance. The event is sponsored by Sync Weekly.

The Second City plays Wednesdays through Sundays from October 12 (tonite) through October 23 on stage at the Rep.  On Friday, October 14 and October 21, they’ll be joined on stage for a portion of the evening by Little Rock’s own Improv Little Rock. 

In conjunction with the Rep’s production by The Second City, 10Horse Johnson will appear at Argenta Community Theatre for four performances from October 20 – 22.  

Later this month, the Rep’s Young Artists take the stage with That ’80s Showfrom October 25 through November 5. This production will be on stage at Wildwood Park for the Arts. 

Favorite 1980s songs are pulled together in a lively revue by performers from The Rep’s Summer Musical Theatre Intensive or SMTI (pronounced Smitty). Nicole Capri is the conceiver and director of the production while Karen Q. Clark is musical director.

Arts & Humanities Month: Little Rock Film Festival’s Argenta Film Series – MARATHON BOY

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The Little Rock Film Festival has launched the Argenta Film Series in conjunction with the Argenta Arts Foundation and the Mitchell Williams Law Firm.  Tonight’s entry is Marathon Boy, which will be shown at the Argenta Community Theatre.

A TRIBECA Film Festival official section from HBO Documentary Films, Marathon Boy tells the story of a four-year old boy from the slums of India who is trained to become India’s greatest runner.  Along the way, the story becomes rife with greed and disillusionment. 

Director Gemma Atwal from London will be present for the screening and participate in a question and answer session following the screening. A reception will begin at 6:30 pm and the film will begin at 7:00 pm.

The film will air on HBO later this year. For more information on the movie, visit the official website: http://www.marathonboymovie.com/.

The Argenta Film Series is a new year-round film series, emphasizing in-depth discussions on the craft of filmmaking, and will showcase indoor and outdoor screenings of local, national and international films.

The Little Rock Film Festival is one of the premiere film advocacy organizations in the American South, promoting the film industry in the state of Arkansas and bringing filmmakers from around the world each June to its flagship event in Little Rock. Current LRFF year round programs include, the 48 hour film project, the Reel Civil Rights Film Festival, and the Argenta Film Series.

Later this month, the Little Rock Film Festival will show Drag Me to Hell on October 28.