Tag Archives: Arkansas Repertory Theatre

Little Rock theatre alums making National theatre news

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Some national theatre news with Little Rock connections:

ark repOn Monday, April 15, Douglas Carter Beane’s new play The Nance opened on Broadway.  Japhy Weideman, who was a lighting designer for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre a few seasons back, designed the lighting for this Lincoln Center Theatre production at the Lyceum Theatre.  Earlier this season, he designed lighting for a Broadway revival of Cyrano de Bergerac.  One of the cast members of The Nance was Mylinda Hull, who starred in the Rep’s production of Damn Yankees in 2000.

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Little Rock Hall High graduate David Auburn won a Pulitzer Prize in 2001 for his play Proof.  His latest play, Lost Lake, was just selected for the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s 2013 National Playwrights Conference in Waterford, CT. Wendy Goldberg, the artistic director of the Playwright’s Conference, will direct Auburn’s play on July 26 and 27.   Auburn was invited to submit a new play for this year’s Playwright’s Conference.   While he was growing up in Little Rock, he participated in the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre.

LR Film Fest Rooftop Screening of BLOODY MAMA

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lrff_mp_hdr_logoThe Little Rock Film Festival is hosting its first ever Rooftop Screening featuring ‘Bloody Mama’- a classic gangster film featuring Robert De Niro and Robert Walden. It will be tonight at 7pm atop the River Market Tower.

What better way to spend an evening under the stars than watching a movie with a star in the audience? Actor Robert Walden will join the audience on the rooftop for this special screening and will discuss his role in the film.

The event is free, but purchase of an 2013 LRFF pass is required to attend this screening.

Directed by Roger Corman, Bloody Mama was filmed in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas and tells the story of  machine gun totin’ Ma Barker, who lead her family gang (her sons) on a crime spree in the Depression era.Robert Walden plays Fred Barker in the film, who has just been released from prison, and Robert De Niro plays Lloyd Barker, a spaced-out drug addict who sniffs glue if nothing better is around.

During his long an successful career as a Hollywood actor, three time Emmy nominated actor Robert Walden has acted alongside many of the Hollywood greats including George C. Scott, Anthony Hopkins and Dusti Hoffman and has worked with director such as Woody Allen,, Martin Scorcese and Alan Pakula.

Walden currently stars in the new TV land sitcom, Happily Divorcedwith Fran Drescher and Rita Moreno. He will also star in the Arkansas Repertory Theater’s version of Death of a Salesman as Willy Loman, running April 24th to May 12th www.therep.org

 

Reel Classics with the Rep: DEATH OF A SALESMAN

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717deathLater this month, Robert Walden opens in Death of a Salesman at Arkansas Rep.  In conjunction with that, the Reel Classics with the Rep series returns for this month’s installment.

The monthly series showcases films which share connections with productions currently on stage at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

Tonight’s film is the 1985 version of Death of a Salesman.  This version was filmed for television and is adapted from the 1984 Tony winning revival.  It stars Dustin Hoffman as Willy Loman.  Kate Reid, John Malkovich and Stephen Lang play other members of the Loman family. Other standouts in the cast include Charles Durning and Louis Zorich.

The program begins tonight at 6pm with a discussion of the Rep’s production led by members of the Rep’s staff.  Following that, at 6:30, the film will be screened.  It takes place at Laman Library.

The Rep’s production, directed by Robert Hupp, begins performances on April 24 and runs through May 12.  Opening night is April 26.

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.

Actor Robert Walden to speak at Clinton School today

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WaldenAs part of the ongoing efforts of the Clinton School of Public Service to bring innovative and interesting programming, today at noon the school is hosting a forum on the power of film to effect change.

Robert Walden is an Emmy-nominated actor best known for his portrayal of the reporter Joe Rossi on the television series Lou Grant. As artistic director of the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute Film Forum, Walden has assembled award-winning Hollywood professionals — directors, writers, teachers, coaches and actors — for three days of workshops, classes, panels and networking, March 21-24, at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain.

Arkansas filmmaker Tim Jackson will interview Walden at the Clinton School about his work with more than 40 Oscar nominees and winners and the unique power of film and television to effect change.

The program will take place at Sturgis Hall on the Clinton School campus at 12 noon.

Later this year, Walden will be starring in the Arkansas Rep’s production of Death of a Salesman.

Reel Classics with the Rep: Treasure Island

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In conjunction with the current production Treasure Island, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s monthly film series tonight will feature a film version of Treasure Island.  Reel Classics with the Rep starts at 6:00 pm.

Prior to the film, members of The Rep’s creative team will discuss the World Premiere of Treasure Island, The Musical by Brett Smock, Carla Vitale and Corinne Aquilina at Laman Library in North Little Rock.

Treasure Island runs through March 31.

This new musical offers a fresh take on the famous story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Set to a thrilling musical score and full of action, adventure and excitement, treasure hungry pirates and mutinous crew battle to discover the coveted Isle of Treasure.

Other special events in conjunction with Treasure Island include:

LITTLE ROCK FAMILY DAY
Saturday, March 23 | 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.
Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main Street, Little Rock
A fun day for families with activities in The Rep lobby, a preshow talk and a matinee performance of Treasure Island, A New Musical at 2:00 p.m. Sponsored by Little Rock Family.

PARTY LIKE A PIRATE sponsored by Colonial Wines & Spirits

Thursday, March 28 | 6 p.m. -7 p.m. |

Sample light bites, specialty rums and rum drinks in Foster’s prepared especially for you by local mixologist Joel DiPippa! Then grab your VIP seating in the First Mezzanine for Treasure Island, A New Musical at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Colonial Wines & Spirits.

 

TREASURE ISLAND at Clinton School

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Treasure-IslandThe 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, March 7 at 12 noon at Sturgis Hall in Clinton Presidential Park.  The Arkansas Rep is presenting a world premiere musical Treasure Island, which will be the focus of today’s program.

The panel discussions are led by Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp and include insights from guest directors, actors and Bob himself on bringing compelling stories to The Rep stage.  Join Rep Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp, Treasure Island director and co-author Brett Smock and the creative team as they discuss the brand new musical production Treasure Island and how it came to be staged at The Rep. What is involved in creating an entirely new take on such a famous story?.  Call the Clinton School at (501) 683-5239 for reservations.

UACSThis new musical offers a fresh take on the famous story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Set to a thrilling musical score and full of action, adventure and excitement, treasure hungry pirates and mutinous crew battle to discover the coveted Isle of Treasure.

Treasure Island is directed, choreographed and co-written by Brett Smock.  Carla Vitale co-wrote the book with a musical score by Corinne Aquilina.  The production opens tonight and  runs through March 31. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening performances are at 7 p.m., Friday, Saturday evening performances are at 8 p.m. Sunday Matinees performances are at 2 p.m.