Tag Archives: Into the Woods

UALR to Honor Sotomoras at FINALE

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UALR will honor Eileen and Dr. Ricardo Sotomora at the seventh annual Finale at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 28 at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the UALR Fine Arts Building.

Reservations to the black-tie optional event are $150 with $110 being deductible.

Finale celebrates the arts in Central Arkansas and is the premier fundraising event for UALR’s fine arts programs. The dinner gala features performances and artwork by students.

Dr. Sotomora is the only pediatric cardiologist in private practice in Arkansas. He is the exclusive provider of cardiology services for children at Baptist Health Medical Center and St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center, in Little Rock, and Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock. His cardiology practice is managed by Eileen.

The Sotomoras were instrumental in founding the American Heart Association’s annual “Heart Ball,” in Arkansas, a debutante ball that not only raises proceeds for the organization but strives to teach girls about volunteerism and health. In 2006, Dr. Sotomora received the “Worthen Cornett Award,” the highest honor given to a person for work on behalf of the American Heart Association in Central Arkansas.

In 2008, they chaired the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Opus XXIV. Currently, Dr. Sotomora is a trustee of the Arkansas Arts Center Board and a member of the development committee. Both of the Sotomoras are members of the Director’s Circle.  The Sotomoras are supporters of the Venezuelan “El Sistemia,” a government-funded program that currently assists nearly one million Venezuelan children in learning classical music.

“Eileen and Ricardo are amazing leaders in the Central Arkansas community,” said Deborah Baldwin, dean of the UALR College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “We are honored that they would assist us in raising awareness about how arts programs enrich the communities in which we live.”

Finale 2012’s performance will feature UALR music students performing scenes from the Broadway musical, “Into the Woods,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. Craig O’Neill of Today’s THV will serve as master of ceremonies. This is his fourth year to host the event.

In the live auction, Finale will feature a designer jewelry piece created by Sissy’s Log Cabin.

Presenting sponsors of the 2012 event are Glazer’s Distributors of Arkansas and Sissy’s Log Cabin. Premier sponsors include Pediatrix, Terri and Chuck Erwin, and Chip and Cindy Murphy. Sustaining sponsors are Simmons First National Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield, East-Harding, Inc., Entergy, US Bank, and HBO/Time Warner.

Arts organizations from around the region lend their support to Finale each year. This year’s participating arts partners are Accademia dell’Arte, Arkansas Arts Center, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
Reservations to Finale are $150 each. Call Rivka Kuperman at (501) 765-9636 or at rekuperman@ualr.edu for more information.

Go INTO THE WOODS this weekend at UALR

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UALR Opera Theater will journey Into the Woods on April 20 and 22 as it presents the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine award winning musical. (This is of special interest to the Culture Vulture who shares a common ancestor with the Brothers Grimm, on whose stories this musical is based.)

Encounter familiar characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (of the beanstalk), Cinderella and more as they strive to get their wishes. Follow the Baker and his wife as they search for magical ingredients to undo the spell the Witch has placed which prevents them from having a child. Watch as their dreams come true and reality sets it. Composer Sondheim and book writer James Lapine weave our favorite fables together in this cautionary grown-up fairy-tale about sacrifice, consequence and community.

Directed by 2009 UALR graduate Matthew K. Tatus and conducted by associate professor Bevan Keating, performances will take place at 7:30 pm on April 20 and 3pm on April 22 at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall.  UALR student admission is free, children between the ages of 5-17 are $5, and general admission is $15. For tickets, call 501-569-8993 or order online at UALR Music Department Box Office.

The cast includes Christine Woods of Little Rock as Milky White/Snow White • David Lucian Angelo of Little Rock as Jack • Derrick Herman of Monticello as the baker • Ekaterina Kotcherguina of Little Rock as Cinderella • Erica Finnie of Searcy as Cinderella’s stepmother

J.J. Albrecht of Monticello as the steward • Jacqueline Forrester of Little Rock as the witch • Jessica Williams of Lantana, Texas, as Rapunzel • Katherine Ray of Jasper as Granny • Kevin Ezell of White Hall as Rapunzel’s prince • La’Leata May Westbrook of Little Rock as Lucinda.

Larry Burton of Little Rock will narrate and play the part of The Mysterious Man • LaSheena V. Gordon  of Little Rock as Florinda • Melissa Wilcox of Little Rock as Milky White’s Imposter/Sleeping Beauty • Memory Rose Apata of Little Rock as Jack’s mother • Michael Lowe of Little Rock as Cinderella’s prince • Rachel Manasco of Little Rock as Little Red Riding Hood • Regina Gallucci of Benton as Cinderella’s mother/the giant • Satia Spencer of DeWitt as the baker’s wife • Steven Armstrong of North Little Rock as Cinderella’s father