Tag Archives: James Franco

OZ is GREAT AND POWERFUL at tonight’s Movies in the Park

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MITP062415 OzGreatThanks to tonight’s sponsor, Mitchell Williams law firm, filmgoers in Little Rock can journey over the rainbow to meet Oz the Great and Powerful.

Little Rock’s own Movies in the Park, brought to you by the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Little Rock, continues its 11th annual season tonight, Wednesday, June 24 at the First Security Amphitheatre.

Movies are shown every Wednesday during the season and begin at sundown.

In Sam Raimi’s 2013 fantasy, a small-time magician is swept away to an enchanted land and is forced into a power struggle between three witches. James Franco stars in the title role with Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams portraying the three witches. Others in the cast include Zach Braff, Bill Cobbs, Joey King and Tony Cox.

Families, picnics and pets are invited to the park to enjoy movies under the stars, no glass containers please. A parent or adult guardian must accompany all children and youth under the age of 18 and an ID is required. The amphitheater will open an hour before film showings and movies will start at sundown each week. For more information please visit http://moviesintheparklr.net.

Tony Awards Week – Japhy Weideman

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Weideman

Weideman

Last month former Arkansas Rep resident lighting designer Japhy Weideman was recognized with an Obie Award for his continuous outstanding lighting design Off Broadway.  While he was at the Rep, he lit several shows including The Grapes of Wrath, All My Sons and God’s Man in Texas.

Sunday, Weideman is nominated for the Tony for Lighting Design of a Play for Airline Highway. He is also nominated for the Tony for Lighting Design of a Musical for The Visit.  In an even rarer feat, both shows opened the same night.  He is one of a handful of people to ever have two shows open on the same night.

Weideman was nominated in 2013 for Lighting Design of a Play for The Nance which starred Nathan Lane.  Last season he was nominated for his design of Of Mice and Men which starred James Franco, Chris O’Dowd, Leighton Meester and Jim Norton.

Other Broadway credits include The Snow Geese and a Lincoln Center production of The Scottish Play which starred Ethan Hawke.  This season he also designed the lighting for a revival of The Heidi Chronicles which starred Elisabeth Moss, Jason Biggs and Bryce Pinkham.   One of the producers of that revival was Little Rock native Will Trice.  Weideman and Trice will reunite next season in a revival of A. R. Gurney’s comedy Sylvia which is to star Tony winner (and current nominee) Julie White and two-time Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford.

Picnic at Movies in the Park with EAT PRAY LOVE

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The 2010 film Eat Pray Love MitP10 EatPrayLoveis tonight’s film at Movies in the Park.

Directed by Ryan Murphy of “Glee” fame, it stars Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem.  Others in the cast include Billy Crudup, Viola Davis, James Franco, Mike O’Malley, Welker White, and Michael Cumpsty.  Arkansan Ashlie Atkinson is also featured.

Now in its 10th season, Movies in the Park is a free outdoor film series at the First Security Amphitheater in Riverfront Park.  The move starts at dark (around 8:30).

Movies in the Park has grown to a season of eight films per year, on average, reaching audiences of up to 4,000 people. It’s a staple event in Central Arkansas. Communities from across the state, and the country, have reached out for guidance as they have tried to implement similar programs in the own communities.

Since 2008, the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau has been managing Movies in the Park.

 

 

 

ROCKing the TONYS – Japhy Weideman

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Rock the TonysJaphy Weideman

Japhy

Photo courtesy of Shevett Studios

Little Rock connection: Designed the lighting for several shows at Arkansas Repertory Theatre including The Grapes of Wrath, All My Sons and God’s Man in Texas.

Tony Awards connection: Received a 2013 nomination for his lighting design of The Nance.  This season he has been represented on Broadway with The Snow Geese, Macbeth and Of Mice and Men. The latter play, starring James Franco, Chris O’Dowd, Leighton Meester and Jim Norton, opens on Broadway tonight.