Tag Archives: Joel Gordon

31 Days of Arkansas Rep: PETER PAN in 1994

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Peter Pan flew into the window of the Darling’s nursery in December 1994 on the Arkansas Rep stage.  With a cast of thirty-six, Peter Pan was one of the Rep’s larger productions.

Directed by Brad Mooy, the production featured Steve Wilkerson in the title role. It gained some national press attention, because the role is usually played by women, so Wilkerson’s casting was a bit of a novelty.

Others in the cast were Ed Romanoff, Angie Ohren, Dustin Alford, Matthew Block, Peggy Billo, Tanya Duggar, Gary Taggart, Angie Foresman, and Linda Sue Sanders. The Lost Boys were played by Adam Napper, Bernie Baskin, James Knight, Brian Jones, Kale Ludwig, and Kyle Ludwig.

The pirates were played by Mark Hansen, Joel Gordon, Derek Reid, Shannon E. Farmer, Tony D. Owens Jr., DeJon Mayes, Kenneth Elins, Matt Patton, Eric Harrison and Tom Kagy. Taking on the roles of the indians were Suzan Hart, Rusty Miller, Mikel Brown, Ryan Martine, Patrick McNally, Christina Boatwright, Leslie Goodwin, Tori Petrus and Dennis Glasscock.

Glasscock was the production’s choreographer. Flying for Pan and others was created by Foy, the same firm which was responsible for Mary Martin’s flying in the role on Broadway in 1954. Hans Stiritz was the musical director, Mike Nichols was set designer, and Don Bolinger provided costume design.

The production was so successful, it was nearly sold out before it opened.  Two years later, the Rep reprised it.  There were some different design elements as well as a largely different cast. Wilkerson returned as did Ohren, Dugger, Gordon, Knight, Napper, Alford,  Petrus, and Kagy.

Museum of Discovery Tinkerfest Today

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tinkerfestThe second annual Tinkerfest is coming to the Museum of Discovery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 15, offering the public a chance to build and create without limits.  The event is put on by the Arkansas Discovery Network, a six-museum partnership in the state for which the Museum of Discovery serves as the hub.

More than 40 tinkering stations will be set up both inside and outside of the museum.  Visitors will have the opportunity to create with 3D printers, disassemble a vehicle, meet robot makers, participate in water balloon catapulting duels, build and launch rockets, learn to crochet, create a cardboard city and much more.

According to Joel Gordon, the museum’s Visitor Experience Director, Tinkerfest grew out of the Maker Movement, which has recently soared in popularity globally.

 “In Arkansas, we are ahead of the trend when it comes to the movement,” Gordon says. “.  We have always been makers because we rely on self-reliance.” Gordon says Tinkerfest is one of a handful of maker faires in the nation.

The event will promote the museum’s STEAM initiative mission (science, technology, engineering, art and math.)  Gordon says it also will teach people the importance of creating through trial and error.

 “Tinkering teaches us that it is OK to fail because when you do fail, you learn why and then work that much harder to succeed.”

Tinkerfest is sponsored by the Argenta Arts Foundation, Regional Recycling and Waste District, Arkansas School for Math, Sciences and the Arts, and Custom XM.

There is no extra cost to attend Tinkerfest. Regular museum admission will apply: $10 for adults, $8 for children, free for members.  To view the full list of activities or to learn more about Tinkerfest, visit www.museumofdiscovery.org.

Museum of Discovery presents TINKERFEST on August 4

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The Museum of Discovery will host the first TinkerFest Saturday, August 4, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, an Arkansas Discovery Network event. As a member of the six-museum statewide consortium, the museum will showcase local makers and inventors and allow the public to create unique things made from ordinary objects.

Tinkering is free-form experimentation with use of screwdrivers, motors, wires, glue, and more. People can spend hours creating and building. Tinkering allows them to slow down and immerse themselves in a workshop environment.

TinkerFest will feature inventors and artisans from central Arkansas. Nearly 30 work stations will be set up both in- and outside the museum. Visitors will have the opportunity to construct elegant and delicious geometric shapes with gum balls and bamboo skewers; make one-of-a-kind jewelry from junk; take apart appliances and computers to actually see how they were designed and how they operated; repair recycled bicycles; make fun accessories, purses and wallets with duct tape; see a three-dimensional printer in action; disassemble a vehicle, and much more.

“Some of the best inventions have started as tinkering projects. It’s what has helped shape our nation,” said Joel Gordon, visitor experience director for the museum. A tinkerer at heart, Gordon manages the museum’s Tinkering Studio conducting workshops and encouraging imaginative creation. “For example, when the United States battled the Soviet Union for space exploration supremacy during the great ‘space race,’ people literally went into their garages and warehouses and started tinkering and creating. Innovation was the end result. People invented thermal gear, freeze-dried food, microwave ovens, hair dryers and the list goes on. It’s how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) got its beginning.”

“Another big tinkering explosion was the integrated circuit board. That one invention has led to the creation of computers, MP3 players and other advancements. And, who were these tinkerers? Future engineers, scientists, mathematicians and teachers. We need another space race, and people are starting to realize the time is now,” he stressed.

One can build just about anything from materials lying around the house, from flying objects to intricate circuit boards. Even movie-making can be considered tinkering. It is the use of imagination, ingenuity and hands-on creativity. The increased popularity of do-it-yourself shows, online tutorials, videos and books has spurred a renewed interest in tinkering.

TinkerFest sponsors are Kroger, FTN Associates, Ltd., Regional Recycling and Waste Reduction District, and Spectra Energy.

Museum partners from around the country, including The Exploratorium in San Francisco, San Diego’s Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History will participate in Saturday’s TinkerFest event. All three have strong working relationships with the Museum of Discovery and the Arkansas Discovery Network.

The Donald W. Reynolds Science Center at the Museum of Discovery’s mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.

 

About Arkansas Discovery Network

The Arkansas Discovery Network, an innovative network of museums across the state, has received more than $10 million in funding from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation since 2006. The network strives to make hands-on, interactive museum experiences more accessible to the state’s schoolchildren and their families, especially those in rural areas. Partner museums include the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Mid America Science Museum in Hot Springs, Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff, Texarkana Museums System in Texarkana, Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover and Arkansas State University Museum in Jonesboro.

Museum of Discovery: Science After Dark on Wednesday evening (3/28)

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The Museum of Discovery’s new monthly program series designed for persons ages 21 and older, titled “Science After Dark,” will occur Wednesday, March 28, 2012 6-8 pm. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about science in a unique, fun setting.

This month’s theme is polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as vinyl. People will be entertained when learning what vinyl is, how it is made and what its uses are.

“Many people will remember when vinyl was used for music records. Of course, some may not! They were around long before cds and dvds. We’ve partnered with the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) staff, and they will be bringing some of their stored records. We plan to have a record sale. It will be fun to browse through some fun classics,” said Joel Gordon, the Museum’s visitor experience manager.

Since re-opening in January, the new Museum of Discovery has developed programming for multiple audiences. Its mission is to “ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment” – at any age.

“The Museum of Discovery has many educational offerings. We’re here to serve as a science resource for the whole state. For years, we’ve been a favorite with families and educators. Today, this new facility is a quality attraction for all ages,” said Nan Selz, Executive Director of the Museum.

“We began hosting Science After Dark in January as a way to engage adults by presenting the world of science in an entertaining way,” she added.

Science After Dark is held the fourth Wednesday of each month. Museum educators pick a different topic, and develop an event around it. In addition to this month’s old-school record sale, activities will include tinkering with records and a record-spinning disc jockey. The event is for ages 21 and older, admission is $10 per person and a cash bar will be available. Museum members will be admitted for free.

For more information on Science After Dark or the Museum of Discovery, visit www.museumofdiscovery.org, follow us on www.facebook.com/museumofdiscovery and www.twitter.com/arkmod, or call (501) 396-7050.