Tag Archives: Ron Robinson Theater

Tonight at CALS Ron Robinson Theater: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN is a “Movie Meant for the Big Screen”

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Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl PosterAs part of its “Movies Meant for the Big Screen” series, tonight (March 12) the CALS Ron Robinson Theater will be showing the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. 

Inspired by the amusement park ride at several Disney properties this movie stars Johnny Depp (channeling his best Keith Richards), Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Geoffrey Rush. Also on hand are Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook and Zoe Saldana.

Blacksmith Will Turner (Bloom) teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow (Depp) to save his love, the governor’s daughter (Knightley), from Jack’s former pirate allies, who have returned from the dead.

The film is directed by Gore Verbinski. It was nominated for five Oscars and spawned three sequels to date.

Admission is $5. The screening starts at 7pm.

Best-selling author Greg Iles will sign copies of newest book CEMETERY ROAD today at CALS Ron Robinson Theater at noon

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The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) will host a book signing featuring bestselling author Greg Iles on Thursday, March 7, noon at Ron Robinson Theater, Library Square, 100 Rock Street. Iles will sign copies of his new novel, Cemetery Road, and a limited number of backlist books with purchase of Cemetery Road.

WordsWorth Books will have books available for purchase on site. The event is free and open to the public.

Cemetery Road follows protagonist Marshall McEwan who left his hometown at age eighteen and vowed never to return. The trauma that drove him away ultimately spurred him to become one of the most successful journalists in Washington D.C. But just as the political chaos in the nation’s capital lifts him to new heights, Marshall is forced to return home in spite of his boyhood vow.

Greg Iles spent his youth in Natchez, Mississippi. His first novel, Spandau Phoenix, was the first of fifteen New York Times bestsellers, and his Natchez Burning trilogy continues the story of Penn Cage, protagonist of The Quiet Game, Turning Angel, and #1 New York Times bestseller The Devil’s Punchbowl. Iles’s novels have been made into films and published in more than thirty-five countries. He is a member of the lit-rock group “The Rock Bottom Remainders,” lives in Natchez, Mississippi, with his wife, and has three children.

Cemetery Road will be available for purchase starting March 5. For more information, call the 918-3098 or email bmooy@cals.org.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS tonight at CALS Ron Robinson Theater

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Crazy Rich Asians PosterAs part of their “Date Night Tuesdays” series, the CALS Ron Robinson Theater is showing the romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians.

Based on Kevin Kwan’s novel of the same name, the story follows Rachel Chu, an American-born Chinese economics professor, who travels to her boyfriend Nick’s hometown of Singapore for his best friend’s wedding.

Before long, his secret is out: Nick is from a family that is impossibly wealthy, he’s perhaps the most eligible bachelor in Asia, and every single woman in his ultra-rarefied social class is incredibly jealous of Rachel and wants to bring her down.

The movie, directed by Jon M. Chu, stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Harry Shum Jr., Ken Jeong, Sonoya Mizuno and Chris Pang.

The film starts at 7:00 pm.  Admission is $5.  Concessions are available for purchase.

The Legacy of legendary radio station KOKY explored tonight at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater

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a license plate reading KOKY Little Rock

Arkansas Sounds tonight (February 22) honors the legacy of KOKY, Arkansas’ first radio station devoted to all-black programming aimed toward an African American audience, with photos, audio clips, and a panel discussion featuring KOKY on-air personalities such as Sonta Jean “The KOKY Queen,” Mark “Chillin’” Dylan, and Billy St. James, with moderator Broadway Joe Booker.

The program will start at 7pm at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater. There is no admission charge.

The original KOKY, at 1440 AM, was a longtime heritage urban station in Little Rock from its launch in 1956. In 1979, it changed its call letters to KITA and switched its format to gospel.  The current radio station with the KOKY call letters has cited the original station as its inspiration.

SELMA on CALS Ron Robinson Theatre screen tonight as part of “Movies of a Movement” series

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Selma PosterTonight (February 21) at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater, there is the chance to view SELMA, the 2014 movie about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.. The screening starts at 6:30.  Admission is $5.00

This movie is a part of the CALS Movies of a Movement: the Civil Rights & Social Change Collection.

The unforgettable true story chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement.

Direced by Ava DuVernay, it stars David Oyelowo as Dr. King and Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King. Others in the cast include Tom Wilkinson, Giovanni Ribisi, Andre Holland, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Colman Domingo, Common, Lorraine Toussaint, Dylan Baker, Niecy Nash, Tim Roth, and Stephen Root.  John Lavelle plays former Arkansas Gazette reporter Roy Reed who covered Selma for The New York Times.

THE PRINCESS BRIDE on the CALS Ron Robinson Theater screen tonight

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Image result for the princess brideAs part of their “Date Night Tuesdays” series, the CALS Ron Robinson Theater is showing the romantic action thriller comedy The Princess Bride. The fact that this film spans so many genres successfully is a reason for its endearing and enduring success.

Directed by Rob Reiner, this film tells William Goldman’s story of love and adventure.  A kindly grandfather sits down with his ill grandson and reads him a story. The story is one that has been passed down from father to son for generations.

As the grandfather reads the story, the action comes alive. The story is a classic tale of love and adventure as the beautiful Buttercup, engaged to the odious Prince Humperdinck, is kidnapped and held against her will in order to start a war, It is up to Westley (her childhood beau, now returned as the Dread Pirate Roberts) to save her. On the way he meets a thief and his hired helpers, an accomplished swordsman and a huge, super strong giant, both of whom become Westley’s companions in his quest.

Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Andre the Giant, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Peter Cook, Peter Falk, and Fred Savage make up the main cast.  Surprisingly, the film’s only Oscar nomination was for “Best Song.”

The film starts at 7:00 pm.  Admission is $5.  Concessions are available for purchase.

Bromance and Besties on a double bill at CALS Ron Robinson Theater tonight

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a double feature of two classic friendship movies, picked by our followers on Facebook and Instagram: Wayne’s World (1992, PG-13) and Clueless (1995, PG-13). Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Wayne’s World begins at 7:00 p.m., and Clueless begins at 9:00 p.m.

Beer, wine, and concessions will be available.

Originally a skit on Saturday Night Live during the late ’80s and early ’90s, Wayne’s World is about two teenage dudes who host a public access TV show, which is mainly about rock, babes and people who live in the area.

Clueless, director Amy Heckerling’s fresh adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma follows the misadventures of meddlesome Beverly Hills high schooler Cher, who gets more than she bargained for when she gives a fashion-challenged student a makeover.