Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Rudolph to land onstage; Bard Ball set for Jan. 16
A North American touring company is marking Rudolph’s 50 years on television with a stage version of the TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, 7 p.m. Monday, 1 and 7 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m., 2 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, at Fayetteville’s Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St. Tickets are $ 20-$ 50 plus applicable fees. Call (479) 443-5600 or visit waltonartscenter.org.
Bard Ball
Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre will hold its annual Bard Ball fundraiser at 6:30 p. m. Jan. 16, onstage and backstage in Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway. Master of ceremonies will be Robert Anderson, who has played Dogberry in Much Ado
About Nothing and Polonius in Hamlet for AST. There will be silent and live auctions, a live community painting with artist Steve Griffith, hors d’oeuvres with complimentary wine and beer and music by Rexy’s Midnight Riders. Tickets are $75, $600 for a table of 10. Call (501) 269-9428, email mrmarotte@arkshakes.com or visit arkshakes.com. The theater’s June 10-July 9 schedule will include performances in repertory of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the musical West Side Story, plus an hour- long all- ages touring adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Mormon in Memphis
Tickets — $44-$154 — are on sale for the return visit to Memphis of The Book of Mormon (book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone), 7:30 p.m. March 15-17, 8 p.m. March 18, 2 and 8 p.m. March 19 and 1 and 6:30 p.m. March 20 at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main St., Memphis. Call (901) 525-3000 or ( 901) 743-2787 or visit orpheum-memphis.com.
Argenta series
The Argenta Arts Acoustic Music Series, presented by the Argenta Arts Foundation in partnership with Finger Food Productions, will bring in 11 guitarists for its 2016 season at The Joint, 301 Main St., North Little Rock. All concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21: Richard Smith Feb. 18: Badi Assad March 17: Trevor Gordon Hall April 21: Pierre Bensusan May 19: John Knowles June 16: Stephen Bennett July 21: Peter Finger Aug. 18: Sam Pacetti Sept. 15: Antoine Dufour Oct. 20: Ken Bonfield Nov. 17: Alex de Grassi Season tickets are $ 180. Call (800) 293-5949 or visit the websites, argentaartsacousticmusic. com or metrotix.com.
Arts award winners
The Arkansas Arts Council has announced the winners of the 2016 Governor’s Arts Awards, recognizing individuals and corporations for outstanding contributions to the arts in Arkansas:
Lifetime Achievement: Suzanne Vining Kunkel, Little Rock
Arts Community Development: Dean Kumpuris, Little Rock
Arts in Education: The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff
Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts: Deltic Timber Corp., El Dorado
Folklife: Sonny Burgess and the Legendary Pacers, Newport
Individual Artist: R.B. McGrath, Jacksonville
Patron: Dr. Thomas A. Bruce, Little Rock
Judges Recognition: Theresa Timmons-Shamberger, Maumelle
The recipients were nominated by the public and selected by an independent panel of arts professionals from around the state. Each recipient will receive an original piece by artist Kelly Edwards of North Little Rock at a ceremony in the spring (date and location to be announced).
Preservation essays
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is inviting Arkansas students in grades 5-8 to enter artwork or essays in the 25th annual “Preserve Our Past” art and essay invitational, based on a historic Arkansas property at least 50 years old, focusing on how those places reflect Arkansas history or why it is important to preserve the state’s historic sites.
For more information or an entry form, write AHPP Art and Essay Invitational, AHPP, 1500 Tower Building, 323 Center St., Little Rock, Ark. 72201; call (501) 324-9786; email shelle@arkansasheritage.org (include your name and mailing address on any phone or email messages); or download the form and read the details at tinyurl.com/preserve25. All entries must be postmarked by April 1.
First-, second- and thirdplace winners in each age category — grades 5-6 and 7-8 — will receive a trophy; winners in the art division will have their artwork framed and those awarded honorable mention will receive ribbons. All students who enter will receive a certificate. Winning entries will be on display at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock throughout May, which is Arkansas Heritage Month.