Children crossing West Street to attend "Me and My Shadow"
Walton Arts Center officially opened the 2015-2016 Hard Hat Season last week with the children’s show Me and My Shadow presented by Patch Theatre from Australia. In addition to a public performance on Friday, Patch Theatre also performed for more than 1,000 Northwest Arkansas students throughout the week during their educational shows! Every year, Walton Arts Center serves more than 45,000 students and teachers through numerous education initiatives. Even with construction in full force, we will continue to present award winning education programs to the children in our community throughout the season.
Me and My Shadow was followed by a packed house for the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas’ Masterworks I on Saturday. This week, the first 2015-16 Procter & Gamble Broadway Series show, Pippin, will present eight performances Tuesday thru Sunday!
Our Pippin artists are reaping the full benefits of our new backstage spaces. In the past, Starr Theater was turned into a large storage closet for nearly one-third of our season to accommodate large touring productions. This kept Walton Arts Center from hosting performances in the space for much of the year.
WAC’s Starr Theater & Backstage Hallway during "The Wizard of Oz" in April 2014
With the recent completion of the first phase of our expansion), Pippin artists have the luxury of utilizing the new wig and wardrobe spaces that had previously been housed in Starr Theater! These new spaces will allow for Walton Arts Center to be a fully functioning two-theater facility when the Starr Theater renovation and expansion is complete in April 2016.
WAC’s new Wardrobe Room during "Pippin"
Even with construction in full force during our Hard Hat Season, we still hope to see you at Walton Arts Center! With the help of everyone in our community, we are building a better place to live. When you attend a performance, please stop by our gallery to learn more about the expansion and learn how you can Play a Part!As a special gift, anyone who makes a gift of $50 or more to Investing in Our Future: The Expansion of Walton Arts Center campaign will receive a commemorative lapel pin.
Play a Part Lapel Pin
We have many giving levels available, including the opportunity to purchase bricks in our new Bill and LeAnn Underwood Family plaza and the option to put your name on a chair in Baum Walker Hall or Starr Theater! Please email playapart@waltonartscenter.org for more information. We look forward to seeing you during our 24th season of programming at WAC!