Give the Gift of Live Entertainment at Walton Arts Center for Valentine's Day

This Valentine’s Day, surprise your loved ones with an unforgettable experience at Walton Arts Center. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly show, exciting live music, a classic theater performance, a hilarious comedy show or cocktail class, we have the perfect gift for your sweetheart. 

For Families and Kids: 

It’s hard not to smile when Sonia De Los Santos shares some of her favorite things through song. Her songs are inspired by various Latin American rhythms like huapango, cumbia, salsa and festejo, as well as North American folk traditions from the U.S. Her new live family-friendly show, Sonia de Los Santos: Música, is coming to Walton Arts Center on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7 pm. Tickets are $10! 

For Live Music Lovers: 

Iconic singer and pianist Billy Stritch and acclaimed vocalist and songwriter Gabrielle Stravelli combine their considerable talents for an evening of great music celebrating the legendary Mel Tormé and Ella Fitzgerald. The show includes beloved favorites from the Great American Songbook, including “The Man I Love,” “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” “Cheek to Cheek” and swinging jazz standards such as “Too Close for Comfort” and “Oh, Lady Be Good!” Stritch and Stravelli perform Mel & Ella Swing!  on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 pm. 

The Burney Sisters, comprised of sisters Emma and Bella, create music with a maturity and emotional intelligence that belies their age. They write keen and knowing songs while arranging for multiple instruments and structuring unique and resonant harmonies. The result - personal and penetrating music that both connects with and captivates their listener. Experience the talent of these singer-songwriters on Friday, March 7 at 7:30 pm. 

Few musicians embody the spontaneous energy of jazz like Matt Wilson. The New York-based drummer combines buoyant zeal, idiosyncratic style, infectious humor, joyous swing and an indomitable spirit of surprise. Together, with his universally recognized personal warmth, these qualities have made Wilson one of the most in-demand players and educators on the modern jazz scene. Any jazz fan in your life will love Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble Quintet on Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 pm. 

For the Comedy Fanatic: 

Tacarra Williams, also known as The Beautiful Beast, is a comedian and host of the new CW show "Totally Funny Kids." As the third oldest of eight siblings, her comedy revolves around family humor – voicing what people think but are too afraid to express. Williams champions women's empowerment in her routines. Grab your tickets now for a hilarious date night on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 pm.   

Ian Fidance is an offbeat yet upbeat New York City comic, actor and writer. A force on stage, his act is insanely positive and positively insane. Equal parts thoughtful, explicit and silly, he performs nightly at the iconic Comedy Cellar in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village, and now he’s coming to The Comedy Zone at Walton Arts Center on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 pm. 

For Classic Theater Goers: 

Don’t miss New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players: The Mikado, a new and critically acclaimed production featuring all of your favorite characters: Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo, Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner with his “little list” of potential victims, the fearsome Katisha, the hilariously ridiculous Pooh-Bah and the politely sadistic Mikado himself. A brief new prologue frames the classic work for today’s audiences. Enjoy this classic theater performance on Sunday, March 9 at 4 pm. Tickets are $10! 

Don’t forget the ultimate date night for any theater lover – tickets to see a Broadway show. Whether you give a Broadway classic like Funny Girl, March 18-23 or a new production, like Back to the Future: The Musical, April 8-13 or MJ, May 20-25 - your valentine will love it.

For Those Who Love Experiences: 

Looking to shake things up? Cheers to a fun time! Walton Arts Center’s cocktail classes Feb. 21-23 and March 20-22 are a perfect experiential gift. Purchase a cocktail class for $39 and enjoy light appetizers from Fayetteville High School's Brightwater culinary students while learning to mix two specialty cocktails crafted by our in-house team of local mixologists. You'll leave with recipes, great memories and new friends! 

Have tickets to a show that night? Add-on a cocktail class before your show and you'll be in your seat before the theater lights dim. No show tickets? Come anyway for a fun, hands-on experience. Must be 21 or older to participate. 

Purchase tickets at waltonartscenter.org, by calling 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am until 5 pm or in-person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am until 2 pm.

Walton Arts Center Tickets are the Trendiest Gift of the Season!

Gift the joy of a live performance this holiday season with tickets to shows at Walton Arts Center. There is guaranteed to be a show for everyone on your holiday gift list, from live music and hilarious, cabaret-style comedy shows to your favorite Broadway performances and even something for the kids too! We have created an easy holiday gift guide to make giving easy this year! 

For the live music lover: 

For 50 years, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet has been making some of the most potent and popular Cajun music on the planet. Their distinctive sound derives from the distilled spirits of New Orleans jazz, blues rock, folk, swamp pop, Zydeco, country and bluegrass. The first Cajun band to win a Grammy®, critics unanimously agree that it is “bon temps, every time they play,” (New York Times). BeauSoleil will bring audiences to their feet on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 pm. Tickets are only $10! 

For the thrill seeker: 

Brace yourself for the scare of a lifetime on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 8 pm, as the world of Insidious jumps off the screen and into your theater seat with INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR – an immersive live horror experience that brings your darkest nightmares to life right before your eyes. When a paranormal demonstration goes horribly wrong, dark forces are unleashed, and the horror becomes all too real. But what is real? What’s just part of the show? And who—or what—might be sitting next to you? The house is full. The stage is set. The Red Door is about to open. Will you make it through? Tickets are $40 - $95.  

For the jazz connoisseur:  

Vocalist René Marie has cemented her reputation as a singer, composer, arranger, theatrical performer and teacher. She borrows various folk, R&B, classical and country elements to create a captivating style. Her body of work is more than just music. It’s an exploration and affirmation of the bright and dark corners of the human experience. Don’t miss Marie’s heartfelt tunes on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $35 - $55.  

Something the kids will love: 

Set to the sound of the n’goni, balafon, djembe, naffar, derbouka and dhol instruments, this dynamic concert invites kids and their families to discover Africa, the Middle East and India through rhythm, song and dance. From African rap and desert dance to Sufi rhythm and Bollywood dance, award-winning artist and percussionist Kattam takes you on an entertaining and educational journey on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 4 pm. Tickets are only $10! 

For the jokester:  

Helen Hong is a beloved comedian and actor who is bringing the laughs to Walton Arts Center on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 pm.  Her sharp wit and pulse on current events have regularly landed her on CNN, The Young Turks and “The Stephanie Miller Show.” She’s performed standup comedy on “The Arsenio Hall Show,” “Last Call with Carson Daly,” “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen,” Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and for troops in the middle east and international audiences all over the world. Tickets are $25 - $35.  

For the Broadway fanatic:  

Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations is the electrifying, smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Ain't Too Proud tells the thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal, as the group's personal and political conflicts threatened to tear them apart during a decade of civil unrest in America. Ain’t Too Proud is bringing signature dance moves and silky-smooth harmonies to the local stage Jan. 22 – 23 with three performances. Tickets are $45 - $94.  

For the nightlife enthusiast: 

Cheers to a fun time! Purchase a cocktail class for $39 and enjoy light appetizers from Fayetteville High School's Brightwater culinary students while you learn how to mix two specialty cocktails crafted by our in-house team of local mixologists. You'll leave with recipes, great memories and new friends! 

Have tickets to a show that night? Add-on a cocktail class before your show and you'll be in your seat before the theater lights dim. No show tickets? Come anyway for a fun, hands-on experience. Cocktail classes are available in February, March and April.  

Need more options? Look at our calendar to find a show and a ticket price that is just right for everyone on your gift list.

Gift certificates are also available, totally customizable and valid for shows at both Walton Arts Center and the Walmart AMP. Tickets and gift certificates can be purchased by visiting waltonartscenter.org, by calling 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am until 5 pm or in-person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am until 2 pm. 

Michael Palascak Brings Relatable Brand of Comedy to Walton Arts Center

Known for his “great likability,” Michael Palascak is bringing a hilarious show to Walton Arts Center IN April. Read more about how he started in comedy, his inspiration and his advice to other comedians! 

Palascak grew up in Wabash, Indiana, began his career in Chicago and now resides in Los Angeles.

And yes, you’ve probably seen him on either “The Late Late Show with James Corden” or “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” or even on “A Little Late with Lilly Singh,” “Letterman,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “Conan” or his Comedy Central special. He was a top-five finalist on “Last Comic Standing” where one judge claimed, “my first impression of Michael was a great likability.  This is a guy that could star in a sitcom.”   

Palascak gets a lot of his inspiration from fellow comic Mitch Hedberg, who inspired Palascak to explore the world of stand-up comedy. Palascak explained that he felt a connection with Hedburg because he was more introverted, which was similar to Palascak’s personality. 

Being a middle child, Palascak, of course, felt the need and desire to entertain and get attention. He realized by second grade that stand-up comedy was what he wanted to pursue although he was never the “funny” kid in class. His parents were naturally funny as well, Palascak attributes his sense of humor to them. He got used to hearing and telling jokes as a young kid in his household. 

Palascak’s likability allows him to relate to his audiences in a real way which sets up the huge laughs he gets from his sharp, personal material.  Palascak explained that when he’s on stage, he tries to talk to the audience like it’s a normal, everyday conversation. He encourages other comedians to give themselves freedom to be who they are. 

​“In a lot of ways, he represents the ideal antidote to the sort of unbridled cynicism that pervades much of contemporary stand-up,” said Drew Hunt of The Chicago Reader. “Michael’s optimism continues in the new National Lampoon series: The Bright Side where he takes a positive stance on a negative topic that can be funny and ridiculous. Palascak shared that eventually his YouTube series may become a book in the long run. 

Consistently writing and performing, Palasack recently released both a new album, The Internet Live through 800 Pound Gorilla, and a new stand-up special on the Dry Bar app, 1984.   

Try out The Comedy Zone for a fun date night or night out with friends when Michael Palascak takes the stage on Thursday, April 4 at 7:30 pm. Tickets start at just $21, so grab yours now!