ART OF WINE
The Party of the Summer!
The annual wine and food festival features hundreds of wines – many of which are not available in our area yet, food from dozens of area restaurants and live entertainment. Art of Wine includes two can’t-miss events for your summer calendar.
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Walton Arts Center volunteers are a dedicated group of individuals who commit their time, talents and resources to support our mission of bringing world-class performances to Northwest Arkansas. These are the people who welcome you, serve you, seat you and are on hand to provide assistance and answer questions at every show. They also work every education show, unloading and loading kids from buses and helping them have a safe, fun and memorable arts experience.
Our diverse group of volunteers represents an interesting cross-section of the Northwest Arkansas community. Some are locals and others are transplants who now call our region home. They hail from a variety of backgrounds and bring with them diverse experience, yet they all share a love for the arts and their community.
Their gift to Walton Arts Center is priceless. Combined, this group of volunteers gave nearly 23,000 hours of service in 2017. Our philosophy towards our corps of volunteers is simple: the show could not go on without them!
Front of House
Assist our operations team during Walton Arts Center, SoNA, Trike and TheatreSquared performances, as well as education shows and special events doing everything from taking tickets and ushering to selling concessions and checking coats.
Studio & Education Outreach
Work with Walton Arts Center and Crystal Bridges' Arts With Education (AWE) Institute, as well as with classes and camps on the WAC campus.
Special Events
Assist in special tasks during annual events, like Artosphere: Arkansas' Arts + Nature Festival, Art of Wine Festival and Masquerade Ball.
Administrative
Assist with a variety of office and clerical duties.
Resident Companies
Work during performances and special events for TheatreSquared, Trike and SoNA and help Community Creative Center with classes and camps throughout the year.
Every year Walton Arts Center honors our volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Night. During this special evening, awards are given based upon years of service and number of hours, plus The Volunteer of the Year Award. In addition, we recognize volunteers throughout the year with a complimentary ticket program that allows volunteers receive tickets to shows. Volunteers are often highlighted in Bravo, the monthly newsletter for volunteers. We are always looking for additional ways to recognize our volunteers for their dedication and faithful service.
An American in Paris
February 6-11, 2018
An American In Paris is the new Tony Award®-winning musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war. Acclaimed director/choreographer and 2015 Tony Award®-winner Christopher Wheeldon brings the magic and romance of Paris into perfect harmony with unforgettable songs from George and Ira Gershwin in the show that earned more awards than any other musical in the 2015 season!
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I've always loved the string quartet configuration, ever since hearing my step father play cello in quartets at my house when I was a kid. That meant that banjo and string quartet together was a bucket list item for me. When I finally had the opportunity to write for string quartet, I asked around and many roads pointed to this particular quartet. They are fantastic collaborators and made my ideas sound better than they were!
I started when I was 15, but got very excited about it when I was 4 or 5 after hearing Earl Scruggs playing the "Beverly Hillbillies" theme song. When I first began, I followed Earl - then got interested in everyone else who was bringing new ideas to the banjo. In particular, there is a wonderful player named Tony Trischka who became my inspiration and later my teacher.
I play a bit of guitar and mandolin. But banjo is my thing.
There have been so many... from opening for the Grateful Dead and collaborating with Dave Mathews Band, to concerts with Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis and so on. But, the first show with my group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones will always be a very special memory.
Boundless. Bouncy. Beguiled. Bliss. Bodacious.
Lots of people would like it if they heard it, I suspect. But it's harder and harder to find avenues to bring in new people. Fortunately, I'm pretty well established after all this time and there are lots of people who will give my new projects a chance. I think folks like me perform a meaningful role, kind of like outliers, who live near the edge of things and can bring things back to the community from outside of their experience.
I hope the sense of joy and curiosity inspires their own experience in life. And, I hope the music can find a place in their lives where it is meaningful.
Find something that you love to do that no one else is doing. Grow the part of you that is most unique.
Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Johan Sebastian Bach, Béla Bartok, Earl Scruggs and so forth.
I love the new Randy Newman record, Dark Matter. The Wood Brothers’ The Muse, David Bowie’s Blackstar, John Scofield’s Still Warm, Pat Metheny’s Offramp, Earl Scruggs’ Foggy Mountain Banjo, Oumou Sangare’s Best of and so many more.
The Triplets of Belleville Cine-Concert
Benoit Charest, Composer-Conductor
The beloved animated film, "The Triplets of Belleville" is screened as composer Benoit Charest leads Le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville in the live performance of his original score for the film, including his academy award nominated best song. In the spirit of the film, Le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville transports audiences to the exciting streets of 1920s Paris and Le Jazz Hot.
Kidnapped by mysterious, square-shouldered henchmen, a Tour de France cyclist named Champion is spirited across the ocean to the teeming metropolis of Belleville. His near-sighted grandmother and faithful dog follow his trail and are taken in by a trio of eccentric jazz-era divas. The motley sleuths follow the clues to an under- ground speakeasy, where they entertain the crowd. The chase is on!
Well ‘’Le Terrible Orchestre’’ (In French Terrible means terrible too, but it is a figure of speech meaning the contrary: fantastic, so to say.) was put together purposely for this ciné-concert.
To get out of my studio and away from being in front of a computer all day! And I thought since the film is musical, it would be a good idea to create the ciné-concert.
Ah! That’s a professional secret… Sorry… Seriously: for the vacuum it took me a while but I discovered that I could control a pitch made by the flesh on my fingers when I put my hand over the nozzle… Roughly and octave and a half. For the bike and newspaper, I basically recorded samples and boosted the gain then played around with them.
Even with a pair of 2’s, stay in the game… Advice from a poker player.
Someone with good eyesight? I guess it’s someone stubborn enough to pursue their own ideas… then I guess it’s up to the people to acknowledge them as new and innovative.
Pleasure out of seeing a beautiful animation and hearing real musicians!
We just finished a month tour of France. So for the moment, I’m writing and practicing. Film projects are on the way, but none that I could officially announce.
My musical tastes and cravings are quite eclectic. This past month I have listened to:
A night of laughs covering topics from relationships to dating, parenting and family life, along with an interactive Q&A session with Dena and Pat. Bring your sweetheart, bring your friends and your sense of humor for an evening of laughter ever after.
A comedian, corporate host and former Miss New Jersey, Dena has been featured in The New York Times, co-hosted with Anderson Cooper, and performed at The Laugh Factory, Gotham Comedy Club, Catch a Rising Star and The Comedy Stop at the Tropicana.
She also served as the host and on-air correspondent for the preliminaries of the Miss America Pageant on ABC. Dena is a mother of three who recently starred Off-Broadway in her one-woman show, “One Funny Mother.” Her recent viral video “Chardonnay Go," viewed over 23 million times, is now a hilarious party game called “Chardonnay Go, The Board Game for Wine Lovers, Moms and Other Shameless People.”
When she is not working on TV, she is writing and producing content for her web series and making inappropriate videos about parenting that are sure to put her kids in therapy.
Showtime has declared Pat Hazell one of the five funniest people in America. His 30 years of experience as a writer, producer and director have made him a go-to guy for new American theater.
Pat is one of the original writers for NBC’s "Seinfeld," a veteran of "The Tonight Show," critically acclaimed playwright and contributing commentator to National Public Radio. He is recognized for his genuinely funny Americana humor and his salute to nostalgia.
As a playwright, Pat’s first endeavor, "Bunk Bed Brothers," was commissioned by Columbia Pictures, then gained the attention of the TV industry and later filmed as the sitcom, "American Pie," for NBC.
Hazell’s signature work, "The Wonder Bread Years" - a grand salute to the baby-boomer generation - aired on PBS where they referred to him as “America’s foremost pop culture anthropologist.” Currently, the live theatrical tour of "The Wonder Bread Years "is enjoying success across the U.S.
At Walton Arts Center
An American In Paris is the new Tony Award®-winning musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war. Acclaimed director/choreographer and 2015 Tony Award®-winner Christopher Wheeldon brings the magic and romance of Paris into perfect harmony with unforgettable songs from George and Ira Gershwin in the show that earned more awards than any other musical in the 2015 season!
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Come hear some of the most memorable songs in theater history, including “Cabaret,” “Willkommen” and “Maybe This Time.” Leave your troubles outside – life is beautiful at Cabaret – John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff's Tony®-winning musical about following your heart while the world loses its way.
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Cabaret
January 19-21, 2018
Welcome to the infamous Kit Kat Klub, where the Emcee, Sally Bowles and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd – and to leave their troubles outside. But as life in pre-WWII Germany grows more and more uncertain, will the decadent allure of Berlin nightlife be enough to get them through their dangerous times?
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Finding Neverland
December 19-23
The winner of Broadway.com’s Audience Choice Award for Best Musical, this breathtaking smash “captures the kid-at-heart,” says TIME Magazine. Vogue cheers, “It’s a must-see you’ll remember for years to come!” Directed by visionary Tony®-winner Diane Paulus and based on the critically-acclaimed Academy Award® winning film, Finding Neverland tells the incredible story behind one of the world’s most beloved characters: Peter Pan.
Playwright J.M. Barrie struggles to find inspiration until he meets four young brothers and their beautiful widowed mother. Spellbound by the boys’ enchanting make-believe adventures, he sets out to write a play that will astound London theatergoers. With a little bit of pixie dust and a lot of faith, Barrie takes this monumental leap, leaving his old world behind for Neverland, where nothing is impossible and the wonder of childhood lasts forever. The magic of Barrie’s classic tale springs spectacularly to life in this heartwarming theatrical event. Finding Neverland is “far and away the best musical of the year!” (NPR).
VOCES8
10x10 Arts Series
The British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is now established as one of the world’s most versatile and best-loved singing groups. Touring extensively throughout Europe, North America and Asia, the ensemble performs a repertory from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary commissions as well as popular arrangements. VOCES8 regularly commissions and collaborates with world- renowned contemporary composers including Ola Gjeilo, Roxanna Panufnik, Thomas Hewitt Jones, Alexander Levine and Ben Parry.
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Finding Neverland
December 19-23, 2017
A stellar collection of today’s superstars covering pop, rock, R&B and everything in between have come together to pay tribute to Broadway’s newest musical, FINDING NEVERLAND. But these aren’t just re-recordings of the show’s amazing music - these songs have been RE-IMAGINED by the artists who are singing them. You just have to BELIEVE!
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Cas Public
Symphonie Dramatique
Cas Public stakes its reputation on the exceptional quality of their works, which can be seen as a compendium of observations on the age-old enigma of the human condition. Its fiery choreographic scores − with intense physicality and an innate sense of theater − stand markedly apart from established codes and cast a sharp yet sensitive light on our human foibles.
Founded in 1989 by choreographer Hélène Blackburn, the company favors the renewal of contemporary approaches to dance. Cas Public continually strives to revitalize their approach, focusing on the depth of experiences by incorporating effective themes and treating them with vigor and a touch of humor.
Q&A with
Hélène Blackburn
Cas Public, Founder & Choreographer
I was a very active child and to help channel my energy, my parents chose to enroll me in dance lessons from a very early age. Dance has always been part of my life. Looking back, I'm not sure that the initial idea of channeling my energy was a success. I remember how I would annoy my mother by constantly practicing my dance steps in the middle of our little kitchen. My parents were very patient and accepted my career choice even though the idea of becoming a choreographer might’ve seemed wacky at the time, especially when one comes from a small town in northern Quebec.
I began my career in the ‘80s at a time of great effervescence in the arts in Quebec. Dancing was no exception. It was very inspiring. It was around the same time as Cirque du Soleil, La La Human Steps, Ex-Machina (Robert Lepage) and other large companies were created. It seemed that everything was possible – a time when artistic circles began opening up to the world. Very early in my career, I had the opportunity to present my work in Europe and Canada even before Cas Public was founded. Now, I have the chance to present my work in many countries, meet different audiences and carry out creative projects all over the world. This openness to the world colors my work and leads me to more humanistic concerns!
Dance is an art that requires many artists. It is a privilege to be on stage − we must be remarkable and out of the ordinary. We work a lot. Each day of rehearsal or show always begins with a ballet class or a specific training according to our needs. Currently, we have added martial arts training for the company's female dancers. Coming from ballet training, I needed them to feel strong and develop an attack power similar to that of a fighter. It is a very physically demanding undertaking, but it has interesting results. In rehearsals, we work 5-6 hours a day as needed. If we are performing, we do the technical work then we rehearse dance sections of the show. Often we put in more hours than the rehearsal days and dance the show twice on the same day; that way, we have the stamina to come on stage and give the best of ourselves.
All of my creations from the last 10 years are based on strong musical works from a classical repertoire that is rewritten and remixed for our projects. Behind these sources of inspiration, there are often references to classical ballet works, as is the case for Symphonie Dramatique – inspired by Romeo and Juliet. However before approaching a work, I try to find a thread of inspiration that resonates with contemporary life. Symphonie Dramatique came from my need to talk about love and the sometimes-tragic consequences that love entails. I created this piece four years ago after a famous trial in Canada, based on what has been described as a "crime of honor." My daughter was about the same age as the protagonists when I began the work, which made me realize how complex life and love is for these young people living in communities with a cultural diversity. When I look at the rise of racist stigma here and elsewhere, it is clear that the young people of today live in a terribly complex world… It is infinitely sad to think that love can lead to death.
I am not presumptuous enough to say that the style of Cas Public is unique, but I believe the extreme demand of our dance – its virtuosity, its sincerity and the courage of our dancers- who make it a special experience. I also believe that we have developed a great refinement at the theatrical level that makes our work stand out.
Beautiful question. Several artists inspire me with the past and the present: Jean-Sébastien Bach for classical music, Gleen Gould for his completely reinvented interpretation of Bach's music, the whole period of the Ballets Russes is very inspiring, notably, the work of Nijinsky as a dancer but also as a choreographer, more recently, choreographers like Wilson Forsythe, Jill Killian, and Quebec choreographers such as Édouard Lock and Jean-Pierre Perreault.
I was fortunate to collaborate with several great Québécois choreographers. Including Jean-Pierre Perrault for whom I danced, Paul-André Fortier who directed my masters degree dissertation and Edouard Lock – whose company I led for a few years. I learned from each of them. Paul-André taught me that a career is built in the long-term and that we must continue to reinvent ourselves. Jean-Pierre Perreault taught me about meticulousness – an obsession for the smallest detail within large spaces. Edouard Lock taught me how to execute a dance using my extreme exigency as an artist. Everyone, in his or her own way, taught me that everything starts with work. Jean-Pierre often said, "dancers are made to rehearse." This is certainly true for the dancers of Cas Public but also for me when I consider my obsessive behavior when I develop a new project.
As for what I say to the dancers, I like to say that they must be mythical on stage- offering all they have to give to the public. Each performance is unique and valuable, even if we have the chance to dance 100 performances a year, at the end of a life we spend a very short amount of time on stage – missing a single chance is not an option.
I hope that the audience will be moved by the energy of our dance and that this energy will turn into emotion. I believe the primary strength of dance is to make us feel things deeply, physically and emotionally. The experience of this direct and inexpressible connection between the body and heart seem to be uniquely particular to dance.
Alexandre Desilets “Windigo,” Charlotte Cardin “Big Boy” and Nelly “Dear Criminals”
Prokofiev: Cinderella, op. 97 (transcriptions for piano solo); Bach’s Partita No. 1-3 prelude and fughetta in G (played by Glenn Gould); “My tribute to Yehudi Menuhin” and “Spheres” by Daniel Hope
Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell, Lana del Rey “Honeymoon,” The Libertines Anthems for Doomed Youth and LP “Into the Wild”
Cas Public's Symphonie Dramatique is a mordant look at the mythical couple of Romeo & Juliet. Their adaptation draws from Shakespeare’s romantic masterpiece to evoke notions of seduction, desire, unchained passion and death. In this contemporary version, the company’s dancers present a vibrant homage to the original tale tinged with impetuousness and contagious energy. Conflict and inner turmoil are magnificently rendered by the dance and the music, achieving a unique resonance.
The 10x10 Arts Series brings groundbreaking artists and awe-inspiring performances to Northwest Arkansas…. at a price that is right for the whole community!
All 10x10 performances include pre-show Creative Conversations, a post-show party with artists and the popular Post-It® responses!
Irving Berlin's White Christmas
November 7-12, 2017
Telling the story of a song-and-dance team putting on a show in a magical Vermont inn, Irving Berlin's White Christmas is an old-fashioned, heartwarming story. World War II buddies make up the dazzling showbiz team and fall for a performing sister-act in a patriotic theme that is hard not to like.
Read MoreEmergence brings the depth and range of Ballet Arkansas to the forefront. Highlighted within the program is the regional hit “Under the Lights” by Chris Stuart, set to the music of Johnny Cash. Also featured is the timeless “Valse Fantaisie” by George Balanchine, a world premiere by 2017 Winter “Visions” winner Mariana Oliveira, and other critically acclaimed classical and contemporary repertoire that provides for a captivating evening of dance.
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The King and I
October 3-8, 2017
Set in 1860’s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King - in an imperialistic world - brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.
A Beloved Story
The Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic tale has received rave reviews across the country. The Chicago Tribune called the show, "a magnificent, genuinely revelatory production," and the Star Tribune proclaimed, “'King and I' reminds us why musicals exist.”
This production of The King and I bridges the gap of time, combining tradition and innovation in a stunning performance that is properly honored and purposely refreshed for the 21st century.
“Magnificent. A sweepingly romantic production. How good to be getting to know the show all over again.”
The production boasts a score that features beloved classics such as “Getting To Know You,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Shall We Dance,” “I Have Dreamed” and “Something Wonderful.” Exceptionally grand and opulently staged, this musical revival stays true to the elegance of classic Broadway while tackling troupes that feel modern.
Award-winning Cast & Crew
The King & I, directed by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher, won four 2015 Tony Awards® including Best Revival of a Musical. Hailed as "too beautiful to miss" (New York Magazine), the production played 538 performances on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater being going on tour!
Reawakening the role, Laura Michelle Kelly plays a "smart, scrappy" Anna O'Hara (The New York Times). Kelly is an Olivier Award-winning actress for her role as Mary Poppins in London and has a long list of Broadway and West End credits including the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast and Les Miserables. Every note Kelly sings as Ms. O'Hara takes on a wistful tune that infuses something wonderful into the musical.
Paired perfectly, Jose Llana plays the King of Siam. The chemistry of the two artists adds a playful element to the seasoned, award-winning cast. “Jose was so superb on Broadway in The King and I that I begged him to join us on the tour and l feel we are incredibly lucky to have him. He brings such joy and virility and strength to the King. And he is one of Broadway's great talents," says Director Bartlett Sher.
“I doubt I’ll see a better production in my lifetime”
Too beautiful to miss!
Eight shows! Part of the 2017-18 Procter & Gamble Broadway Series.
Tuesday, October 3 at 7pm GET TICKETS!
Wednesday, October 4 at 7pm GET TICKETS!
Thursday, October 5 at 1:30pm GET TICKETS!
Thursday, October 5 at 7pm GET TICKETS!
Friday, October 6 at 8pm GET TICKETS!
Saturday, October 7 at 2pm GET TICKETS!
Saturday, October 7 at 8pm GET TICKETS!
Sunday, October 8 at 2pm GET TICKETS!
"A landmark production and a shot of purest rapture. I never wanted it to end." — The Hollywood Reporter
Walton Arts Center CEO Peter Lane recently returned from a trip to Hong Kong where he attended the Vocal Asia Festival. Now in its seventh year, the Vocal Asia Festival and its founder Clare Chen are the inspiration behind Walton Art Center’s annual acapella competition.
Read MoreWalton Arts Center initiatives look to enrich the Northwest Arkansas community by offering programs that engage students through performance. Foundational to Walton Arts Center is the Arts with Education Institute. Arts with Education Institute began prior to the 1992 opening of Walton Arts Center's doors and has been a driving direction for community impact.
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10x10 Arts Series
Groundbreaking artists, inspiring performances and a price that makes it accessible to all. The 10x10 Art Series connects our community to the world of performing arts in numerous categories. Dance, vocalists, musicians and full orchestras will take the Walton Arts Center stage with a goal to stir the creative souls of the audience and awaken a love of performing arts in all.
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The Arts & Economic Prosperity® Study is conducted nationally every five years. AEP5, the fifth study to be completed, documents the economic contributions of the nonprofit arts industry across the country as well as in 341 study regions, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia during Fiscal Year 2015. Northwest Arkansas (defined for this study as Benton and Washington counties) was the only Arkansas study region included in the report.
“Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 quantifies the economic benefits of arts and culture organizations within a community,” said Randy Cohen, vice president of Research and Policy for the American for the Arts. “This study changes the conversation about the arts from that of a ‘charity’ to one about an ‘industry’ that provides both cultural and economic benefits to the community.” Cohen detailed the findings today during a news conference at the Rogers World Trade Center.
Walton Arts Center staff compiled data for the study from 23 eligible nonprofit arts and cultural organizations located in Northwest Arkansas. Each partner provided detailed budget information for FY15 including labor, payments to local and nonlocal artists, operations, administration, programming, facilities and capital expenditures/asset acquisition. Patrons also were surveyed about spending around their attendance to arts events. Project economists customized input-output models for each study region to ensure reliable and actionable localized results.
Key AEP5 Findings for NWA:
Key AEP5 Findings Nationally:
“With current threats of cutting funding for nonprofit organizations, this study is timely,” Cohen said. “The $27.5 billion generated in revenue by the arts industry nationally back to the government shows that municipal, state and federal arts support is not a one-way street. Arts organizations provide jobs, support the economy and the government while they also educate, entertain and increase our quality of lives.”
The full report, a map of the 341 study regions and an economic impact summary for each can be found at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/EconomicImpact.
