Shakespeare's Romantic Comedy Takes the Stage with Aquila Theatre Company

Four Lovers. Two Fairies. One Donkey and a lot of mayhem ensue. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is William Shakespeare’s outlandish romantic comedy, brought to the stage by Aquila Theatre Company.

In A Midsummer Night's Dream, residents of Athens mix with fairies from a local forest, with comic results. In the city Theseus, Duke of Athens, is to marry Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. Bottom the weaver and his friends rehearse in the woods a play they hope to stage for the wedding celebrations.

Four young Athenians are in a romantic tangle. Lysander and Demetrius love Hermia; she loves Lysander and her friend Helena loves Demetrius. Hermia’s father, Egeus, commands his daughter to marry Demetrius, and Theseus supports the father’s right to do so.

All four young Athenians end up in the woods, where Robin Goodfellow, who serves the fairy king Oberon, puts flower juice on the eyes of Lysander and Demetrius, unintentionally causing both to love Helena. Oberon, who is quarreling with his wife, Titania, uses the flower juice on her eyes. She falls in love with Bottom, who now, thanks to Robin Goodfellow, wears a donkey's head.

As the lovers sleep, Robin Goodfellow restores Lysander's love for Hermia, so that now each young woman is matched with the man she loves. Oberon disenchants Titania and removes Bottom’s donkey’s head. The two young couples join the royal couple in getting married, and Bottom rejoins his friends to perform the play.

---

Q&A WITH Actors JACK KLAFF & ROBERT MADELEY

1.    What inspired this reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s classical work?

This production was inspired by the theme of female empowerment and how that has played out throughout the ages. All of the women within this power struggle are fighting against instruments of male power that are being forced upon them. These themes have never been more relevant in the current age with the MeToo and TimesUp movements attempting to highlight power imbalances in the modern world. -Robert

2.    Who and/or what ignited your passion for classical drama?

My family initially. My mother was taught Shakespeare and verse drama by a brilliant teacher who understood the traditions of classical plays going back via the 19th century and on through ancient times. One very special day my older brother was given a speech to learn for school. I was just a little boy listening to him as he practiced the rhetorical flourishes in that speech. My mother explained the text to him and helped him rehearse the speech. And I just found it tremendously exciting. Not exciting in an academic way. Exciting like rock music is exciting. -Jack

3.    Was it difficult to stay true to Shakespeare’s original piece while looking at the story through a modern lens?

No. One of the reasons why Shakespeare will always remain relevant is that he is the most human of all the great writers. Human beings are still, and will always be, motivated by the same things that Shakespeare wrote about. The date may have changed but human beings really haven't. Shakespeare writes so vividly about power, greed, love, corruption, jealousy and mortality. All of the things that really matter to people and that always will matter to people. -Robert

4.    Who were some of your favorite characters to bring to life from the original play and why?

Theseus. How Theseus exists in the history books and mythology is very mysterious. In the play he a fearsome warrior who conquered the Amazonians, but he is also given the language of a lover and a poet. Creating a character that is true to these things, while still being interesting to an audience, was a great challenge. -Robert

5.    Pick 5 words—that start with the letter ‘M’—that best describe tonight’s performance. 

Magical, Musical, Mesmerizing, Masterly and Madcap

6. How do you bring the mystical story to life on stage with the many overlapping scenes that take place in the play? 

Each member of the acting company along with the lighting designer and designer of the soundscape will work through the play moment to moment, line by line, interchange by interchange, passage by passage and scene by scene. Ours is a collaborative process. There really are no rules, nor is there clear process to begin with. We draw on experiences of past productions of other plays as well as productions of this play and in the long and laborious process we arrive at what it means to us. As a great Spanish poet once said, “There is no path, we make the path by walking.” -Jack

7. What is the overarching message in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and how does that connect to our modern world? 

A famous Nobel prize- winning physicist was once asked to explain his work. He said, ‘If I could explain my work briefly and simply, I’d never have won the Nobel Prize.”

Perhaps naming a message is necessary for some kinds of education. That’s not a question for me though - I prefer talking about inspiration.
A friend of mine, a writer, insists that no poem or play of his should ever be used for examination purposes at any institution. -Jack

8. What do you hope the audience takes away from the performance? 

I would beg our audiences to make of it what they will - to take what they wish, what it is their will to take from this production.

The play is a comedy.  It gets laughs. As far as Shakespeare concerned in a comedy, lovers are reconciled and couples get married. In his tragedies a lot of people die. The play is a celebration. A celebration of many things. It is a celebration of Summer and Midsummer. It is funny. It is a celebration of fun and of laughter. -Jack

9. What advice would you give to any aspiring performers in the audience? 

It is not enough just to WANT to become a professional. -Jack

10. What songs, artists or styles of music are you currently listening to? 

On this tour we have been on the road a great deal and will listen to quite a lot of songs from musicals.

We often sing or play music that relate to a place we are visiting. For instance, we played that song by Paul Simon in which he mentions Saginaw as he goes in Search of America. Lately, I’ve been enjoying a violin concerto by Sibelius and the chamber music of Schubert and Beethoven. -Jack

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Saturday, March 16

Just Ask Dixie... America's Favorite Tupperware Lady Answers Some of Our Favorite Questions

Dixie Longate is making her way around the country, selling Tupperware and sharing laughs with audiences from Vegas, to Texas to Jersey.

During her travels, she sat down and answered a few of our favorite questions with a flair that is uniquely Dixie. Don’t miss her stop at Walton Arts Center - 7 shows, 6 days and endless plastic dishware Make for the Best Night oUt!

---

What are five things you can't live without?

1) Jack Daniels would definitely top the list.  I tend to enjoy a nightcap.  Sometimes right when I wake up. It sets the tone for the day and makes things easier.

2) My best friend, Georgia Jean.  As much as she makes me want to tie her up and push her off a bridge sometimes, there is no one who makes me laugh more.

3) Weekly visits to my favorite honky tonk to ride the mechanical bull.  Nothing makes me happier than taking a few turns bucking up and down on that furry thing.

4) My Bedazzler. I bought one off the TV late at night a few years ago and I don't think there is anything in my trailer that don't have sparkles on it now.  

5) My porch swing.  Seems like there ain't nothing better in the whole world than finishing up the day sitting on the porch swing, staring out at the fireflies and listening to the crickets chirp.  If I squint just right, I can see all the way to Heaven.

What's your motto or advice to live by?

You are better than you give yourself credit for.  I think we all forget sometimes that within us, we all have something fantastic to offer the world.  We just let other people extinguish our flames sometimes.  There ain't no harm in patting yourself on the back every once in a while knowing that even in the smallest of ways, what each of us brings to the world is truly irreplaceable.

What would you do if you couldn't host Tupperware Parties?

Probably drink a lot more and practice this thing with my leg that I learned from Summers Eve down at the Pole Cat Lounge. She can lift her leg without even using her hands.  She gets paid a lot of money on Thursday nights to do that. And she's a genuinely nice lady. Oh, I also like to knit.

What's going to surprise people about Dixie's Tupperware Party?

First of all, it ain't just for ladies.  I get plenty of men coming to the show and laughing their butts off, which is always a fun thing.  They don't know what they have been missing by not going to Tupperware parties all these years.  Mostly though, I think people will be surprised by what an uplifting evening it ends up being.  When you leave the show, you have a little extra spring in your step and you feel like you can take on the world a bit more.

What's the last thing you do before you step out on stage and the party starts?

I check my hair to make sure that I look pretty and stick a piece of gum in my mouth.  I'm a gum chewer.  Always have been.  My momma told me that she thinks I have an oral fixation.  I'm not sure what that is, but if it tastes like Big Red gum, then I am happy to have it.

Dixie’s Tupperware Party

Feb. 19-24 | 7 shows!

Tickets & Show Info

The Story Behind A Bronx Tale

CHAZZ PALMINTERI TELLS THE TALE BEHIND THE TALE set IN 1960 IN THE BELMONT AVENUE SECTION OF THE BRONX: I was sitting on my front stoop on 187th Street. A car started backing into a parking space and another car tried to sneak in behind him. One man jumped out of a car with a baseball bat, and a fight broke out. Another man came over to protect his friend, pulled out a gun and shot the man with the bat.

I was maybe ten feet from them. The man stared at me and we were bonded for life. In the days following I got to know the man who pulled the trigger, and I became his friend. How was I to know that this incident would shape my life forever? This was the beginning of A Bronx Tale.

“THE AUDIENCE WHO COMES TO THIS SHOW JUST LOVES THE STORY AND THAT ERA, AND WANTS TO BE TAKEN ON A JOURNEY. OUR JOB IN A WAY IS TO BE INVISIBLE AND SUPPORT THE VISION.”

I grew up in a tough area of the Bronx and it gave me, young Calogero (my given name), the life lessons that would later prove very useful to my career. I originally wrote the script for the stage and performed it as a one-man show in Los Angeles and New York. One night Robert De Niro walked into the theater to see the show and as they say, the rest is history.

Eventually De Niro turned the production into the 1993 film adaptation, which was directed by — and starred — De Niro, with Palminteri playing Sonny. It was a role that arguably launched Palminteri’s career, and later landed him his Broadway debut in the 2007 production, directed by four-time Tony-winner Jerry Zaks. Alan Menken and Glenn Slater made the decision to draw the musical score from the musical colors of the early ‘60s Bronx streets, setting in motion everything that followed: the sets, costumes, lights, sound and, of course, our brilliant cast.

The story of A Bronx Tale still resonates all over the world. I think it is because it is a story about family. A Bronx Tale was never meant to be a gangster story. It is a family story about my father Lorenzo, the bus driver and my mother Rosina, and how they kept me on path to make the right choices in life.

- CHAZZ PALMINTERI

“THIS SHOW - EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT LEAVES THIS AUDIENCE IS CHANGED IN SOME WAY, WHETHER THEY REALIZE IT IN THE MOMENT OR NOT.”

Serving Up The Laughs at Dixie's Tupperware Party

Dixie Longate, America’s favorite Tupperware lady Keeps The laughs Fresh in her quick-witted, hyperactive Tupperware party. Get spunk with a good dollop of sweetness while learning the history of Tupperware, sampling some of the products, playing games, winning prizes and belly laughing the night away.

---

Tupperware didn’t come out of nowhere, it took a gal with the gussy gumption of Brownie Wise to make it a household name by making it a party. And that’s just what Kris Andersson, who plays Dixie Longate, so admires about Wise - a mid-century single mom who took a product off the store shelf and brought it into the living rooms of America by organizing Tupperware parties. When inventor/CEO Earl Tupper learned of her success, he appointed her V.P. of Tupperware Home Parties and made her a household name while she made him millions. When he thought she was getting too big for her britches, he gave her a year’s salary and kicked her to the curb. She died in 1992 in obscurity. But that wasn’t the end of the party.

The rise and fall of Brownie Wise is only the thematic backbone of Kris Andersson’s hilarious and always endearing one-woman show. With the help of audience members, Dixie launches into her 100-minute infomercial on the wonders of the ware.

Dixie knows that the most important part of a Tupperware party isn’t the Tupperware, it’s the party. In the end, it’s not "the fantastic plastic crap" that matters, it’s the people.

Comedy aside, all the products Dixie mentions in the show, plus all the items in the catalog, are actually for sale. Just fill out the form, drop it off to Dixie in the lobby after the show and in a few weeks, ding-dong…Tupperware delivery to your front door. Shopping AND theater….it just might be the heaven some of us have been looking for.

Theater is Full of Wonder in Air Play

Step into the enchanted world of Air Play, a show that’s perfect for the whole family even some of our youngest patrons (best for ages 5+). Balloons, umbrellas, fabrics and glitter fly above the stage sparking pure delight!

---

Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone are a husband and wife team that merge circus and street theater performance with sculptural artistry. They met at a circus in Afghanistan, were engaged while street performing in Scotland and married in China. In 2005, they co-founded Acrobuffos, an award-winning theater company specializing in non-verbal comedy performed in outdoor festivals, circuses, arenas and theaters. Since then, Seth and Christina have created five shows, competed at international circus festivals, performed together in 23 countries on six continents, juggled on Late Night with David Letterman, headlined at the Big Apple Circus and were featured in The New York Times. When not on tour, Christina and Seth live in Harlem, NYC. 

In Air Play, the two embark in a circus-style adventure as two siblings who journey through a land of air, transforming the ordinary into objects of uncommon beauty. Visual images are sewn from the sky and enchant the young and the young at hear with a poetic ode to childhood. Gasp, wonder and laugh until it hurts.

Here’s what the critics have to say about the wonder of Air Play:

“Air Play holds the whole audience in the palm of its outstretched hand. A winning combination of visually stunning sculptures and cheeky but heartfelt storytelling that keeps both adults and children enthralled.”
–British Theatre Guide, London, UK. 

“The curtains open and we see a man holding on to a huge piece of light fabric, dancing in the air, moved by a circle of fans. The wonder begins and I suddenly feel like a child again, receptive to every single magical moment in Air Play.” 
- A Younger Theatre  

“… you feel as if you've stepped into an enchanted world somewhere between childhood and what comes afterwards, where normal rules (gravity included) have been temporarily held at bay.”

-The Age

Air Play

Thursday, March 8 at 7 pm

Curate Your Perfect Valentine's (or Galentine's) Date

You’re sooo in love, but sometimes jobs, bills, kids and the stresses of life just get in the way especially during the season of togetherness. We get it. And we want to make things simple this Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s you and your S.O. or group of best gals, Walton Arts Center has the perfect selection of shows so you can curate your perfect night out in February!

---

Falsettos

Love tells a million stories in Falsettos. Set in the ‘80s through the early days of the AIDS crisis, the musical tells the story of a Marvin, his lover Whizzer, Marvin’s wife Trina and their extended family. Laughs are mixed in with gripping drama for an evening that pulls at the heart strings.

Dorrance Dance

Rap-a-tap-tap the night away to the electric moves of Dorrance Dance. Making music with their feet, this performance is cutting-edge, energizing and impeccable. Be amazed by Michelle Dorrance and her troupe of artists.

Cirque Éloize Saloon

Take your date night to new heights with this Canadian troupe of acrobats and musicians. Set to the timeless tunes of Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, swing open the Saloon doors and enter the wild, wild west. In an acrobatic comedy, the cast takes audiences through thrills and circus-style feats.

Dixie’s Tupperware Party

“We’re having a party - A Tupperware Party” with a member of the “#1 Tupperware Seller in the World” club - Dixie Longate. Educating her guests on the many alternatives used for the plastic products, Dixie will have the audience rolling with laughter, an uplifting message and a few giveaways throughout the night. Putting the PARTY in Tupperware Party, this will be a night out you do not want to miss.

Michael Andrew: Sinatra and the American Songbook

Michael Andrew’s performance really is “all-that-jazz” backed by a big band as he takes us through an evening of tunes from the American Songbook. Come hear the classics like Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cahn, the Gershwins and Sinatra. Known for his long-running engagement at The Rainbow Room in NYC, Michael Andrews can be the perfect soundtrack to your romantic night out.

A Bronx Tale

The kind of musical your S.O. will enjoy, A Bronx Tale is a street-wise musical with heart. Enjoyed by first-time theater goers and Broadway-fanatics, this story is a timeless tale of loyalty, family and adversity. Grab a slice of pepperoni & come to the show!

Curate Your Perfect Date at Walton Arts Center

All-Star Cast & Creative Team Step to the March of Falsettos

Opening its National Tour at Walton Arts Center, Falsettos is a beautiful reminder that love can tell a million stories.

Revolving around the life of a charming, intelligent, neurotic gay man named Marvin, his wife, lover, about-to-be-Bar-Mitzvahed son, their psychiatrist and the lesbians next door, Falsettos is a hilarious and achingly poignant look at the infinite possibilities that make up a modern family.

Bringing the story to the stage is an all-star and multi-award winning cast and creative team!

---

Cast for the National Tour

Nick Adams - WHIZZER

Nick most notably originated and starred as Adam/Felicia in the Tony®-winning Broadway musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert that earned him two Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards, honors from the American Theater Hall of Fame and a nomination for the 2011 Astaire Award.

Eden Espinosa - TRINA

Eden is most recognized for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Her TV appearances include “Law and Order,” “Ugly Betty” and “Elementary.” Voiceover credits include Cassandra in “Tangled the Series,” “Robot Chicken,” “MAD TV,” “Elana of Avalor” and “Titan Maximum.”

Max von Essen - MARVIN

Max is currently starring in the Broadway production of Anastasia as Gleb Vaganov. He is perhaps best known to audiences as Henri Baurel in the award-winning production of An American in Paris, a role which earned him nominations for the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Grammy® awards.

Creative Team for the National Tour

James Lapine - AUTHOR/DIRECTOR

James Lapine wrote and directed the Tony Award-nominated play Act One based on the autobiography by Moss Hart and directed his play Twelve Dreams. In addition to directing the recent HBO documentary “Six by Sondheim”, Lapine collaborated with Stephen Sondheim as author and director on the musicals Sunday in the Park with George (Pulitzer Prize), Into the Woods, Passion (Tony Award), and the multi-media revue Sondheim on Sondheim. On Broadway, he directed the 2013 revival of the musical Annie, Golden Child, The Diary of Anne Frank and Amour. His other plays include Luck, Pluck and Virtue, The Moment When, Fran’s Bed and Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing.

William Finn - BOOK/MUSIC/LYRICS

Finn’s Elegies: A Song Cycle premiered at Lincoln Center Theater in 2003. He wrote and composed In Trousers (L.A. Drama Critics Award), America Kicks Up Its Heels (Playwrights Horizons), and Make Me A Song (New York Stages) as well as Romance in Hard Times, Love’s Fire: Fresh Numbers by Seven American Playwrights, and scores for Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale and As You Like It, all for The Public Theater. He graduated from Williams College, where he was awarded the Hutchinson Fellowship in Musical Composition.

Spencer Liff - CHOREOGRAHER

In addition on Falsettos, Liff is known for his work on Spring Awakening (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations) and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Liff earned two Emmy nominations for his work as a choreographer for eight seasons on FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance.” Other TV credits include “Dancing With the Stars,” “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris,” “Parks and Recreation,” “2 Broke Girls,” “Mike & Molly,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “One Day at a Time” (Netflix), “The Emmy Awards” and “The Latin Grammy Awards.”

WAC Gives Back During the Holiday Season

Walton Arts Center staff are deeply connected to the community, that’s why when the nonprofit performing arts organization has its annual holiday party, they try to find a way to give back to the community and other nonprofits in the region. This year, Walton Arts Center staff participated in our annual holiday raffle with proceeds benefiting 7Hills Homeless Shelter - and the generosity was inspiring!

Walton Arts Center & Walmart AMP Staff Donations were used to Purchase:

• 10 Backpacks

• 40 pairs of women’s socks

• 70 pairs of women’s underwear

• 72 pairs of men’s underwear

• 40 pairs of men’s socks

• 4 giant bags of cough drops

• 3 big boxes of cold medicine

• 12 pairs of reading glasses

• 40 flashlights w/ batteries

• 20 packs of hand warmers

• 4 sleeping bags

• 4 Two Person tents

• 21 pairs of NEW work boots for men and women

Members of the party-planning committee answered a few questions for us and chimed in on what the donation means to each of them:

---

Why was 7Hills chosen as the recipient of donations? 

“Over the last couple of years, we have seen an increased presence of homeless individuals in Fayetteville and specifically in the Dickson Street area. 7Hills Homeless Center does so much to help their clients not only with basic needs but also by offering workplace education and giving opportunities for support and independence. With such a visible need in the community, we thought that that 7Hills would be the right fit for our fundraising this year.”   -Kelli

How are donations collected? 

“We sell raffle tickets to employees every year.  The committee works hard to collect raffle prizes and packages that will make people excited about the opportunity to win and encourage them donate by purchasing raffle tickets.  We typically start collecting donations the week prior to the party and also at the door when people arrive. This year, we added the option to donate via Venmo…for those that don’t carry cash.” -Kelli   

What does it mean to you to give back during the holiday season? 

“When Leslie and I dropped off the items, the smiles on their faces was so heartwarming. We got the list from the 7Hills website and decided to focus on things that were probably the least donated. Our main objective was work boots for men and women. 

I hope our donation of work boots will help some people have the means to be hired for jobs that require work boots. We were also able to donate cold medicine and reading glasses, which is not something I would have thought about donating. Honestly, the whole experience was fun because money was not an issue when we were thinking about helping these people since the wonderful people of WAC donated so much, we were able to help out a lot. I loved every minute of it.” -Justin

Tap to the Beat with Michelle Dorrance

Dorrance Dance is an award-winning tap dance company based out of New York City. The company’s work aims to honor tap dance’s uniquely beautiful history in a new, dynamic and compelling context; not by stripping the form of its tradition, but by pushing it - rhythmically, technically and conceptually. 

Recently mentioned in The New York Times’ Survey of Cultural Landscape, Michelle Dorrance encourages her dancers to create an intimate and captivating space that becomes an auditory playground with tap as the instruments.

---

Michelle Dorrance, founder and artistic director of Dorrance Dance, is one of the most sought after tap dancers of her generation and “one of the most imaginative tap choreographers working today” (The New Yorker). A 2015 MacArthur Fellow, 2014 Alpert Award Winner and 2013 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award Winner, Michelle performs, teaches and choreographs throughout the world.

Mentored by Gene Medler, Michelle grew up performing with the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble and has since performed with STOMP, Savion Glover’s ti dii, Manhattan Tap, Barbara Duffy & Co, JazzTap Ensemble, Rumba Tap, Ayodele Casel’s Diary of a Tap Dancer, Mable Lee’s Dancing Ladies, Harold Cromer’s original Opus One, Derick Grant’s Imagine Tap and Jason Samuels Smith’s Charlie’s Angels/Chasing the Bird. Michelle’s choreography has been featured on stages throughout the world as well as in a high-fashion short film for Tabitha Simmons.

Michelle embodies a true passion for teaching and strives to share this passion wherever she goes. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from NYU and played bass for Darwin Deez. She teaches on faculty at Broadway Dance Center, is a Capezio Athlete and has been featured on the covers of Dance Magazine and Dance Teacher Magazine. Michelle wishes to credit the master hoofers from whom she studied with in her youth for constant inspiration and influence.

Dorrance Dance

Tuesday, Feb. 12

Whose Live Anyway? Improv Games Guaranteed To Have You Laughing

Love the Emmy-nominated TV show, “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Relive the Top 10 “Whose Line” games and grab your ticket to the live, interactive comedy performance based on the show, Whose Live Anyway?

Cast members include Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, Dave Foley and Joel Murray. You’ll be left gasping as these funny-guys invent scenes right before your eyes. Audience participation is key, and you never know if you’ll be brought up on stage to join the fun!

---

TOP 10 GAMES from “Whose Line is it Anyway?”

10. Hollywood Director
This game starts our innocently enough, with three of the performers tasked with acting out a simple scene; then a fourth performer acts as director and yells “cut!” gives the actors notes on how to improve the scene. With each new suggestion, the scene becomes sillier and sillier, providing a great showcase for the supreme goofiness that is at the heart of this show.

9. Living Scenery
A great exercise in physical comedy, Living Scenery calls for two performers to act out a scene as they use two other performers as the various props needed in the scene. Mostly, this game serves as an excuse to make the people-as-props as uncomfortable as possible. From jet-skis to be ridden, bathrobes to be adorned, or trees to pick coconuts from, this game has all of the performers getting up close and personal.

8. Newsflash
This game involves the magic of green screen technology. Two performers act as newscasters in the studio, who then throw it over a third person who is reporting on a breaking news story that’s being shown on the green screen. It’s up to the third person, who can’t see what’s on the green screen behind him, to guess what’s being shown solely through clues from the other two performers. Often times, the green screen images are either extremely ridiculous or extremely disgusting, which makes it extra fun as the reporters lob hints through grimaces or expressions of shock.

7. Sound Effects
The best of the games that use audience participation, Sound Effects has two performers act out a scene with sound effects provided by two poor, unsuspecting members of the audience. Proving that the most important rule in improv is “yes, and…” the performers roll with any and every terrible sound effect they provide. The fun that comes from watching this game involves the actors reacting to every poor attempt at a gunshot, bird call or alarm system made by the audience members, while seeing them crack up from the absurdity of it all.

6. Party Quirks
Similar to honorable mentions Let’s Make a Date and Weird Newscasters, Party Quirks has multiple performers act out a scenario with a strange quirk or identity. In this game that scenario is a party, where one actor has to guess what characters the other three are playing. This game makes the list over the other two mentioned above due to the sheer ridiculousness of watching all of these wacky characters interact in the same space. Part of the fun of watching this game is seeing what new, crazy idea for a character the show can come up with, and seeing the transformation and commitment that the performers have to these role on a moment’s notice.

5. Props
A game so simple that it can be played at home, Props is just about trying to come up with as many funny things as possible with strange looking props. While not a super involved game, it’s one that really embodies the spirit of the show: give an improver just an inkling of an idea, and they’ll turn it into something hilarious.

4. Hoedown
Yee-haw! Always a crowd pleaser, Hoedown has all four performers sing a jaunty southern tune one verse at a time. Whereas a lot of the other games are so rapid-fire with the jokes, this one has much more of a slow-build, as each performer works up towards a hard-hitting punch line at the end of their verse.

3. Irish Drinking Song
Like Hoedown, Irish Drinking Song has all four performers sing a tune, this time as a rowdy bar song one line at a time. This game requires some of the most rapid-fire improv chops out of any one on the show, which is what makes this game so entertaining to watch.

2. Greatest Hits
This game is simple enough: two performers play TV pitchmen trying to sell the newest compilation album, while one or two other performers sing the songs that are on the album. Greatest Hits earns the number two spot on the list simply because all of the moving parts come together in a coherent and awesome way.

1.Scenes from a Hat
Scenes from a Hat is a true embodiment of the “anything can happen” spirit of the show, and why it earns the top spot. The premise is super simple: scenes are randomly pulled out of a hat, all audience suggestions and all of the performers have to act them out. What makes this game so incredibly fun is how unpredictable it is, anything from “If statues could speak” to “world’s worst person to be stuck with at a party” to “Outtakes from the Hillbilly National Theater’s Shakespeare Festival” could be pulled from the hat and all of it is completely hilarious. More than any other game, this is the one where one gag or throwaway line can have the both the audiences and the other performers completely howling. Wacky ideas performed on the spot is what Whose Line is all about, and nowhere is that any more evident than in this game here.

Kid's Day Out: Beloved Eric Carle Books Brought to the Stage

Audiences young and the young-at-heart will be captivated by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites.

The cherished author has illustrated and written iconic children’s classics for the last fifty years. Enjoy an afternoon of his books brought to life through blacklight and puppetry. Best for ages 3+, making even our youngest patrons a part of the magic!

---

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, 1969

This all-time favorite not only follows the very hungry caterpillar as it grows from egg to cocoon to beautiful butterfly, but also teaches the days of the week, counting, good nutrition and more.

The Mixed-Up Chameleon, 1975

Hilarious images show what happens when a bored chameleon wishes it could be more like other animals, but is finally convinced it would rather just be itself. An imagination-stretcher for children.

Little Cloud, 1996

Every child loves to see fanciful shapes in the clouds. But what are clouds really for? Here a little cloud slips away from its parent clouds and turns itself into a series of wonderful forms - a sheep, an airplane, a hat, a clown - before rejoining the other clouds as they perform their real function: making rain.

Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into 65 languages and sold over 46 million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than 70 books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have sold around the world.

Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old. He was educated there, and graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie der bildenden Künste, in Stuttgart. But his dream was always to return to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories. So, in 1952, with a fine portfolio in hand and $40 in his pocket, he arrived in New York. Soon he found a job as a graphic designer in the promotion department of The New York Times. Later, he was the art director of an advertising agency for many years.

One day, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask Carle to illustrate a story he had written. Martin’s eye had been caught by a striking picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the result of their collaboration. It is still a favorite with children everywhere. This was the beginning of Eric Carle’s true career. Soon Carle was writing his own stories, too. His first wholly original book was 1,2,3 to the Zoo, followed soon afterward by the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

The secret of Eric Carle’s books’ appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.

The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature—an interest shared by most small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings and their inquisitiveness, for their creativity and their intellectual growth that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his books such a stimulating and lasting experience.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites

Sunday, Jan. 13 at 2 pm

Reviving Lost Entertainment: Cinema Vivant Celebrates Gypsy Jazz and Silent Films

Inspired by one of the greatest guitar players that ever lived, The Hot Club of San Francisco pairs silent films with guitars, fiddles and the gypsy jazz music of Django Reinhardt to create Cinema Vivant.

Featuring two films by the famed European stop-action filmmaker Ladislaw Starewicz, this 10x10 Arts Series performance celebrates music of the past with brilliant renditions of the film’s original scores. The Hot Club of San Francisco musicians talk their inspiration, favorite songs and what they hope audiences will take away from Cinema Vivant.

---

Q&A with THE ARTISTS

The Hot Club of San Francisco has delighted audiences for 30 years. Can you tell us some songs that are your favorite to perform?

We are very excited to play some of the tunes from our Beatle’s album, John Paul George & Django. You’ll know them when you hear them!

What inspired you to pair The Hot Club of San Francisco’s music with silent films?

It’s a way for us to get into theaters that might never hire a gypsy jazz band. We sneak in with the films, and then we get to win the audience over with our “gypsy jazz and more.”

What is it about Cinema Vivant that caught your artistic attention?

Silent films are fantastic. They need to be seen by more (and younger) audiences. By combining esoteric films with obscure French gypsy jazz, we bring a TON of fun, culture and inspiration to our audiences.

As gypsy jazz artists, what do you think is important about carrying on this style of music?

Our desire in starting the band 30 years ago was to turn people to Django Reinhardt, his music and the genre that, at that time, was in danger of disappearing. Once you hear it, you’ll know why.

Hot Club of San Francisco’s inspiration is gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, what about his music helped shape your expressive sound?

Quite simply, he was the best guitarist ever. No one before him and no one since has been as great. It’s not subjective really, ask any guitar player. Andres Segovia, Les Paul, B.B.King, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and on and on, they’ve all said it.

What is the best advice you have been given?

Play from the heart.

Whom do you define as visionary?

Django Reinhardt he saw a future for the guitar that didn’t exist before he came along.

 

What do you hope audience members take away from tonight's performance? 

Inspiration! The films are INSPIRED and INSPIRING! The music has something for everyone - daring, romance, mystery, charm, simplicity and most important, SWING.

What songs, artists or styles of music are you currently listening to?

We listen to EVERYTHING - other gypsy jazz bands (but still mostly Django).

“Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” Django Reinhardt and Dickie Wells

“Potato Head Blues” Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five

“Save the Bones for Henry Jones” Nat Cole and Johnny Mercer

“Boleros Valses y Mas” Frankie Reyes

“Attitude Manouche” Django Festival All Stars

“Woodwork” Darol Anger and Mike Marshall

Cinema Vivant

Thursday, Jan. 10 at 7pm

Heat Up Your Night Out with the Hot Club of San Francisco's Swing Dance Party

The Hot Club of San Francisco is heating up our main stage with a night of swing. Put on your dancing shoes and jitterbug the night away.

First time on the dance floor? Don’t worry about it! Elayne from Elayne’s Dance has some advice for first-time dancers and is also holding dance lessons leading up to the event.

We asked Elayne for her take on the Swing Dance Party and the benefit of dancing!

*   What is your favorite style of dance?

Argentine Tango - Tango by its own nature allows a personal interpretation of the music, an interpretation that becomes an expression of the individual's personality in his or her way of dancing. Creating beautiful movement, relying on unspoken communication between partners, awareness of body and mind connection, sensitivity to touch and your partner’s signals, waiting for the lead and follow…it all creates a dynamic interaction that cannot compare to any other dance.

*   What should patrons expect from your dance lessons?

To learn the dynamics of lead and follow roles and a few basics to make the experience more fun!

  *   What do you say to first-time dancers?

Be patient with yourself.  And congratulations on getting out of your comfort zone!

  *   Why are dance lessons a great gift or date night out?

Dance lessons are the gift that last a lifetime. Something that can be shared with your significant other or friends for the rest of your life.

  *   What do you say to people who are nervous to come solo?

Dancing is a social affair.  Everyone is a bit nervous, and we change partners so you'll get to meet new people and maybe even find a dance partner.

  *   How long have you been dancing?

20 years, with most of that time being in NWA. I've also traveled nationally and internationally to study with the masters and to teach in other countries such as Italy, France and Argentina.

  *   What do you like about the music that The Hot Club of San Francisco will present?

They're high energy and make me want to jump out of my seat!  

  *   What style of music will be danced to in the lessons?

This band is a relatively high tempo Swing also known as East Coast Swing/Jitterbug.

  *   What do you say to encourage people to try dancing or come to your lessons?

It's great exercise for both your body and your brain!

Hot Club of San Francisco’s Swing Dance Party

Jan. 11, 2019

Test Your Power, Exercise Your Knowledge: Lightning Thief Trivia

The National Tour of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is kicking off from Walton Arts Center. Before the show gets here in January, Brush up on your percy Jackson Trivia and Unleash the Power of Your inner Half-Blood.

---

The Lightning Thief Trivia Quest & Test

How old is Percy?

16 years old

13 years old

10 years old

12 years old

What school for “troubled kids” is Percy at, to start with?

Lancy High School

Yancy High School

Yancy Academy

Lancy College

Where do Percy and his mum go to on holiday, before they are attacked by the minotaur?

Hastings

Montauk

Martolk

Miami

What is Percy’s stepdad’s name?

Gabe

Chuck

Berry

Bral

What does Percy see outside the bus?

Three old ladies knitting humungous socks

A cyclopes

A bat

A minotaur

What is the name of the camp that Percy goes to?

Half-God Hill

Half-God Camp

Camp Half-Blood

Half-Blood Hill

Who does Percy see at camp that he knows from school?

Nancy Bobofit

His Latin Teacher

Nancy’s best friends

The Head Teacher

What was Grover?

A satyr

A Half-Blood

A wood nymph

A human

What god is Percy’s father?

Zeus, sky god

Percy’s father wasn’t a god

Ares, war god

Poseidon, sea god

What is Percy’s quest?

To retrieve the lightning bolt and bring it back to Olympus

To retrieve the golden apple from an enchanted orchard

To find the Golden fleece

To stop the thief who was stealing so many things and return them

Answers:

1- Percy is 12 years old.

2- Percy went to boarding school at Yancy Academy, a private school for troubled kids.

3- Montauk- Montauk is where Percy’s mom met Percy’s dad. She and Percy used to go there every summer until she married again.

4- Gabe is Percy’s horrible, annoying step dad.

5- Three old ladies were knitting humungous socks.

6- Camp Half-Blood was where Percy and Grover went after the minotaur attack.

7- Percy’s Latin teacher worked at Percy’s school only because Percy was there. They met again at camp Half-Blood.

8- Grover is a satyr, working undercover as a school boy so that he can get his searcher’s license.

9- Percy’s father is Poseidon the sea god.

10- Percy’s quest was to retrieve the lightning bolt and return it to Olympus.

Choral Kings Shine This Holiday Season

Hitting all the right notes, The King’s Singers bring classic holiday songs to life in gorgeous harmony. For the last 50 years, the group has become internationally renown for their “voices of spun gold” (BBC Music Magazine).

---

Meet the Singers

Patrick Dunachie

Born into a family of musicians, Patrick started learning piano and singing at the age of five- later becoming a a chorister at Hereford Cathedral. Developing a passion for choral music, especially early music, he remembered hearing Robin Tyson (King’s Singer from 2001-2009) as a soloist and was mesmerized by the countertenor voice. Fast forward to January 2016, Patrick was appointed to The King’s Singers after two tough rounds of auditions.

Timothy Wayne-Wright

Timothy’s musical journey began as a boy chorister at Chelmsford Cathedral at the age of six. Surrounded by magnificent choral music and singing, he later found his voice as a countertenor. He received a vocal scholarship for postgraduate study at Trinity College of Music in London and in 2006 became an Alto Lay Clerk at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Two years later, he was invited to audition for The King’s Singers and has been touring with the group since 2009.

Julian Gregory

With a choirmaster and organist father, Julian spent a lot of time in church and joined St. John’s College Choir at the age of six. Developing a passion for violin and piano, he applied for a musical scholarship to Eton College and spent several years performing and learning German though an intensive exchange program where he made friends around the world. In 2014, Julian was invited to audition for The King’s Singers. After his performance, he was immediately offered the tenor position.

Christopher Bruerton

Watching the choir of Christchurch Cathedral proceed down the isle in December 1994, Christopher whispered to his Mum and Dad, “I want to be in that choir.” Then, after 15 years singing in that very choir, he moved from New Zealand to England to pursue his lifetime ambition of becoming a professional singer. In January 2012, Christopher made his King’s Singers debut and has loved the journey aver since. Traveling the world with his music, The King’s Singers has given Christopher opportunities that he’s only dreamed of.

Christopher Gabbitas

Having been a part of The King’s Singers since 2004, Christopher celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the group back in 2008 and is thrilled to celebrate 50 years of the choral group. In an incredible 14 year career, Christopher has performed over 1,500 concerts.

Jonathan Howard

Famous for an inability to say no to anything, Jonathan’s life has been defined by learning more subjects than necessary, more instruments than were sustainable and doing more activities than could be squeezed into any normal timetable. In his eighth year as a King’s Singer, he still finds ways to spread the joy of music, travel around the world and enjoy a game of backgammon. Excited for the future of the choral group, Jonathan believes that there’s never been a more exciting time to be one of The King’s Singers as the group celebrates its 50th anniversary and tours the globe.

Reviews of The King’s Singers:

“The superlative vocal sextet” THE TIMES, LONDON

“A musical group of the very highest order” GRAMOPHONE

“Their vocal production was effortless, stylistically varied and beautifully blended” WASHINGTON POST

“Voices nothing short of miraculous” TIMEOUT, SHANGHAI

Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7 pm

Helping NWA Women Get On Their Feet

Walton Arts Center, KNWA and Dress for Success have joined forces to help women in Northwest Arkansas get back on their feet!

Plan to bring new or gently-used women’s winter coats, purses and professional shoes when you come see On Your Feet! The Emilio & Gloria Estefan Broadway Musical, Dec. 4-9, 2018.

---

Inspired by the powerful story of Gloria Estefan who overcame difficult odds when she came to the US as an immigrant from Cuba, worked hard to make it in the music industry and fought back following a terrible bus crash that nearly paralyzed her. The Estefan’s story, from humble beginnings to superstardom, is brought to the stage in On Your Feet!

Gloria experienced prejudice and obstacles as a woman in the music industry and is now known as a champion for women and other Latinas. Her music has inspired millions and influenced other artists like Selena, Shakira and Christina Aguilera.

With the same message and heart, Walton Arts Center and KNWA are joining forces this holiday season to collect women’s professional attire. These donations will be distributed through the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of Dress for Success. With a vision of a world where women do not live in poverty, Dress for Success strives to support the financial independence of women by providing programs and professional attire to secure employment and a network of support and training to help women have success in the workplace.

Dress for Success Programs:

Suitings

Dress for Success Provides everything a woman may need, from clothing to confidence as they enter the workforce.

Career Services

Assisting with resumes, mock interviews and career coaching, Dress for Success offers career coaching for all clients.

Workshop Series

Covering topics from personal development to financial literacy and health, various workshops are offered throughout the year for all clients of Dress for Success.

Tis the Season for BOGO Tickets

From Black Friday to Cyber Monday knock out your christmas list with Buy One, Get One ticket discounts for select walton arts center shows. Broadway performances, dance and theater and interactive comedy are all part of this special offer. Limited availability, so buy early for the best selection.

---

On Your Feet! The Emilio and Gloria Estefan Broadway Musical

Dec. 4-9

Dance to the rhythm of On Your Feet! featuring five original members of the Miami Sound Machine. Audiences will be inspired by the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan as they fall in love and overcome incredible odds to realize their dreams.

Hit songs include “Get on Your Feet,” “Conga,” “Live For Loving You,” “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Reach,” “1-2-3,” “Coming Out of The Dark,” “Turn the Beat Around,” “Dr. Beat” AND MANY MORE!

The King’s Singers

Dec. 11

Acclaimed for their virtuosity and irresistible charm, The King’s Singers are known internationally as one of the best vocal ensembles. Celebrating their 50th anniversary this year with the release of their new album, Gold, The King’s Singers are bringing a show full of holiday classics and sacred favorites.

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

Jan. 4-5

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is a "winning adaptation" (The Hollywood Reporter) of the best-selling Disney-Hyperion novel by Rick Riordan.  As a son of Poseidon, Percy has newly discovered powers he can’t control, monsters on his trail, and he is on an epic quest to find Zeus’s lightning bolt and prevent a war between the gods. Featuring a "fast-paced, decibel-blasting" score (The Broadway Blog), this musical is "mesmerizing" and proves "lightning can strike twice!" (TheaterMania).

**Walton Arts Center audiences will be the first to see this preview performances of the show’s new national tour!**

Whose Live Anyway

Jan. 24

It’s like the popular TV show, “Whose Line Anyway,” only it’s Whose LIVE Anyway. Enjoy a completely improvised 90-minute show of games, scenes and songs that will tickle not only your funny bone, but every bone in your body. Bring your suggestions and you might be asked to join the cast onstage!

Falsettos

Feb. 8-9

Falsettos revolves around the life of a charming, intelligent, neurotic gay man named Marvin, his wife, lover, about-to-be-Bar-Mitzvahed son, their psychiatrist, and the lesbians next door. It’s a hilarious and achingly poignant look at the infinite possibilities that make up a modern family… and a beautiful reminder that love can tell a million stories.

Dorrance Dance

Feb. 12

Dorrance Dance is an award-winning New York City tap dance company that aims to honor tap dance’s uniquely beautiful history in a new, dynamic, and compelling context; not by stripping the form of its tradition, but by pushing it - rhythmically, technically and conceptually. The company’s inaugural performance garnered a Bessie Award for “blasting open our notions of tap” and the company continues its passionate commitment to expanding the audience of tap dance, America’s original art form. 

Cirque Eloize

Feb. 19

Imagine this: America is expanding. The railroad is snaking westward. A town comes to life. The Saloon doors swing open revealing a motley cast of characters, each with a tale to tell. In Saloon, dynamic folk music and strains of fiddle set the tone for an acrobatic comedy that sweeps up the audience in a flurry of energy. True to its origins, Cirque Éloize is creating a show that is a heady mix of theatricality, humor, acrobatics and a return to live music.

A music-packed theatrical thrill-ride, Saloon, is fun for the entire family. A world where theater and circus collide, Saloon combines strength, agility and original choreograph for a knee-slappin’, show-stopping production.

Dixie’s Tupperware Party

Feb. 19-24

A fast-talking, gum chewing, ginger-haired Alabama gal is bringing your grandma’s Tupperware party out of the living room and into the 21st century. Audiences howl with laughter from Dixie’s outrageously funny tales, homespun wisdom, audience participation and uses for Tupperware that you never thought possible.  
 
For anyone who has ever felt like they don’t matter, Dixie’s Tupperware Party is a southern tale of empowerment that leaves your heart a little bigger and your food a little fresher. 

A Bronx Tale

Feb. 26 - March 3

Based on the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s, this streetwise musical is directed by two-time Academy Award®-winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony Award®-winner Jerry Zaks. Inspired by Chazz Palminteri’s real-life story, the music and choreography of A Bronx Tale is “wonderful and refreshing” (The New York Times).

A story that has endured for the last 30 years, this tale is about family, loyalty and a triumphant spirit. Divided between the father he loves and the father-figure he’d love to be, A Bronx Tale’s message is about the choices we make and the impact it has on those we love.

Air Play

March 8

Circus and science collide in a gorgeous homage to the power of air. Flying umbrellas, larger-than-life balloons, giant kites floating over the audience and the biggest snow globe you’ve ever seen will make you gasp in wonder and laugh until it hurts. 

Air Play is a circus-style adventure of two siblings journeying through a surreal land of air, transforming the ordinary into objects of uncommon beauty. Fabrics dance in the wind, balloons have a mind of their own, confetti turns into the night sky, and an enormous canopy of hovering silk brings to life the very air we breathe. 

Janoska Ensemble

March 29

This genre-bending Vienna-based ensemble is comprised of four brothers - each of whom is a soloist in his own right, and includes two who are former members of The Vienna Philharmonic.  Janoska infuses classical music with jazz, gypsy, tango, Latin and a dash of pop. Having appeared at many of the world’s leading festivals and prestigious concert halls including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Sydney’s iconic Opera House and Vienna’s famed Musikverein, the Janoska Ensemble is a group not to be missed.

Monterey Jazz Festival 60th Anniversary Tour

March 31

The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour 60th Anniversary Celebration features a top roster of diverse and international millennial talent and the leaders of jazz’s future, including Cécile McLorin Salvant, vocals; Bria Skonberg, trumpet, vocals; Melissa Aldana, tenor saxophone; Christian Sands, piano, musical director; Jamison Ross, drums, vocals; and Yasushi Nakamura, bass. These musicians are some of the most critically-acclaimed, GRAMMY®-winning and GRAMMY®-nominated jazz artists of their generation, including three winners of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.

BOGO Tickets

Black Friday to Cyber Monday

Ring the Wedding Bells: WAC Wedding Spotlight

With the “big day” quickly approaching, Stacia and Michael share their WAC Wedding experience, story and excitement for “I do!”

Stacia & Michael Photo Credits: Jared Fincher | Miles Witt Boyer Photographic Collective

Initially meeting in 2015 on a work project, Stacia and Michael worked for the same Kansas City company. Even with crazy travel schedules, they somehow found a way to make the distance work. Later that year, they both exchanged “I love yous” and Stacia told Michael’s best friend (and now best man) that she was going to marry him. Currently, the two live in South Bend, Ind. where Stacia attends graduate school at Notre Dame and Michael works remotely.

Originally from Northwest Arkansas and Iowa, the two had some big decisions to make when choosing a city and venue for their summer wedding.

---

Q&A with Stacia & Michael

Why Fayetteville for the wedding?

We originally considered Kansas City where we were both living, however, once we moved to Indiana, we decided that we'd go with tradition and get married in the bride's hometown. 

What were you looking for in a wedding venue? Have-to-haves or no-gos!

MUST have - Air Conditioning. 

No barns. No burlap. No Mason jars. 

What were your initial thoughts when looking at Walton Arts Center (WAC)?

WOW, this is amazing. How will it ever fit in our budget? (Spoiler alert - it was competitive with other venues in the area and did in-fact fit in the budget).  

What were you surprised about when touring WAC?

How willing Shannon and Justin were to use the space in creative ways. 

What made you say “yes” to a WAC wedding?

The staircase leading to the Walker Atrium. I KNEW I wanted to enter the reception from there the moment I saw it.  

What are you most excited about in planning your WAC wedding; Any fun things that you’re planning to do?

We are most excited to see it all come together. Right now it's abstract, on Pinterest boards and ideas in our head. I can't wait to see it come together on the big day. We have tons of space to work with (Bradberry Amphitheater/Rose Garden, Sudduth Garden Room, Walker Atrium and Pace Lobby Balcony), and I'm excited to get to bring unique elements to each of them. 

We are planning on putting our dance floor on the balcony with the DJ. We want people to be able to dance and have fun, but also have the option to socialize with other guests. People who want to socialize can stay in the atrium without feeling like they are too far from the party. 

What does it mean to celebrate one of the biggest days of your life at WAC?

Growing up in the Fayetteville area, I remember going to shows at WAC as a kid with hundreds of other students in Northwest Arkansas on field trips. I took art classes at Nadium Baum Center, and I remember attending other shows (Legally Blonde) as I got older. I remember finding out they were renovating after I moved away.  WAC is in the heart of Fayetteville, and I'm excited to get to show people (some of whom have never visited Arkansas) why I love this place. When I brought Michael to Arkansas, he finally understood why I loved it so much, and now, we get to share this fun and unique town with our friends.

Describe your experience working with wAC’s Event planners.

Shannon and Justin are full of ideas. I knew that I would be planning my wedding while in grad school multiple states away, and that I would need a reception with staff who knew how to handle events - and they have delivered. Justin has worked tirelessly to go through countless versions of seating arrangements to get it just right for our big day. They are able to suggest ideas or let us know what they have seen or done before, and it's helpful to know that they've got this handled. Additionally, they were always receptive to new ideas or never-before attempted layouts. The flexibility they have shown by not being beholden to one set routine way of doing things has made for a wonderfully unique experience. If we wanted to have long tables instead of only rounds they were thrilled to try and make that layout work. Their knowledge of the space is on display when we discussed wanting to have decorations in specific areas, or needed to identify where to put speakers. Their combined experience and willingness to try new ideas has been extremely impressive.

What are your wedding colors?

Shades of blue: navy, steel blue and light blue with touches of champagne and blush. 

Describe your style. Traditional, trendy, modern, eclectic, etc.

Classic 

How are you adding personal touches to your wedding? 

We have geese cake toppers. Michael's friends all call him "Goose" because of his last name, and I found a goose-shaped bride and groom cake topper that I knew would be perfect. 

Best-Selling Book Turned Broadway Musical: The Lightning Thief

The New York Times Best-selling book, The Lightning Thief, comes to life onstage at Walton Arts Center. you can be the first to see the National Tour production.

the books and the musical enjoy a strong fan following, as evidenced by a recent Fayetteville Public Library workshop where nine local students created a trailer for the show.

---

“The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction — Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

Notable Awards:

• A New York Times Bestseller

• Selected for Al Roker's Book Club for Kids, The Today Show

• A Best Book of 2005, School Library Journal

• A New York Times Notable Book of 2005

• A Best Book of 2005, Child Magazine

• Bluebonnet Award Nominee, 2006, Texas Library Association

• Askews Torchlight Award (UK) Winner, 2006

• Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book List, 2005

• VOYA Top Shelf Fiction List for 2005

• ALA Notable Book for 2005

• YALSA Best Book for Young Adults 2005

• Red House Children's Book Award Winner (UK), 2006

• CCBC choice award 2006, Cooperative Children's Book Center

• A 2006 Notable Children's Book, National Council for Teachers of English

• A Publishers Weekly National Children's Bestseller

• Warwickshire Book Award Winner (UK), 2007

From Page to Stage

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical begins with a loud thunder clap, then five performers move to the front of the stage, singing to punchy rock music. It’s a perfect beginning to this clever, hip and irreverent musical, which merges teenage angst with Greek mythology.

Creating this wild ride without the sort of special effects available to film makers required director Stephen Brackett to come up with ingenious staging solutions to tell a story which features not only gods, but mythological monsters. The set has a rock concert vibe, with scaffolding and the stage magic is frequently visible to the audience.

“We embrace that you’re actually seeing what it takes to make an effect in front of an audience,” explains Brackett.  

When the show played a commercial run off-Broadway in 2017, it attracted not just super fans of the book but musical theater lovers of every age.

“We were getting the millennials and families who read the books,” says producer Barbara Pasternack, “and we were getting adults who read fantasy and the comic con crowd, but we were also seeing audiences who had yet to discover Percy Jackson. These people were coming to experience an exciting rock musical and we definitely delivered.” 

During the off-Broadway run, videos of some of the songs went viral on YouTube. And when the cast recording was released, “It bumped Hamilton and it went onto the Billboard charts and it bumped Bruno Mars and Beyoncé,” Pasternack relates.

For the creative team, the themes in The Lightning Thief have broad appeal: “How do you take action in your life?,” says director Stephen Brackett.  “How do you advocate for the world that you want to live in? I think that’s a story that needs to be told.”  

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical | Jan. 4-5, 2019

Magic & Mystery Brought to Life In A Holiday Classic: The Nutcracker

A classic tale passed from generation to generation, The Nutcracker’s beloved story is brought to life on the Walton Arts Center stage with local dancers and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Before you see the show familiarize yourself with the fairy tale that may be the most popular ballet ever to be performed.

---

The Nutcracker Ballet Story

The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman.  Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same. The story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King. 

When Marius Petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet, it was actually based on a revision by Alexander Dumas, a wellknown French author.  His version reflects more of what we have come to love as the Nutcracker Ballet.
 

The Party Scene

It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house -- A large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable.  The Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of their family and friends.  The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they welcome their friends too.

The party grows festive with music and dance as godfather Drosselmeyer arrives.  He is a skilled clock and toy maker and always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone's attention as he presents two life-size dolls.  They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance.

The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his to Clara and Fritz.  Although his gift to Fritz is quite nice, he gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that  becomes the hit of the party.  Fritz becomes jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it.  Clara is heartbroken looking on as Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a handkerchief he magically draws from the air.

As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening.  Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms.
 

The Fight Scene

As the clock strikes midnight strange things begin to happen.  Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful Christmas tree grows high above her.  The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Mouse King.  As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice.  The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker and battles him one-on-one.  The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King.

The Nutcracker and his army can go on no longer and are captured by the mice and their King.  Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on the head.  The Mouse King drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their leader's lifeless body.
 

The Land of Snow

The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland  where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.
 

The Land of Sweets

The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy.  The Prince tells her about their daring battle with the army of mice and she rewards them with a celebration of dances.

• The Spanish Dance

• The Arabian Dance

• The Russian Dance

• The Chinese Dance

• The Mirliton Dance

• The Waltz of Flowers

As a finale, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas De Deux.
 

The Dream Ends

Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker.

Local Dancers in Walton Arts Center’s Performances of The Nutcracker:

Angels

Julia Brinkley, Springdale

Mira Brock, Fayetteville

Ruby Campbell, Springdale

Carrington Cartwright, Springdale

Naomi Greenway, Bentonville

Vivian Lux, Fayetteville

Sofia Merriman, Bella Vista

Ressa Oliver, Gentry

Emma Patrick, Fayetteville

Kate Walker, Fayetteville

Melissa Wilson, West Fork

Dieter

Kennedy Ragar, Bentonville

Kailyn Berry, Springdale

Mice

Vivian Bullock, West Fork

Lila Campbell, Springdale

Kyleigh Jo Geurin, Fayetteville

Sutton Hoeme, Springdale

Jade Holland, Fayetteville

Hudson Horton, Farmington

Madeline Wesson, Fayetteville

Mountie

Makayla Cox, Siloam Springs

Emalyn Johnson, Springdale

Audrey Peachee, Bethel Heights

Emilea Reed, Fayetteville

Madilyn Savage, Springdale

Party Boys

Adelyn Bramlett, Fayetteville

Matthias Gwinn, Siloam Springs

Mimi Hoeme, Springdale

Elize Ramsey, Fayetteville

Party Girls

Natalie Bell, Fayetteville

Eleanor Eichmann, Fayetteville

Macie Jones, Rogers

Lucia Moore, Fayetteville

Polar Bears

Quinn Ballew, Fayetteville

Averee Beare, Prairie Grove

Caroline Bostick, Fayetteville

Quinn Bramlett, Fayetteville

Braylin Coleman, Prairie Grove

Kathleen Goodsole, Bentonville

Hannah Kaundart, Springdale

Ellis Kradel, Fayetteville

Adeline Lux, Fayetteville

Keslynn Millett, Springdale

Katherine Reed, Fayetteville

Eleanor Richmond, Fayetteville

Reindeer

Brady Chandler, Fayetteville

Sara Justice, Fayetteville

Gracie Kennett, Springdale

Samantha Stark, Springdale

Emily Thomas, Fayetteville

Isabella Watkins, Bentonville