Add Cheesy Movies to Your Night Out - Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live

In the not-too-distant future, next Sunday A.D., there was a guy named Joel, not too different than you or me...

Originally airing for 11 seasons from 1988 to 1999, Mystery Science Theater 3000 immediately won over fans and became one of the most beloved cult TV shows of all time, making a human mind experiment more entertaining than anyone could have predicted.

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When Joel Robinson (played by show creator Joel Hodgson) is shot into space and forced to watch bad movies while mad scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester (Trace Beaulieau) and his crony, TV's Frank (Frank Conniff), monitor his mind, Joel builds a cast of lovable robot sidekicks to help keep his sanity: Crow, Tom Servo, Gypsy and Cambot. It's only through their wisecracks, quips and friendships that they make it through a barrage of increasingly terrible cinema--and the audience in turn gets a veritable treasure trove of gut-busting hilarity.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 has earned its place in history as one of the Top 100 TV Shows of all time and is currently a hit show on Netflix. Now you can sit in the same theater with your favorite characters and experience this comedy phenomenon in a universally acclaimed LIVE event.

This is the last chance to see Joel as he celebrates his final live tour performing the unique comedic art form he created. The exhilarating, nonstop, rapid-fire hilarity is brimming with hundreds of jokes riffed on a “So-Bad-It’s-Good” feature film, plus spirited sketches and songs that turn the stage into a circus-themed party.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live

The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour

DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7pm

The hilarious Peabody Award-winning hit TV comedy is coming to Northwest Arkansas with an all-new Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour!

Prepare to LOL with One of the Greatest Humorists Today - David Sedaris

With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers.

The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today.

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David Sedaris is the author of Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice, as well as collections of personal essays, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and his most recent book, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, each of which became an immediate bestseller. The audio version of Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls is a 56th Annual Grammy-Award Nominee for Best Spoken Word Album. He is the author of the NYT-bestselling collection of fables entitled Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary (with illustrations by Ian Falconer). He was also the editor of Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding Stories. Sedaris’ pieces appear regularly in The New Yorker and have twice been included in “The Best American Essays.” There are over ten million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 25 languages.

He and his sister, Amy Sedaris, have collaborated under the name “The Talent Family” and have written half-a-dozen plays which have been produced at La Mama, Lincoln Center and The Drama Department in New York City. These plays include Stump the Host, Stitches, One Woman Shoe, which received an Obie Award, Incident at Cobbler’s Knob and The Book of Liz, which was published in book form by Dramatists Play Service.

David Sedaris’ original radio pieces can often be heard on the public radio show This American Life. David Sedaris has been nominated for three Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. His latest audio recording of new stories (recorded live) is “David Sedaris: Live for Your Listening Pleasure” (2009). A feature film adaptation of his story C.O.G. was released after a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (2013). Since 2011, he can be heard annually on a series of live recordings on BBC Radio 4 entitled “Meet David Sedaris.” David Sedaris’ new book is a collection of his diaries, entitled Theft By Finding, Diaries (1977-2002) (2017). An art book, about David Sedaris’ diary covers was also just published and edited by Jeffrey Jenkins, entitled: David Sedaris Diaries: A Visual Compendium (2017, Little, Brown and Company). The nationally bestselling essay collection Calypso was published in 2018, and a second volume of his diaries is expected for summer 2021.

David Sedaris

DATE: Sunday, Nov. 3, 7pm

David Sedaris has charmed audiences with his neurotic and mundane, yet profound storytelling for more than 25 years. Beloved for his personal essays, short stories and National Public Radio segments, Sedaris’ material isn’t always what you would expect.

The Pure Voices of Nobuntu Transcend All Boundaries

Nobuntu, the female a cappella quintet from Zimbabwe, has drawn international acclaim for its inventive performances that range from traditional Zimbabwean songs to Afro Jazz to Gospel.

The ensemble’s concerts are performed with pure voices, augmented by minimalistic percussion, traditional instruments such as the Mbira (thumb piano) and organic, authentic dance movements.

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Nobuntu was nominated for Best Musician of the Year at the Zimbabwe International Women Awards in 2015 and are currently a two-time winner for the Best Imbube Group at the Bulawayo Arts Awards 2017 and 2019.  In the last few seasons, the quintet has performed at festivals and concert halls in Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic and throughout the African continent. The ensemble was a huge critical success at “Trans-Vocal” in Frankfurt and “Voice Mania” in Vienna. Their first tour to Canada, in 2016, included performances in Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Victoria.

The word Nobuntu is an African concept that values humbleness, love, unity and family from a woman’s perspective. The ensemble represents a new generation of young African women singers who celebrate and preserve their culture, beauty, and heritage through art. The ensemble’s mission is the belief that music can be an important vehicle for change, one that transcends racial, tribal, religious, gender, and economic boundaries.

Back at home, Nobuntu holds a number of community initiatives, one of which is The Nobuntu Pad Bank where they gather sanitary pads for young women in the arts in underprivileged communities.

Nobuntu has released three recordings- Thina in 2013, Ekhaya in 2016 and Obabes beMbube in 2018. The group has made dozens of television and radio appearances throughout Africa and Europe promoting these recordings and the culture of their homeland.

Nobuntu

DATE: Friday, Oct. 11, 8pm

Join us for this stunning performance full of sparkling energy and a rich musical heritage with Nobuntu.

Move to the Latin Rhythms & Cuban Beats of Tiempo Libre

Three-time Grammy-nominated Afro-Caribbean music group, Tiempo Libre, is one of the hottest Latin bands today.

Equally at home in concert halls, jazz clubs, festival stages and dance venues, Tiempo Libre is celebrated for its sophisticated tropical music featuring an irresistible, exhilarating mix of jazz harmonies, contemporary sonorities and seductive Latin rhythms.

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“World Class Act…” – London Evening Standard

Throughout the past 14 years, the band has appeared around the globe and has been featured on television shows including The Tonight Show, Live from Lincoln Center, and Dancing with the Stars as well as many entertainment programs on Univision and Telemundo. Since the group’s formation in Miami 2001, its members have been on a mission to share their Afro-Caribbean heritage with as wide an audience as possible, reinterpreting and reinvigorating music born from the meeting of their musical origins with their new American experience.

“Dance Music of Sophistication and Abandon” – The New York Times

Newly signed in 2015 to Universal Music Latin Entertainment in partnership with Universal Music Classics, the group will release its new album Panamericano on June 30. Tiempo Libre premieres two singles from Panamericano on May 19: “Dime Que No” featuring guest artist Jean Rodriguez and “Somebody to Love Me” with Yunel Cruz. Additional guest artists include Descemer Bueno, Frankie J, and Luis Fernando Borjas.

“So hot and danceable that even when you talk about the group, you find yourself moving your hips” – Richmond Times Dispatch

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Tiempo Libre is a kick-off event for the Hispanic Heritage Festival on Sunday, Oct. 6 in Downtown Fayetteville. Hosted by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, festival attendees are welcome to Tiempo Libre’s performance as a fun way to start a weekend celebrating the rich history and rhythms of the Hispanic community.

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Tiempo Libre

DATE: Thursday, Oct. 3, 7pm

Classically trained at Cuba’s premier conservatories, the seven member Afro-Caribbean group are true modern heirs to the rich musical tradition of their native Cuba.

AMP Fest is BACK!

AMP Fest is moving backstage at the Walmart AMP for a one-of-a-kind experience with beer sampling, tech activations & live music.

The annual fundraiser is a cause to celebrate! AMP Fest supports Walton Arts Center’s education and outreach programs reaching approx. 35,000 students and teachers each year.

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There will be opportunities to try out the latest technology and unlimited beer sampling, set to the tune of live music from Fayetteville locals Goose and the NWArkansas powerhouse, Jukeboxx.

New tech activations include Samsung Virtual Reality, VMLY&R Interactive Tech, PlayStation 4 demo, and Monster’s Mobile Gaming Unit. VIP ticket holders can enjoy a BITE NWA experience, provided by Octagon, on stage at the Walmart AMP with small bites from local restaurants as well as special samplings from select breweries.

Sample craft beers from the following breweries:

• Bike Rack Brewing

• Black Apple Crossing

• Boston Mountain Brewing

• Core

• Flyway

• Founders

• Great Raft Brewing

• Lagunitas

• Lazy Magnolia

• Lost Forty

• New Holland

• Ozark Beer

• Revolver

• Sam Adams

• Shiner

• Yuengling

AMP Fest

Featuring Beer Sampling, Tech Activations & Live Music - provided by JukeBoxx and Goose

DATE: Thursday, Oct. 3

TIMES: 6-10pm

AGE RESTRICTIONS: You must be 21 or older to attend. Don’t forget your ID!

VoiceJam Winners Head to Japan for Vocal Asia

Business Casual, 2019 VoiceJam Festival Champions, enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Vocal Asia in Japan this month.

Each of the five band members - Jacob, Michael, Cassie, Roshun & Leslie - shared their favorite moments from Vocal Asia on our blog.

Vocal Asia Highlights:

• JACOB - Singing a funk song with workshop attendees. The Swingles concert. Hanging out with EXIT on Aca Day.

• MICHAEL - Songs for the Islands and the New World Concert - wow! Going to Teshima for Aca Day and seeing the ocean and lots of little islands. Enjoying the strength and diversity of competitors during Asian Cup competition. Connecting with and learning about all the different groups in attendance at Vocal Asia.

• CASSIE - The Swingles’ first workshop on the first morning - a huge room full of strangers coming together to learn and sing a beautiful arrangement together. Karaoke with Voctronica! followed by an impromptu and very loud a cappella rendition of “This Love” in the lobby of the Karaoke place, which made the staff really, really uncomfortable. The after-party when everybody danced along to Acapellago’s “Da Coconut Nut” in their encore encore performance!

• ROSHUN - Experiencing Taiwanese and Japanese folk music during the Songs for the Islands and New World concert. Karaoke with Voctronica!. Workshop with the Swingles - Singing without a Safety Net. Singing on Teshima and hanging out with EXIT from South Korea!

• LESLIE - Aca Day! Spending the day on the gorgeous island of Teshima, performing for a wonderful audience in a beautiful setting, and playing Korean circle games with EXIT. Also learning how to do killer photo poses from EXIT :)

Choose Your Inspiration - Create Your Own Subscription

Mix and match Broadway with kid’s performances, family friendly laughs with date-night Bollywood in the Popular Create Your Own Subscription!

With so many great options, it’s hard to choose just one show! When you buy more, you save more with the Create Your Own subscription package. It’s that simple!

Create Your Own buyers also receive early access to WAC shows and events added during the season. Be in the know from the start.

Choose 3, 5 or 7 shows From The List Below!

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Procter & Gamble Broadway Series

• Escape to Margaritaville - Oct. 22-27, 2019

• The Play That Goes Wrong - Nov. 12-17, 2019

• A Christmas Story, The Musical - Dec. 10-15, 2019

• Once on This Island - Feb. 11-16, 2020

• Anastasia - March 10-15, 2020

• Fiddler on the Roof - April 14-19, 2020

• The Band’s Visit - May 19-23, 2020

Coca-Cola Night Out Series

• Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour - Oct. 29, 2019

• The Swingles Winter Tales - Dec. 5, 2019

• Boston Brass Christmas Bells are Swingin’ - Dec. 8, 2019

• Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo - Feb. 27, 2020

• Bollywood Boulevard - April 23, 2020

Arkansas BlueCross and BlueShield Family Fun Series

• Blue Man Group Speechless - Sept. 10-19, 2019

• The Peking Acrobats - Feb. 25, 2020

Mattel Kids Series

• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE! - Feb. 8, 2020

• Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure: The Mystery of the Dinosaurs of the Deep - April 28, 2020

• Windmill Theatre Company’s Beep - May 1-2, 2020

LOL@WAC

• Reduced Shakespeare Company’s The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)[revised] - Oct. 27, 2019

More Shows

• VoiceJam Competition - April 2, 2020

• Raj Suresh: 4,000 Days - April 24, 2020

• Artosphere Festival Orchestra 10th Anniversary Concert - May 9, 2020

You Saw It Here First! Celebrate Arkansas Covers New Blue Man Group Tour

You Saw It Here First

Blue Man Group to build and premiere new Speechless Tour from Walton Arts Center

By Marisa Lytle

For the second time in Walton Arts Center history, the iconic Blue Man Group will tech and launch a brand-new show from the center’s very own Baum Walker Hall. This will make Northwest Arkansas audiences the very first to see the new show, Speechless, before it heads out on the national in September.

According to Blue Man Group Creative Director Jon Knight, Speechless is a thrilling new show that he and his team have been working on for some time. “We are really excited to be putting this new work out there and to return to Fayetteville and share this thing with audiences like we did several years ago,” he says. “It feels good to return to a kind of a home base and to share this with all of you.”

Blue Man Group — known internationally for its bald and blue trio, as well as for its award-winning theatrical productions and multiple creative explorations — has a more-than-27-year history of performances that are euphoric celebrations of human connection through art, music, comedy, and non-verbal communication. BMG is owned and operated by Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and has reached more than 35 million people worldwide.

Knight describes Speechless as a series of beautiful moments, of joyful moments, of indescribable moments that create a sense of community through physical elements and comedy — an experience in which talking is unnecessary. “In this show packed with technology, everyone is connected but isolated,” he explains. “We wanted to present an experience where we get together an audience of people … and we celebrate being in a space together and sharing a moment, being connected. The Blue Men will guide us through a collective, unique experience together that in some ways will be different every night.” The Blue Man Group will debut new instruments of their own creation, as well as bigger and bolder music, set, and staging, but audiences can also expect familiar old favorites and fidelity to the heart of what Blue Man Group is about.

Speechless tour Director Jenny Coons describes the show similarly: “Speechless will feature material that fosters communal moments, debut the evolution of our tube-based instruments to support all new music, and include large-scale audience participation. It is my hope that this show will deliver on its name and continue Blue Man Group’s legacy to transcend words and inspire audiences through non-verbal connections.”

One aspect of the Speechless tour that is truly unique to Northwest Arkansas is how the show will be “built” here. Blue Man Group’s company will bring all the different parts of the Speechless performance together in one place on the Walton Arts Center stage in order to fully rehearse and prepare the show for its life on the road. First, the technical crew will load in sets, props, costumes, lighting, and sound equipment and prepare the theater for the cast — who have been rehearsing together at another location — to arrive a bit later. Cast, crew, artistic staff, sets, props, and costumes all meet for the first time. Blue Man Group will carry out full rehearsals at WAC before premiering the show for NWA audiences. “We wanted to choose an opening venue that represents the houses we’ll be touring to,” Knight says. “Also, people who are willing to tolerate our specific brand of weirdness is good for us.”

Blue Man Group is just one of 10 shows that have been built and opened at Walton Arts Center since 1997. Earlier this year, The Lightning Thief and Falsettos mounted their tours from Walton Arts Center. Shows that tech and launch from the region’s performing arts center boost the local economy; for instance, The Lightning Thief generated an estimated $32,900 from lodging, $26,460 from meals, and $26,000 for salaries of local crew members that work each performance. As cast and crew members immerse themselves in the Northwest Arkansas community for two weeks in September, other local businesses will benefit, as well.

Blue Man Group

Speechless

DATES: Sept. 12-19*

PREVIEW PERFORMANCES: Tuesday, Sept. 10 & Wednesday, Sept. 11**

Blue Man Group To Leave Audiences "Speechless" In New Tour

Blue Man Group will rock your world. Blow your mind. And unleash your spirit. As three bald and blue men explore our world, together we’ll discover music, laughter and surprises at every turn.

By the end of this spectacular journey, you’ll be saying “I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED BUT I LOOOVED IT.”

35 million people of all ages, languages and cultures have experienced the unexpected with Blue Man Group. Now it’s your turn to see what all the hype is about!

Speechless, the newest show from the famous trio, will feature new and original compositions, acts and instruments alongside iconic Blue Man Group moments based in joy, art, music, comedy, social commentary and profound absurdity. We see fun in your future. If you like normal, think again —‘cause Blue Man Group is a rollicking rave of a good time.

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ALL-NEW TOUR LAUNCHING AT WALTON ARTS CENTER!

Blue Man Group

Speechless

DATES: Sept. 12-19*

PREVIEW PERFORMANCES: Tuesday, Sept. 10 & Wednesday, Sept. 11**

Perfect Pairings for Date Night, Family Fun & So Much More - Broadway Sampler Subscription

Broadway@WAC is bigger and better than ever. With our new Broadway Sampler Subscription you can pick 3-6 shows and create your perfect subscription at a great price.

To help make the selection process a bit easier, we pre-packaged some sampler subscriptions just for you. Explore what speaks to you - sample it all and have an amazing theater experience while doing it.

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Date Night Broadway

• The Play That Goes Wrong

• Once on this Island

• Fiddler on the Roof

• The Band’s Visit

• *ADD ON: Book of Mormon

Date night made easy! Schedule your nights out with your significant other to see shows throughout our Broadway season. You know the drill: dinner, specialty drinks at WAC and an amazing night of beautiful theater. Travel around the world every time you take your seat, all in your backyard. It’s just that simple!

Family-Friendly Broadway

• A Christmas Story, The Musical

• Anastasia

• Fiddler on the Roof

• *ADD ON: Blue Man Group

Delight your young audience members by introducing them to musicals they will love with this family-friendly Broadway package. Whether you decide to pull out the pink bunny costumes or sing along to “Journey to the Past” is up to you, but know you’ll be able to win major cool-parent points with a trip to the theater.

Girls’ Night Out Broadway

• Escape to Margaritaville

• The Play That Goes Wrong

• Once on this Island

• Anastasia

• *ADD ON: Book of Mormon

Text your gals and plan your GNOs throughout the upcoming Broadway season. Starting with Escape to Margaritaville’s island love story, then the big laughs set at Haversham Manor with The Play That Goes Wrong and onto the powerful characters of Ti Moune and Anya looking for their places in the world in Once on This Island and Anastasia, respectively. You can even add on The Book of Mormon for a wild ride from Utah to Uganda!

Direct From Broadway

• Escape to Margaritaville

• The Play that Goes Wrong

• Once on this Island

• Anastasia

• The Band’s Visit

From the streets of New York City to Baum Walker Hall at Walton Arts Center - see five shows on their first national tours! Sing-a-long music, big laughs and classic tales make up this “Direct From Broadway” package, full of exciting new musicals that premiered on Broadway within the last two years.

Classic Broadway

• A Christmas Story

• Once on this Island

• Anastasia

• Fiddler on the Roof

• *ADD ON: The Book of Mormon

For lovers of the glitz and grandeur of traditional Broadway musicals, you will not want to miss these four musicals on our upcoming season. Stunning costumes, brilliant sets and classic Broadway song and dance numbers will take the stage in Baum Walker Hall.

LOL@Broadway

• Escape to Margaritaville

• The Play That Goes Wrong

• A Christmas Story

• *ADD ON: Blue Man Group

• *ADD ON: The Book of Mormon

Gut-busting, side-splitting and roll-on-the-floor laughter is in store for this round-up of Broadway shows. A guaranteed good time is a ticket away for the perfect night out. Parrotheads, wannabe thespians & pink bunnies unite for this three show line-up. Add on Blue Man Group and Book of Mormon for even more LOLs!

Broadway Sampler Subscriptions

For Broadway fans with busy lives who need a little more flexibility in a subscription package!

The Broadway Sampler Subscription includes 3-6 performances – chosen by you – at a GREAT price! Packages start at just $124.

West Street Live Line-Up is Soul-FULL!

In an atmosphere reminiscent of neighborhood listening rooms and nightclubs, West Street Live caters to live music fans, bringing artists from a variety of genres to Walton Arts Center’s Starr Theater for intimate, relaxed concerts.

The setting allows patrons to connect with the music and musicians in a performance like no other. Get access to all these amazing concerts with a West Street Live subscription package. Tiered seating subscriptions are $174 per seat. That's just $29 per concert!

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Nace Brothers Acoustic

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019

Led by brothers David and Jimmy, the Nace Brothers have been performing together for more than 37 years – and in that time they’ve become seasoned professionals, considered by most to be models of artistic integrity. As fourth generation performers, the brothers were raised on regional radio and television programs like “Hillbilly Jamboree” in the golden age of honky-tonk – and you can hear that rich musical heritage in their unique blend of country, blues and roots rock. Their music exudes brilliant songwriting, expressive vocals, soaring guitar and a rock solid rhythm section. The history of roots rock is full of bands that have flared up brilliantly and promptly disappeared, but fans can count on the Nace Brothers at the end of those weeks when they need some time with old friends and a few hours to clear our minds.

Martha Redbone

Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019

Martha Redbone is one of today’s most vital voices in American Roots music. An award-winning musician celebrated for her tasty gumbo of folk and mountain blues sounds of her childhood in the Kentucky Appalachian hills mixed with the eclectic grit of her teenage years in pre-gentrified Brooklyn. With the power of her gospel-singing father’s voice and the determined spirit of her Cherokee/Shawnee/Choctaw mother, Redbone broadens all boundaries of Americana. Described by Billboard magazine as “the kind of woman who sets trends,” her songs are a brilliant collision of cultures, telling stories that bring to light an important piece of American history that has never been told.

An Acoustic Set with Amy Ray featuring Jeff Fielder and Kerry Brooks

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020

One half of the Grammy Award®-winning folk duo Indigo Girls, Amy Ray takes the stage in this “solo” performance with band mates Jeff Fielder, the shape-shifting multi-instrumentalist on guitar, dobro, bass and mandolin; and Kerry Brooks on upright bass and mandolin. With the group’s intuitive chops serving as a foundation and Ray’s knack for straddling the line between the personal and the political, her newest album, Holler, focuses on the American South. With songs about Southern identity, racism, poverty and the living history that hides all around us, the album reminds us that we are all merely temporary visitors in the spaces that we inhabit.

Tab Benoit

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Tab Benoit is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist who has built a remarkable 30-year career on the foundation of his repertoire that ranges from swamp-pop classics to gritty blues and rootsy jams. Two-time winner of the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award, winner of five Blues Music Awards and a Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee, Benoit also serves as the founding member of the “Wetland All-Stars,” a group of New Orleans natives – including the late Dr. John, George Porter Jr. The group is dedicated to forging a musical plea about the fragile eco-system that is the increasingly depleted wetlands surrounding their home. Tab Benoit is a pioneer of the sound and style indigenous to Louisiana’s wetlands, and every performance is filled with a passion for that purpose.

Bonnie Bishop

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Called “a gifted songwriter and a powerhouse singer” with a voice that “booms with the force of a Texas straight-line squall” (Nashville Scene), Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Bonnie Bishop may just be the “new queen of country soul” (Houston Press). More than a decade after her song “Not ‘Cause I Wanted To” topped the New York Times song of the year list, Bishop got her second big break when she started working with Nashville’s hottest producer, Dave Cobb – who helped Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell become award-winning chart toppers. Inspired by the Motown greats, like Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, Cobb encouraged Bishop to break up with her old identity – moving away from country to pursue a career as a soul singer. As Nashville’s establishment and legions of roots-music fans are now well aware, she ain’t who she was. 

Jayme Stone’s Folklife

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Jayme Stone is a composer, banjoist, instigator, producer and educator who has developed a process of trawling for understudied sounds in the more arcane corners of the world to see how they’ll land in his musical universe. On his newest album, Folklife, Stone treats old field recordings as heirloom seeds passed down from a bygone generation that he plants in modern soil, burgeoning into vibrant Sea Island spirituals, Creole calypsos and stomp-down Appalachian dance tunes for contemporary listeners. Performing alongside an ensemble with virtuosity, musical integrity and irrepressible charm, Stones’ album is full of beautiful, intriguing, thoughtful music that rewards our attention as much as it captures it, and proves that folk songs are indeed perennials for the people.

Get early access to all these amazing concerts with this subscription package!

West Street Live lineup:

1. Nace Brothers Acoustic, Oct. 10

2. Martha Redbone, Nov. 16

3. An Acoustic Set with Amy Ray
   featuring Jeff Fielder & Kerry Brooks, Jan. 16

4. Tab Benoit, Feb. 6

5. Bonnie Bishop, March 21

6. Jayme Stone's Folklife, May 14

Tiered seating subscriptions are $174 per seat. That's just $29 per concert!

Theater Celebrating Theater - Behind the Curtain of an Award-Winning Arts Program

Supporting artmakers in our vibrant community is a priority for Walton Arts Center, and in June Artist’s Laboratory Theatre’s Southside Civic Lab received the Robert E. Gard Award for exemplary work at the intersection of the arts and community life. ALT was nominated by Laura Goodwin, VP of Walton Arts Center’s Learning & Engagement.

Founder and Artistic Director of the Artist’s Laboratory Theatre, Erika Wilhite, uses community input as a guide as she develops scripts and creates work that explores local topics through immersive performance experiences. Wilhite is also a dramaturg, writer and director for ALT. Her recent projects include South Side Civic Lab, Bango! and The New Now. She received her MFA in Theatre from University of Central Florida and BFA in Theatre from University of Central Oklahoma. She is a facilitator and consultant who uses the tools of theatre to work with communities, organizations and public service agencies in the areas of capacity-building around conflict resolution and cooperative partnerships.  

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“Socially engaged art is up close and personal and only works when the relationship between artist and community is authentic. The Artist’s Laboratory Theatre project impressed me because it fostered constructive community dialog and change through an art form. I wanted to shine a spotlight on the company’s work and to remind us how powerful the arts can be.”

- Laura Goodwin, VP of Walton Arts Center’s Learning & Engagement

Description of the Project:

To increase awareness and dialogue about issues of neighborhood gentrification in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Artist’s Laboratory Theatre developed the Southside Civic Lab project. Project outputs were collaboratively developed and delivered over a period of 16 months through expansive research, interviews and focus groups with local people who were experiencing food, transportation and housing insecurity in Fayetteville’s Southside neighborhood. “Listening parties” addressed topics affecting the community and offered radical hospitality including food and childcare. "Neighborhood ambassadors" identified barriers and inequities for people who rely on public transit via research driven, task-focused bus rides. A three-day community visioning festival offered workshops on citizen-led community development and civic engagement. Project events and experiences informed an original play script titled "Good Person of South Fayetteville," which was performed by ALT at site-specific venues including during public bus commutes. The project was supported by the Our Town grant through the National Endowment for the Arts.

Project Impact:

Southside Civic Lab project generated impressive outcomes for the neighborhood, a historically low-income minority community, at a time of rapid gentrification. The project united foundational neighbors with new homeowners, city officials and community services providers to explore shared concerns and inspired transformational citizen engagement by underrepresented people.

First-time attendance at public housing planning meetings by Southside neighbors resulted in a change of meeting structure to accommodate citizen input. In addition, the project empowered neighbors to make impressive commitments to civic duties; one ran for City Council while another joined the Housing Authority Board of Directors via appointment by the city’s mayor; this marked a comprehensive change in board membership and operational staffing.

Beyond the project’s scope, neighbors used project-learned skills to implement traffic-calming solutions in a busy roadway. The project stimulated change to public bus routes when it revealed better sites for stops and the need for weather shelters; local routes were redrawn and bus stop shelters added.

Through the Southside Civic Lab project, Artist's Laboratory Theatre created necessary conditions to support a  profoundly changing neighborhood to know one another better, to  transform their own community, and to improve self-identified, every day needs through arts integrated strategies.

Q&A with Erika Wilhite

How did this project originate?

After moving our headquarters to South Fayetteville, we hosted several listening sessions with the residents of the neighborhood to glean insight on the kind of programs would benefit the area. ALT develops scripts based on themes through long-term community engagement, and we were beginning a new project, so we needed a new theme. We learned from our neighbors that housing insecurity and homelessness was a major concern since it was prevalent in the South Fayetteville. We continued those conversations for a year and half as we developed the script the Good Person of South Fayetteville. 

What are your biggest "wins" surrounding the Southside Civic Lab - awards, experiences, conversations, etc?

We created the conditions for conversations on complex economic, social and cultural topics. We workshopped the script with audiences throughout the process, and each performance was followed by a facilitated conversation that included social welfare employees, city officials and impacted community members. Audiences were made aware of the current conditions of homelessness by hearing real stories from their neighbors living without shelter.

 What is your goal for this project in relation to our community - now and moving forward?

The goal was to create a play while getting our community plugged into the issues. The last stage of this project is the production of Good Person of South Fayetteville in summer 2020. It will be staged on the Ozark Regional Transit buses in site-specific locations around South Fayetteville. Moving forward, we are using this Civic Lab model for our next topic. We will spend the next year engaging communities in NWA on the topic of employment. We will develop a script through a similar method, through listening parties, interviews and community audits, but we will expand our reach to Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville in this next project. 

What are you most proud of?

In addition to sharing the script in pieces with public audiences, we did table readings of the script with the clients of Genesis and 7 Hills, who performed the play as actors and gave their feedback about script edits. I am super proud of how that process empowered them take control of the narrative. 

What are your "next steps?"

 Kicking off the NWA Civic Lab. 

Back Stage Access – Behind the Scenes at Our Wedding Styled Shoot

The area’s premier vendors all met on the Walton Arts Center’s main stage to put on a production like never before! Full of drama, romance and beautiful images, the wedding styled shoot came to life. More photos are on their way, as well as information on how to book your special day at Walton Arts Center!

Recapping an amazing photo-shoot, our team reached out to a few of the incredible vendors to share their experience, style and what it’s like to work at WAC - a big thanks to everyone who created theater wedding magic!

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Catering Unlimited

• We all come from different backgrounds and perceive food in different ways. Our food styles range from southern comfort food to ornate gourmet fare with over flowing charcuterie to Spanish style cuisine. Just one style couldn’t describe us!

• We love seeing food bring people together! Sharing a meal with friends and family is a wedding tradition that will never go out of style. We love working with clients to create a menu that truly reflects them for their special day. We are a full-service catering company, so the options are unlimited.

• We love the Walton Arts Center as a venue and facility because they have an incredible work space with all of the catering necessities, but more importantly we love the WAC staff! Each person that we’ve worked closely with over the years has been organized, friendly, diligent and professional. We appreciate their commitment to making each event that takes place a success!

She Said Yes Bridal

She Said Yes Bridal is a locally owned bridal boutique in Northwest Arkansas with a passion for people, beautiful gowns, and loving what we do!  We believe in going above and beyond the customer service experience while providing an exclusive collection of gowns in a range of sizes and silhouettes.

Aenimate Media Productions

How would you characterize your style?

I aspire to capture images in an interesting way, and edit them together to engage the viewer and stimulate one’s creativeness. Many different things and styles inspire me, but I especially enjoy creating vivid and dramatic visual styles. I try to marry those visuals with music or sound that amplifies the feeling or message being conveyed. 

What do you love about weddings and the unique services that you offer?

What I love about weddings is how personal they are to the people getting married, and how that experience is shared with their families and friends. So many strong feelings and emotions take place throughout those moments, and if I’m lucky enough to capture some of that and bundle it up into a keepsake that stirs those same emotions, I’ve done my part. I really enjoy working with couples in helping giving them something that can last their lifetime, that they can watch together reliving those moments from their special day.

JM Designs

JM Designs is “creative,” but that simply does not do her or her work justice. Inspired, thoughtful, elegant, striking, elevated and unforgettable. In a industry saturated with Pinterest ideals and inspirations, Jo takes it a step further and asks “how can we make it extraordinary?” Her eye for design and masterful understanding of color sets her apart as an artist. Her excitement for work that pushes creative boundaries and her commitment to creating beautiful events and weddings set her apart as a professional. Her candor and imagination are the perfect asset to any bride trying to break the mold, or simply breath life into the vision you have for your most perfect day.

What do you enjoy about working with Walton Arts Center (WAC)?

I see so much opportunity in a venue like WAC. It’s not like any other venue in our area! The atmosphere is nostalgic yet a blank slate all at once. Each bride will be different, and each wedding design will have its own heartbeat in a space that lends itself to creativity the way WAC does. Florals, atmospheric lights, table design - it all plays important roles in a space like this, and comes together in an elegant and climactic way that I just haven’t experienced anywhere else.  My week spent working on the Art of Wine event gave me the unique opportunity of setting up my studio in a space and working closely with the WAC team and I have to say that their professionalism and attention to detail was not only inspiring, but also a breath of fresh air.  The passion for what they do was evident in their work as well as their attitudes.  By the end of the week, everyone was exhausted, but still filled with joy and pride... I can’t wait to return to that environment again soon!

What can you do/create at WAC that is special?

Here’s what I know about a WAC bride - she values originality. No one who has their wedding or reception in a state of the art theater is wanting traditional. No, their vision is big, bold, and unique to their taste and personality. I thrive on creating wedding design rooted in the bold, extraordinary, and the unique with exceptional value and service - and taking my bride’s breath away with the final product!

Vinson Images

How would you characterize your style?

Dynamic - cinematic - documentary. We strive to tell true and authentic stories in an interesting and vivid way. We also love to create one of a kind piece of art that can be hung above a fireplace mantle.

What do you love about weddings and the unique services that you offer?

We love showing people what their story looks like, but most importantly, we love to remind them what their wedding felt like. This is the main reason we have a documentary approach to weddings. When our couples look at an image, we want them to remember what that moment felt like and not remember us posing or directing them.

 What do you enjoy about working with Walton Arts Center (WAC)?

The space that WAC has plays hand-in-hand with the type of work we like to create. We normally describe our work as cinematic, but that word could easily be exchanged for theatrical. No one does theater better then WAC!  WAC is fantastic at making someone's wedding vision come to life easily!

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Photo: Vinson Images

Your Day. Your Show.

Make Walton Arts Center the venue for your Grand Production.

Save Our Dates & Have Your Big Day At Walton Arts Center

Your Day! Your Show! Walton Arts Center is not only home to the best of Broadway, All-star performances or iconic music aCts - it is also a space where couples can be center stage for the Biggest production of their lives.

Weddings at Walton arts Center are customized, creative and show-stopping - no two events are the same. If you or someone you know are looking to tie the knot, check out Walton Arts Center for a venue that is truly unique!

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To simplify the reservation process, The following dates represent wedding availability for Spring/Summer 2020

Sunday, March 22nd, 2020

Sunday, March 29th, 2020

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Saturday, May 30, 2020

*Saturday, June 20, 2020 (ALL ACCESS DATE)

*Sunday, June 21, 2020 (ALL ACCESS DATE)

*Saturday, June 27, 2020 (ALL ACCESS DATE)

*Sunday, June 28, 2020 (ALL ACCESS DATE)

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Sunday, July 12, 2020

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Sunday, August 9, 2020

*ALL ACCESS PACKAGE – Includes the entire venue plus the build out of Baum Walker Hall stage (seating for 400)

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Want to see the magic we can create? Take a look at the beautiful images from our Walton Arts Center Styled shoot with amazing vendors from all over NorthWest Arkansas.

Images: Vinson Images

Save Our Dates & Find Out More on How To Have Your Big Day at Walton Arts Center

Safe & Secure Ticket Buying for Walton Arts Center and The Walmart AMP

It’s the day of the concert, you’ve got your ticket and You are about to head out the door for a perfect night out. the Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP team wants to help make your performance dreams a reality. The first step is making sure you have a valid ticket!

Scalping, the sale of a ticket for an event at a price higher than the face value or the sale of a non-valid ticket, is an illegal act in Arkansas. It’s something that every venue battles. And every patron should follow some simple steps to avoid scalped tickets entirely.

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Tips for Safe Ticket Purchasing:

Purchase only from the venue or their authorized ticketing system. If you don’t know what the authorized ticketing system is for a venue, visit their website first to find that out.

While you are there, do some simple research before you purchase!

• Check on ticket availability from the venue first.

  • That way you know if the show is sold out or if tickets are still available. Sold out shows can run the risk of more scalped tickets on third-party sites because sellers know that patrons are desperate to get tickets.

• Also check the price of tickets from the venue - so know what they should cost and don’t overpay.

If you still decide to purchase from a third-party or resale sites, exercise caution: When doing online searches for tickets – be aware of where those links are sending you.

• Scalpers pay to be listed higher in search. Venues usually can’t – especially non profits

• It’s a good practice to skip the ads listed at the top and actually go to the organic listing.

Also, be a smart consumer when purchasing tickets:

• Don’t advertise how desperate you are to get tickets. That includes posts on social media or in the event listing on social media. That makes you a target for scalpers to reach out to you.

• And if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you can’t verify it through the venue or if they offer to take any alternative payment method (Amazon gift cards, etc) then pass on it.

Purchasing Tickets for Walmart AMP and Walton Arts Center Events

Walton Arts Center Tickets is the only authorized ticket seller for events at Walton Arts Center, Nadine Baum Studios and the Walmart AMP. In some instances, tours will offer special deals through services like Living Social and Groupon. Those tickets are purchased by the service from our box office and are valid offers. If you ever have questions about whether a ticket offer is valid, you can always call our box office at 479.443.5600.

Please be aware that event tickets for Walton Arts Center venues purchased from third party ticketing sites may be counterfeit and in such cases would not be honored for admission.

In order to avoid problems with counterfeit or invalid tickets, we encourage patrons to ONLY purchase tickets through Walton Arts Center Tickets. Tickets can be purchased online at waltonartscenter.org, in-person at Walton Arts Center’s Box Office, via phone at 479.443.560 or on the WAC Tickets app.

If you’ve purchased scalped tickets - here are a few things you can do…

Know Your Rights

According to Arkansas Code 5-63-201, updated April 2015, re-selling tickets to an entertainment event at a venue in the state of Arkansas at greater than face value plus reasonable fees for processing is illegal. These scalpers have committed a crime to which you are the victim, and you are well within your rights seek retribution.

Steps You Can Take

• Contact your credit card company or your bank as soon as possible and start the process of disputing the charge.

Please note that in some circumstances it might even be prudent to cancel the card used, as the personal information the unauthorized ticket seller has obtained from you cannot be guaranteed as secure.

• Contact the website where you purchased the ticket to alert them about the fraud and request a refund.

Be aware that in some circumstances, they may offer only a partial refund making the amount paid equal to the “box office sale price” plus originally charged fees. You may refuse this partial refund; it is your right to demand a full refund.

• Contact the Consumer Protection Department of the Attorney General’s Office by visiting their website at www.ArkansasAG.gov or by calling (501) 682-2341 or (toll free) (800) 482-8982.

A complaint with the AR Attorney General can be easily filed against the agency or individual. The form can be found online at: http://www.arkansasag.gov/file-a-consumer-complaint/

You may also file a complaint with the Attorney General of the state in which the scalper is located.

• Contact Jennifer Dobrowolski, Box Office Manager for Walton Arts Center, at (479) 571-2709 or jdobrowolski@waltonartscenter.org with the details of your transaction, so we can update our records and do everything within our power to help you get your money back and prevent future fraud activity.

Walton Arts Center Ticketing Policies

The Walton Arts Center is the only authorized ticket seller for events at Walton Arts Center, Nadine Baum Studios and the Walmart AMP. Please exercise caution in purchasing tickets. If you have a question regarding authorized sales, please contact us at (479) 443-5600.

• Be aware that any event tickets purchased from a source other than the Walton Arts Center or the Walmart AMP may not be honored for admission.

• Tickets held at will call for an event require a matching, valid ID to pick up.

• Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP are not responsible for third party resell tickets.

Our team at Walton Arts Center and the Walmart AMP do everything we can to prevent ticket fraud, and strongly discourage our patrons from purchasing tickets through ticket resellers or third parties.

If you have any questions, we encourage you to call the Box Office at (479) 443-5600 before you buy.

Celebrating 10 Years of the 10x10 Arts Series!

10 Years of Imagination. 10 Years of Innovation. 10 Years of Inspiration. 10 Years of 10x10.

Going into the 10th season of the 10x10 Arts Series, the line up celebrates the diversity of art forms, cultures and expression that will inspire, uplift and challenge patrons. From dueling piano battles to Latin rhythms, riveting theater to classical compositions with a twist, step out of the box with the 10x10 Arts Series!

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Tiempo Libre

Three-time Grammy®-nominated Afro-Caribbean music group Tiempo Libre is one of the hottest Latin bands today.  Tiempo Libre is celebrated for its sophisticated tropical music featuring an irresistible, exhilarating mix of jazz harmonies and seductive Latin rhythms.  

Nobuntu

Nobuntu all share a common goal to promote and preserve ‘ubuntu’, a Nguni word meaning compassion and humanity. In fact the name ‘Nobuntu’ means ‘mother of ubuntu.’

“… joy seems central to Nobuntu's existence: it's present in their glorious singing, their expressive dancing, even in their dress - plaids, stripes, florals in colours as exuberant as their vocals.”

Theatre Re’s The Nature of Forgetting

At the intersection of art and science, The Nature of Forgetting bursts with creativity, joy and heartache. Collaborating with London neuroscientist Kate Jeffery, Theatre Re has created a moving articulation of the countless dimensions of memory and amnesia, linking science with real life experiences.

Piano Battle

The brainchild of internationally acclaimed pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis, the PIANO BATTLE sees the duo go head-to-head on stage, charming and enchanting the audience with a variety of classical pieces. The show is divided into several rounds, each featuring a certain musical style. The two artists, with distinctly different performance techniques, will even go so far as to improvise on the tunes you request. And patrons will help pick a winner at the end of the evening.

Ballet Memphis

Ballet Memphis brings more new works to the stage each season than any other national ballet company of the same size—from fresh new faces such as Garrett Ammon, Mikelle Bruzina, Petr Zhradnicek and Matthew Neenan, to lauded choreographers George Balanchine, Mark Godden, Julia Adam, Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Jane Comfort. Commissioned repertoire of Ballet Memphis also includes works by Trey McIntyre, Lila York, Abou Lagraa, Shapiro and Smith, Robert Battle, Joseph Jefferies and more.

Apollo’s Fire - Baroque Orchestra (Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Rediscovered)

Named for the classical god of music and the sun, Apollo’s Fire was founded by its Artistic Director Jeannette Sorrell, to revive the baroque ideal that music should evoke the various Affekts or passions in the listeners. Apollo’s Fire is a collection of creative artists who share Sorrell’s passion for drama and rhetoric.

“The U.S.A.’s hottest baroque band.”
–CLASSICAL MUSIC MAGAZINE

Socks in the Frying Pan

Socks in the Frying Pan consists of two brothers, Shane and Fiachra Hayes, as well as Aodán Coyne. This young trio from Country Clare blend Irish traditional melodies with innovative rhythmic and melodic garnish. Having gained a fan-base from four years of gigging around the west of Ireland, the group have recently began branching out with their modern traditional style and energetic approach to music. This, combined with acoustic musical interplay, three-part harmonies and an obvious love for live performances, compliments the traditional essence of both tune and songs in a fresh and entertaining way.

The Real Group

A Swedish vocal group with five dedicated singers and musicians. The group has been touring for more than 30 years and continues to excite a broad audience all over the world. With a unique musical expression in a field between jazz, pop and Northern European choral music, The Real Group is considered one of the leading forces in the world of vocal music. 

Punyah’s Abha

The Hindu epic Ramayana is a story of valor and duty. It is the story of Lord Rama, the legendary prince of the Kosala Kingdom. But it is also the story of Sita, an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, a woman who did not blindly follow instructions.

Parshwanath Upadhye, one of the world's most sought-after young dancers of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, with his company Punyah Dance Company, retells India's favorite epic with a fresh perspective and focus on it's central female character. Inspired by the book Sita by Devadatt Pattanaik and set in a traditional Margam format, Äbhä pushes the boundaries of traditional Bharatanatyam presentation and storytelling.

AFO 10x10

Soaring strings, crashing symbols and timpani drum rolls to a tumultuous musical crescendo… with a decisive sweep of his baton, internationally acclaimed Maestro Corrado Rovaris will once again lead the Artosphere Festival Orchestra through an enchanting symphonic experience.

Recognized as an important musical voice by American Public Media’s “Performance Today” – the nation’s most popular classical music radio program – the AFO is a dynamic ensemble of young, talented musicians. In their tenth year performing together, these virtuosic artists will showcase fresh interpretations of leading composers in a stunning exhibition that demonstrates the brilliance of classical music.

Love all the 10x10 performances? Be A 10x10 Ambassador!

+ Early access to all 10 performances.
+ The same seats at each performance – and priority purchasing next season!
+ Special invitations to member-only events, including exclusive masterclasses and rehearsals with the artists.
+ A 10x10 Arts Series gift.
+ Free ambassador tickets to select 10x10 Arts Series performances so you can share your 10x10 love with friends and family!
+ Access to 10x10 Creative Conversations and post-show parties with the artists.

For Lovers of Books & Broadway - Broadway Book Club for the 19-20 Season!

If you are looking for a new way to engage with books or Broadway shows ... this is the club for you! Members of the Broadway Book Club (BBC) read books that relate to our Broadway shows, Then meet together and discuss both.

By joining the BBC, you will have access to discounted tickets to the accompanying show as well as an opportunity to join a lively discussion with other BBC members. Choose as many books from the list as you'd like!

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Curator’s Note:

This year we decided to focus on the four titles of our season that are true book adaptations! Each corresponding show has been adapted from a literary source. Examining them through this lens allows us to consider the choices made when adapting the story – and will bring our discussions beyond the ‘which is better’ question to look deeper and analyze the different vehicles through which we experienced the story and consider the unique attributes of both genres.

This can be as simple as looking at what parts of the plot were left out verses what was included, or go as in depth as to examine how the director, set designers, costumers, lighting designers etc created the world of the novel on stage. Connecting the literary title to its musical counterpart will hopefully give audiences a chance to more deeply engage with the experience!

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Escape to Margaritaville

• SHOW DATES: Oct. 22-27, 2019

• BOOK CLUB DATE & TIME: Monday Oct. 28, 6-7:30 pm

• BOOK: Tales from Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett

Margaritaville may not appear on a map, but it does exist--at least in the brilliantly creative, sometimes slightly skewed imagination of Jimmy Buffett. Tales from Margaritaville is a collection of short stories (some purely fiction, some based in truth) so vividly packed with restless dreamers, wild wanderers, and pure gypsy souls that just reading it is a wild adventure. Travel along with a cowboy named Tully Mars, as he heads from Heartache, Wyoming, to Graceland, and relive the autobiographical odyssey of a third-generation sailor and first-rate musical outlaw. With unforgettable stories that present the true roamer's twin loves--the sea and the road--Tales from Margaritaville is one "smooth sailing book of infinite imagination" (Chicago Sun-Times).

A Christmas Story

• SHOW DATES: Dec. 10-15, 2019

• BOOK CLUB DATE & TIME: Monday Dec. 2, 6-7:30 pm

• BOOK: In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd
  
  Before Garrison Keillor and Spalding Gray there was Jean Shepherd: a master monologist and writer who spun the materials of his all-American childhood into immensely resonant--and utterly hilarious--works of comic art. In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash represents one of the peaks of his achievement, a compound of irony, affection and perfect detail that speaks across generations.
  
  In God We Trust, Shepherd's wildly witty reunion with his Indiana hometown, disproves the adage "You can never go back." Bending the ear of Flick, his childhood-buddy-turned-bartender, Shepherd recalls passionately his genuine Red Ryder BB gun, confesses adolescent failure in the arms of Junie Jo Prewitt and relives a story of man against fish that not even Hemingway could rival. From pop art to the World's Fair, Shepherd's subjects speak with a universal irony and are deeply and unabashedly grounded in American Midwestern life, together rendering a wonderfully nostalgic impression of a more innocent era when life was good, fun was clean, and station wagons roamed the earth.

Once On This Island

• SHOW DATES: Feb. 11-16, 2020

• BOOK CLUB DATE & TIME: Monday Feb. 17, 6-7:30 pm

• BOOK: My Love, My Love: or The Peasant Girl by Rosa Guy

Rosa Guy’s tropical retelling of "The Little Mermaid" is the gorgeous, tragic love story of Désirée, a beautiful peasant girl who devotes herself to the handsome, aristocratic young man whose life she has saved. When his upper-class family feels that Désirée’s skin is too dark and her family too poor for a boy destined for power and wealth, Désirée proves that she is willing to give everything for love. This lovely reprint will break your heart.

Born in Trinidad, Rosa Guy has written 15 novels and has received the Coretta Scott King Award, and The New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year citation.

Fiddler On The Roof

• SHOW DATES: April 14 - 19, 2020

• BOOK CLUB DATE & TIME: Monday April 20, 6-7:30 pm

• BOOK: Tevye the Dairyman and the Railroad Stories by Sholem Aleichem

Of all the characters in modern Jewish fiction, the most beloved is Tevye, the compassionate, irrepressible, Bible-quoting dairyman from Anatevka, who has been immortalized in the writings of Sholem Aleichem and in acclaimed and award-winning theatrical and film adaptations.

And no Yiddish writer was more beloved than Tevye’s creator, Sholem Rabinovich (1859–1916), the “Jewish Mark Twain,” who wrote under the pen name of Sholem Aleichem. Beautifully translated by Hillel Halkin, here is Sholem Aleichem’s heartwarming and poignant account of Tevye and his daughters, together with the “Railroad Stories,” 21 tales that examine human nature and modernity as they are perceived by men and women riding the trains from shtetl to shtetl.

Broadway Book Club

Contact our Engagement Coordinator to register for the Broadway Book Club, and you can purchase reduced-price tickets (10% off regular ticket price) to the accompanying show with our Group Sales Coordinator by calling 479.571.2719 or emailing groups@waltonartscenter.org.

Celebrating The Moon - AFO's Performance Will Be Out of this World

Inspired by our connection to the universe and the influence of space themes and pop culture through the decades, the grand compositions to be played by Artosphere Festival Orchestra celebrate the moon in a night not to be missed.

Each selection connects to the greater theme of space for the 10th anniversary of Artosphere, and the finale event includes world-renowned musicians from across our blue planet.

Program:

• Johann Strauss II | The Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314

• Claudio Monteverdi | Toccata from L’Orfeo

• Johann Sebastian Bach | Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 
  Transcribed for orchestra by Ottorino Respighi

• Georg Friedrich Händel | Overture to Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 35

• Claude Debussy | Clair de lune
  Transcribed for orchestra by André Caplet

• Richard Strauss | Also Sprach Zarathustra Op. 30 (excerpt)

• Giacomo Puccini | Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut

• John Williams | Star Wars Main Theme

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Space-influenced compositions

The Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314

Originally performed in February 1867 at a concert of the Wiener Männergesangsverein (Vienna Men's Choral Association), it has been one of the most consistently popular pieces of music in the classical repertoire. The specifically Viennese sentiment associated with Strauss's melody has made it an unofficial Austrian national anthem.

The piece was prominently used in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. After a leap from humanity's prehistoric past to its spacefaring future, the first two-thirds of The Blue Danube are heard as a space plane approaches and docks with a space station; it concludes while another spacecraft travels from the station to the Moon. The piece is then reprised over the film's closing credits.

Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 

Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (BWV 582) is an organ piece by Johann Sebastian Bach. Presumably composed early in Bach's career, it is one of his most important and well-known works, and an important influence on 19th and 20th Century passacaglias: Robert Schumann described the variations of the passacaglia as "intertwined so ingeniously that one can never cease to be amazed." The composition was used by George Lucas in his 1968 USC student film, Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB.

Clair de lune

Clair de Lune is French for "light of the moon.” The third and most famous movement of Suite bergamasque is "Clair de lune", in D♭ major. It is marked andante très expressif (at an easy walking pace and very expressive), and to be played mostly pianissimo (very softly). It is not to be confused with the two settings of the poem made by Debussy for voice and piano accompaniment.

Also Sprach Zarathustra Op. 30 

Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical novel of the same name. The composer conducted its first performance on Nov. 27, 1896 in Frankfurt. A typical performance lasts half an hour.

The initial fanfare – titled "Sunrise" in the composer's program notes – became well-known after its use in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Star Wars Main Theme

Star Wars is a 1977 instrumental hit single composed and conducted by John Williams. It is the main musical theme of the movie Star Wars. It was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The track became a hit in the United States (#10) and Canada (#13) during the fall of that year. The composition draws influence from Erich Wolfgang Korngold's score for the 1942 film Kings Row.

Artosphere Festival Orchestra Celebrates: The Moon

DATE: Saturday, June 29, 8pm

LOCATION: Baum Walker Hall at Walton Arts Center

TICKETS: $10-$49

*Special SEEK ticket offer for students and young professionals - visit waltonartscenter.org/seek/ for more!

Making of the Masterworks - AFO Performs the Classics of Mendelssohn & Brahms

You don’t want to miss the annual Artosphere Festival Orchestra’s Masterworks performance. This year, the orchestra turns to the classics of Mendelssohn and Brahms in their 10x10 Arts Series performance.

Go behind the music, Into the history of these renowned Compositions.

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Felix Mendelssohn | Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, is Mendelssohn’s last large orchestral work. It forms an important part of the violin repertoire and is one of the most popular and most frequently performed violin concertos in history. 

Mendelssohn originally proposed the idea of the violin concerto to Ferdinand David, a close friend and then concertmaster of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Although conceived in 1838, the work took another six years to complete and was not premiered until 1845. During this time, Mendelssohn maintained a regular correspondence with David, who gave him many suggestions. The work itself was one of the foremost violin concertos of the Romantic era and was influential on many other composers.

Although the concerto consists of three movements in a standard fast–slow–fast structure and each movement follows a traditional form, the concerto was innovative and included many novel features for its time. Distinctive aspects include the almost immediate entrance of the violin at the beginning of the work (rather than following an orchestral preview of the first movement's major themes, as was typical in Classical-era concertos) and the through-composed form of the concerto as a whole, in which the three movements are melodically and harmonically connected and played attacca (each movement immediately following the previous one).

The concerto was well received and soon became regarded as one of the greatest violin concertos of all time. The concerto remains popular to this day and has developed a reputation as an essential concerto for all aspiring concert violinists to master, and usually one of the first Romantic era concertos they learn. Many professional violinists have recorded the concerto and the work is regularly performed in concerts and classical music competitions.

Mendelssohn also wrote a virtuoso Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra in D minor between 1821 and 1823, when he was 12 to 14 years old, at the same time that he produced his 12 string symphonies. This work was "rediscovered" and first recorded in 1951 by Yehudi Menuhin.

Johannes Brahms | Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90

The Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90, is a symphony by Johannes Brahms. The work was written in the summer of 1883 at Wiesbaden, nearly six years after he completed his Symphony No. 2. In the interim Brahms had written some of his greatest works, including the Violin Concerto, two overtures (Tragic Overture and Academic Festival Overture) and Piano Concerto No. 2.

The premiere performance was given on December 2, 1883 by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Hans Richter.

Hans Richter, who conducted the premiere of the symphony, proclaimed it to be Brahms' Eroica. The symphony was well received, more so than his Second Symphony. Although Richard Wagner had died earlier that year, the public feud between Brahms and Wagner had not yet subsided. Wagner enthusiasts tried to interfere with the symphony's premiere, and the conflict between the two factions nearly brought about a duel.

The composition was first heard in America at one of Frank Van der Stucken’s “novelty concerts” at New York’s Steinway Hall on October 24, 1884. The Symphony is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani and strings.

After each performance, Brahms polished his score further, until it was published in May 1884. His friend the influential music critic Eduard Hanslick said, "Many music lovers will prefer the titanic force of the First Symphony; others, the untroubled charm of the Second, but the Third strikes me as being artistically the most nearly perfect.”

10 X 10 ARTS SERIES - Masterworks of Mendelssohn & Brahms

Artosphere Festival Orchestra

DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 7pm

LOCATION: Baum Walker Hall at Walton Arts Center

TICKETS: $10 (plus applicable fees)

Les Misérables Memorialized on Stages Around the World

Do you hear the people sing? Les Mis is on its way to Walton Arts Center. From book to stage, Les Misérables combines history, passion and the dream of One Day More!

Through the many renditions of the story, Victor Hugo’s timeless tale continues to speak volumes to every generation of theater goer.

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THE BOOK

Written by French author Victor Hugo (who also penned The Hunchback Of Notre-Dame), the story takes place in France during the early to mid-19th century, focusing on several characters whose lives intertwine through a series of coincidences and happenstance. So, what’s the plot of Les Miserables?

The story begins in 1815, and mainly follows Jean Valjean, an escaped convict who was sentenced to 19 years in prison after stealing a loaf of bread for his sister, and for attempting to escape incarceration. He tries to begin life anew, but struggles as he is a former convict. Eventually, he is saved by the Bishop of Digne, but is constantly followed by a policeman called Javert, who is suspicious of Valjean's actions and seeking to return him to prison.

THE MUSICAL

Les Misérables was originally released as a French-language concept album, and the first musical-stage adaptation of Les Misérables was presented at the Palais des Sports in 1980. However, the production closed after three months due to that expiry of the booking contract.

In 1983, about six months after producer Cameron Mackintosh had opened Cats on Broadway, he received a copy of the French concept album from director Peter Farago. Farago had been impressed by the work and asked Mackintosh to produce an English-language version of the show. Initially reluctant, Mackintosh eventually agreed. Mackintosh, in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company, assembled a production team to adapt the French musical for a British audience. After two years in development, the English-language version opened in London in October 1985, by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Centre, then the London home of the RSC. The success of the West End musical led to a Broadway production.

The London production has run continuously since October 1985, making it the second longest-running musical in the world after The Fantasticks, the second longest-running West End show after The Mousetrap, and the longest-running musical in the West End (followed by The Phantom of the Opera). In 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre. In October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in London: the original production at the Queen's Theatre; the 25th Anniversary touring production at its 1985 try-out venue, the Barbican Centre; and the 25th Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena.

The Broadway production opened March 12, 1987 and ran until May 2003, closing after 6,680 performances. It is the fifth longest-running Broadway show in history and was the second-longest at the time. The show was nominated for 12 Tony Awards and won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.

Subsequently, numerous tours and international and regional productions have been staged, as well as concert and broadcast productions. Several recordings have also been made. A Broadway revival opened in 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre and closed in 2008, and a second Broadway revival opened in 2014 at the Imperial Theatre and closed in September 2016. The show was placed first in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of Britain's "Number One Essential Musicals" in 2005, receiving more than 40% of the votes. A film version directed by Tom Hooper was released at the end of 2012 to generally positive reviews as well as numerous awards nominations, winning three Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and four British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA).

Les Misérables

DATE: June 18-23, 2019

LOCATION: Baum Walker Hall at Walton Arts Center

TICKETS: Starting at $38