30 Under 30
TWO WAC TEAM MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF VENUE MANAGERS (IAVM) FOUNDATION’S 30 UNDER 30 CLASS OF 2019.
This recognition is given to 30 promising venue industry professionals ages 30 and younger who have illustrated their commitment to the industry and to furthering the operational and mission-focused goals of the venues they serve.
What does it mean to you to be honored as a member of 30 under 30?
As a fundraiser, it means that our organization is really fulfilling its mission through the work that I do. Because the money we raise supports the organization at large along with our arts access and education programming, this award shines a light on the rest of the Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP team and the wonderful work that they are doing.
What are you most looking forward to when you attend the conference?
I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know other venue professionals from around the country and forming relationships with them that will last beyond the conference walls.
What do you bring to the walton arts Center organization that you are excited to grow/expand with this experience?
I enjoy talking with funders about the in’s and out’s of our industry, and I am excited to gain a deeper understanding and knowledge of the venue industry and find ways to creatively connect with and fundraiser for this organization.
What lessons have you learned in your position that have made you a more well-rounded venue professional?
Relationships are everything. That is one of the important pieces of fundraising continually driven home by our former VP of Development, Missy Kincaid. However, it goes well beyond fundraising into all aspects of this industry as well as beyond work.
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this point?
First and foremost, Wendy Riggs and Diana Brown for nominating me for the award and believing that I embodied the goals of IAVM’s 30 Under 30. Second, I want to thank all of the team members of the Walton Arts Center Development Team since I have been working here, most notably my manager Taylor Speegle. I have learned so much these past 4.5 years, not only about development and non-profit administration, but also about life in general. I would definitely not be the professional or person I am today without my team.
What does it mean to you to be honored as a member of 30 under 30?
It’s exciting! It shows my growth here and how much this company has changed my life and career path.
What are you most looking forward to when attend the conference?
The venue tours! I love seeing other venues and learning how they operate.
What lessons have you learned in your position that has made you a more well-rounded venue professional?
Safety is a huge priority when planning events. Two years ago, I thought this job was just throwing tables down and making them look pretty, but I’ve learned that there are a lot of safety factors to consider.
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this point?
Karen Percival for never giving up on me and Nick Zazal for introducing me to a whole new world of event and venue management.
OUR VISION AT WALTON ARTS CENTER
Walton Arts Center is proud to be a leader in arts education in Arkansas and the mid-South. By sharing program formats, ideas and results with other arts and education organizations in the state and nation, we strive to insure that arts participation is valued and supported by communities in and beyond Northwest Arkansas.
Capturing the Beauty of Space - Artosphere Photo Competition Finalists
The Artosphere Festival celebrates art, music and nature with exciting performances, activities and events that the whole family can enjoy. Each year, Artosphere spotlights artists and performers from around the world who are inspired by nature, and provides a creative framework for the community to discuss issues of sustainability and environmental awareness.
This year, we asked photographers to show us their perception of space and how space inspires wonder, imagination and innovation. Sharing their vision and photos, the photo contest finalists gave us a look behind their lens.
Mike Price
Artist Statements
Fairy Land Milky Way: My family and I got up around 2:30 in the morning and left our cabin. We arrived at the Fairy Land Overlook in Bryce Canyon National Park as the Milky Way was nearly vertical. You could see it with the naked eye and it was just so awesome to take in.
The Big Dipper: This scene was shot much closer to home, over at Kyle's Landing along the Buffalo River. I had been hiking up Indian Creek that afternoon with a buddy and we did some night shooting at Twin Falls at Camp Orr. When we arrived back at camp the Big Dipper was in a perfect position straight overhead. So I got a fire going and we lit the tents and played with some 20-30 second exposures to capture the scene. Kyle's Landing and Steel Creek are some of my favorite places to go in all of Arkansas.
Capitol Reef Milky Way: I had been talking with another photographer who had shot some night scenes I really admired and he steered me toward this one lone scraggly remnant of a tree at Panorama Point. It was a perfect anchor to the scene. I also love how the moon light from my over my right shoulder helped light up the foreground.
How does the Artosphere theme of “space” apply to your work?
When I think of "space" I think of the stars, the Milky Way and constellations. I feel like I captured that feeling and concept with these three pieces.
Craig Underwood
Artist Statements
Solitude: As I walked away from the campground to photograph the Milky Way, I noticed a lone camper. This was not my intended shot that evening, but I loved the peaceful serenity of this unexpected happenstance. I used my flashlight to quietly paint the tree above his tent, doing my best not to disturb the tranquility of the night. And then I silently moved on.
Mourning Trees: A close family member had unexpectedly passed away and a thick fog had crept in overnight. Taking an early morning walk to clear my thoughts, I found myself drawn to this scene.
The Dance: Every time I view this image, I can’t help but be mesmerized by the flow, rhythm and harmony of Antelope Canyon’s solid rock formations. I see a lady spinning on the dance floor with her cape flung open wide and the spotlights gleaming in the background.
How does the Artosphere theme of “space” apply to your work?
While there are many areas of photography I enjoy, landscape photography is my favorite. I love the wide open space of the great outdoors. Whether it the soaring majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains or the narrow confines of a waterfall ravine in the Buffalo river valley, these spaces are treasures to experience.
What do you hope the viewer experiences as they take in your work? What message do you hope it conveys?
More than anything, I hope my images evoke some type of emotion. When they view “Solitude” maybe they will feel a since of inner peace. When they view “The Dance” they might feel the wonderment of discovery and when they view “Mourning Trees” they might feel the sadness and sorrow that comes from unexpected loss.
Maurice Konkle
What connected you to the spaces/places In YOur Photos?
Sometimes I go searching for objects and the space between them. Often this leads me to buildings and sky, or weather-vanes and chimneys, or marble monuments and bits of chiseled text. Other times I happen upon the image, the objects and space just jump out to me. I don’t necessarily like the “searched for” less or more than the “happened upon.” The photos chosen by Artosphere both jumped out to me. I am the designated grill operator at my daughter’s and son-in-law’s house. I saw this image while performing my duties. As for the lamp and water glass, beautiful light was coming in the living room windows, I was sitting on the couch, I looked over, there it was.
What do you hope the viewer experiences as they take in your work? What message do you hope it conveys?
Most of all, when a viewer looks at my work, I hope they experience a “sense of beauty.” I have loved that phrase, “sense of beauty,” for many years. It seems to describe a precious human faculty and at the same time the experience that faculty allows. So, a sense of beauty is my hope for the viewer.
Beyond that, I hope that people say “the little rectangular section of the world chosen by this photographer is interesting.” Not only because the framing of objects is a bit unusual but also, because it shifts focus away from the center, out to edges, then maybe, comfortably between the two. I hope that is a visual metaphor that gives the viewer some delight, during direct perception and in the after-image.
Artosphere Photography Contest
Three photos have also been selected for a community choice competition. These photos will be voted on via social media and in-person at community events June 1-9, and the winner will be announced June 10.
History Resounds in Timeless Les Misérables
The Inspiration
Les Misérables is a musical based on the novel of the same name by French poet and playwright, Victor Hugo. The 1862 novel is considered by many to be one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century.
French songwriter, Alain Boublil, had the inspiration to adapt Hugo's novel into a musical while at a performance of the musical Oliver! in London. When the Artful Dodger appeared on stage, the idea of Gavroche narrating the story of Les Misérables came to mind. He pitched the concept to composer, Claude-Michel Schönberg, who then began developing a rough synopsis.
Becoming the World’s Longest Running Musical
Les Misérables, a sung-through musical based on the novel of the same name, had its world premiere in 1980 at the Palais des Sports in Paris. The production was directed by filmmaker Robert Hossein and ran for over 100 performances.
Following the world premiere run of the original French version, Herbert Kretzmer and James Fenton were given the task of adapting the material into English. This new version, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, opened on October 8, 1985, at the Barbican Arts Centre in London. The original cast included such notables as Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball and Patti LuPone.
On December 4, 1985, the world premiere production of the English version transferred to the Palace Theatre in London. It eventually moved once more on April 3, 2004, to the Queen's Theatre. It has become the second longest-running musical in the world and the second longest-running show on the West End.
Les Misérables made its journey "across the pond" in December 1986. The musical received its U.S. premiere and out-of-town tryout at the Kennedy Center's Opera House in Washington, D.C. It then premiered on Broadway on March 12, 1987, at The Broadway Theatre. In October 1990, the production moved to the Imperial Theatre, where it subsequently played over 6,500 performances. The original production closed on May 18, 2003, and has become the third longest-running Broadway musical in history.
Only three years later, a limited revival began on November 9, 2006, at the Broadhurst Theatre. This cast included Norm Lewis, Gary Beach and Celia-Keenan Bolger. The production closed in 2008.
Since its premiere in the 1980s, Les Misérables has also received several significant concert performances, international mountings and national U.S. tours. The original North American tour ran for 17 years and over 7,000 performances. As of 2012, four different U.S. national tours have been produced.
Cultural Influence
The musical has had more concurrent productions (15 at one time) than any other musical in history, as confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records.
"Britain's Got Talent" winner and pop culture sensation Susan Boyle performed Fantine's anthem, "I Dreamed a Dream," to worldwide acclaim in 2009. Almost overnight, the taping of her performance became one of the most popular videos on YouTube and has amassed over 200 million views since.
The musical has won over 70 major theater awards, including an Olivier, a Tony and a Grammy.
Les Misérables has been translated into 21 different languages including Flemish, Estonian and Castillian.
A film adaptation of the stage musical, featuring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, was released in 2012.
Victor Hugo's great classic, Les Misérables, was called "one of the best sellers of the ages." Within 24 hours of publication in 1862, the first Paris edition of 7,000 copies was completely sold out.
After Colm Wilkinson sang "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables for the first time in rehearsal, director Trevor Nunn said, "See? I told you this show is about God." One of the actors responded, "Yes, but you didn't tell us you engaged him to sing it."
The following recordings are available in English: the Original London Cast, the Original Broadway Cast, the Complete Symphonic Recording, the 10th Anniversary London Concert, the 25th Anniversary UK Tour Cast and the 25th Anniversary London Concert.
Les Misérables
DATE: June 18-23, 2019
The Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon Les Misérables heads to Walton Arts Center, direct from an acclaimed two-and-a-half-year return to Broadway.
CATS: The Classic Musical, Re-imagined
Andy Blankenbuehler promises his take on dance in the piece will still be “timeless Cats” and plans to bring his sensibilities to the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic.
“ I use a reference to Halley’s Comet,” says choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler when asked to describe his dance style. “When you see a picture of Halley’s Comet, it leads with a big face and then it trails away. So, what I try to do is I try to hit the front of the movement … that creates a pause, and in the pause, behind it, you have to capture a recognizable picture that when the audience hits the slow motion pause, they see the idea, they see the emotion, they see the character, and then it goes way again.”
Blankenbuehler, choreographer of the most recent production of Cats, hopes to use these pauses and pictures to define character.
“I’m trying to take the show into a new layer of character depth,” he explains. “There was a real tribe mentality of the original production, which was exactly perfect on the heels of Hair and those kinds of shows. That was mesmerizing to watch onstage. I’m interested in them trying to maintain tribe, but then taking a closer look at the individuals that make the tribe.”
Still, Blankenbuehler says the show “isn’t going to be contemporary, like 2016 Cats. It’s going to still be timeless Cats.”
The difference? “I’m trying to add staccato syncopation in many places where it never existed before, whereas Gillian and Andrew’s tendency is this long, melodic line. Long melodic line’s not easy for me,” he admits. “What I’m good at is the stop and start, and so I’m adding a lot of stop and start to the show, making it more guttural.
“For example, Grizabella walks out the first time, and in the original staging, [the cats] all reacted in real time,” explains Blankenbuehler. “What I’m doing in that moment is they hit these stances where the venom is coming out of them, and then in that pause other action is happening; so, it’s like an impressionistic painting, where you see the shape of the cats, and you understand what the one cat who’s moving is thinking.”
But Blankenbuehler is cognizant that with a beloved property, he can’t change too much, and he doesn’t want to. “I’m quoting a lot of Gillian, and the show’s going to look the same design-wise, and it’s going to move the same.
“So many people were like, ‘It was the first show I saw. My mom took me to that show,’” says the choreographer. “I want those people to go back to the show and be like, ‘This is the Cats that I remember, but I don’t remember it being X, Y, Z. I don’t remember it being so complicated. I don’t remember it being so deep. I don’t remember it being so funny.’”
CATS
DATE: May 28-June 2, 2019
Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater—"Memory”. CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn.
Emily Brown and the Thing: Beloved Children's Book Comes to Life on Stage for Our Littlest Patrons
Once upon a time, there was a little girl called Emily Brown and an old grey rabbit called Stanley…
Emily Brown, Stanley and The Thing take the stage on Friday, May 10 and we invite audiences ages 3+ to join the fun.
Our youngest patrons can go on a journey with Emily and her companions as they conquer their fears and try to get to bed on time.
Before or after the show, families can expand on the theater experience by doing some of these interactive activities based on the book and the play!
Family-Fun Activities For Emily Brown and the Thing:
Science
The Thing only had 100 hamburgers and one small apple for his tea. Can you plan a healthy meal for him?
Emily Brown and Stanley are trying to sleep when the Thing keeps interrupting them. Why do we need sleep? When do animals sleep? Research and learn about noctural animals!
Art & Music
Look at the different colors, textures and patterns used in the story. How would you describe them? Can you try to recreate some of them?
The illustrator created the 'Thing' based on the author's description. Could you design a new 'Thing'?
Compose a relaxing tune to help the Thing get to sleep at night.
Geography
Draw a map showing all the places that Emily, Stanley and the Thing go.
Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education
Emily Brown keeps helping the Thing, but he keeps bothering them. How do you think this makes Emily feel?
Emily Brown and the Thing
Friday, May 10, 6:30pm
Starr Theatrer at Walton Arts Center
TICKETS: $9 (kids); $15 (adults)
East Meets West in 6-WIRE's Beautiful Performance at WAC
Co-founders Xiang Gao and Cathy Yang write and play world music, crossover chamber music and jazz - performed with synced visual elements and electronic sound libraries paired with each original composition and arrangement.
The erhu, a Chinese two-stringed violin, is an essential instrument in the East, as the four-stringed violin is in the West. Inspired by the historical connection between the two instruments and by YoYo Ma and his Silk Road Project, the crossover ensemble 6-WIRE was founded by two virtuoso soloists on these instruments. The group celebrates diversity while transforming the way live instrumental music is experienced.
6-Wire 10x10 Q&A
How did 6-Wire come to be?
Xiang and Cathy were invited to perform in a concert in Washington D.C. and were asked to play a piece together. After the concert, they decided form an ensemble to reunite the violins of the East and West that both shared their origins in ancient Persia. “6-WIRE” refers to the combination of the two strings of the erhu and the four strings of the violin.
Through your instruments, you combine the East and West in your music. What do you appreciate about the unique sounds and cultures of these two regions?
Making music together with the erhu and violin brings out our dual sense of “home” that comes from growing up in China and living in the US. The freedom (and difficulty!) that comes from the erhu’s lack of fingerboard and inherent sliding evokes sounds of Beijing opera, while the violin brings a rich tradition of Western classical works. But even more exciting, in today’s divided world, is bringing these instruments and cultures back together to show the world how connected we really are.
Playing New World music from Ireland, China, the U.S. and more, do you have a favorite style of music to perform? If so, what is it and why?
We don’t have a single favorite style, and our own style is constantly evolving as we explore different instrumentation from around the world.
Pick six words—that start with the letter ‘W’—that best describe your work.
Welcoming, worldly, warm, wholehearted, wild, wired (pun intended)
What is the best advice that you have been given; and what advice would you give to aspiring musicians in the audience?
There is no such thing as being over-prepared. The rewarding fulfillment from a career in music is directly proportional to the sacrifice you give to it.
Whom do you define as visionary; and why?
Yo-Yo Ma, for his Silk Road Project and its ability to connect cultures from around the world and create new forms of expression.
What is the most rewarding thing about being a part of 6-Wire?
It is exciting to pioneer the style of the 21st century by combining influences and traditions from around the world into new works and unique concert programming. We thrive off our audiences’ energy when they hear and experience new combinations of instruments and it only inspires us to break down more barriers between styles.
What are some unique or memorable experiences you’ve had while traveling around the world to share your music?
We have toured in China as well, and it is wonderful to see that Chinese audiences are just as open and enthusiastic about mixing Eastern and Western instruments and styles. We received equally rousing applauses for performances of an American triple concerto commissioned for 6-WIRE and percussion as we did for a Chinese composition in collaboration with numerous Chinese musicians and instruments. While the world focuses on the adversarial nature of US-China relations, we choose to highlight our shared love for the arts and what makes us human.
What message do you hope to send the world via your music?
We believe that sharing music, like stories, and food, promotes understanding and broadened perspective. 6-WIRE’s mission is to break down barriers through new compositions that connect cultures from around the world.
What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to?
Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road albums, Piazzolla (Le Grand Tango, Oblivion, 4 Seasons of Buenos Aires), Sibelius Violin Concerto, Jazz Fusion (Chick Corea)
6-WIRE
Part of our 10x10 Arts Series
Thursday, May 9 at 7 pm
A Musical That Will Have You Purring: Celebrate Arkansas Spoke with Grizabella of CATS
CATS is Coming to Walton Arts Center Stage
Actress Keri René Fuller talks about her role as forlorn, ballad singing Grizabella, whose ‘eye twist[s] like a crooked pin’
Article By Marisa Lytle of Celebrate Arkansas
It must be nerve racking to walk up on stage and sing one of the most beloved musical theater songs of all time, feeling the weight of living up to the great iconic Broadway performers who have gone before you. Yet, for Keri René Fuller, who plays the role of Grizabella in the national touring production of Cats, getting to sing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Memory” eight times a week is an incredibly rewarding experience that she never thought she would have.
“It’s a very high-pressure moment,” Fuller explains, “because it’s what people wait to hear every night, and these amazing iconic women have sung this song before me. For me to join that canon is hard to wrap my head around. As I’m singing, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for my role, for the show, for my castmates. I think even though it debuted in the 1980s, the song still resonates in 2019.”
Cats is the winner of seven Tony Awards® including Best Musical and tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. This classic musical with original score by Webber and original scenic and costume design by John Napier has itself been reborn for a new generation with all-new lighting design by Natasha Katz (Aladdin), all-new sound design by Mick Potter, new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne (Phantom), and direction by Trevor Nunn.
Fuller describes her character Grizabella as an incredibly complex character, despite the fact she is only onstage five times throughout the show. She is full of regret and loneliness, pining for the days of her youth when she was happy and accepted by her tribe. A major plotline of Cats centers on the tribe’s forgiveness of Grizabella and her being chosen by Old Deuteronomy to be sent to the Heaviside Layer to be reborn.
“I learn something new from her every performance,” Fuller says. “Where we find her in the show, she is unapologetically asking for what she wants in life, which is asking to be a part of a tribe of cats that she used to be a part of.” Interestingly, Grizabella the “Glamour Cat” does not appear in T.S. Eliot’s work Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats on which the musical is based, but rather is the feline version of a woman referenced in Eliot’s poem “Rhapsody on a Windy Night.”
Fuller dances as young, carefree “Baby Griz” in the opening number, but her official entrance is as an old, withered Grizabella whose ragged appearance repulses her fellow Jellicle cats. Fuller says it takes her a full two hours to get into character for Grizabella, including warming up her body and voice, applying her own extensive cat makeup, and putting on her costume consisting of a furry coat, little black dress, unitard, stockings, high heels, gloves, braided tail, cat ears and a curly, gray wig. Fuller has no more than 12 minutes to change from her Baby Griz costume into mature Grizabella.
“Before this production, I never was able to do a cat eye,” she laughs, “but now I can, no problem.”
Fuller says audiences who come see Cats will benefit from taking two-and-a-half hours out of their week to experience a story that’s lighthearted, nostalgic, and multi-generational.
“We’re not all going to be the same,” she says, explaining a central message of Cats. “We’re not all going to receive other people the same way in life. There’s something beautiful about acceptance, and power doesn’t come from taking and taking and taking, but through living a giving lifestyle.”
Meet Keri
Hometown: Bethany, Oklahoma
Career: Has lived three years in NYC, where she works both on Broadway and regionally, as well as leading professional workshops and labs around the city. She is one of the staple voices used in the NYU Graduate Music Theatre Writing Program and performs in their thesis presentations and records demos for both the students’ and professors’ projects.
Broadway credits: Waitress (Francine & Jenna understudy)
Regional credits: Murder Ballad (Sara), Les Misérables (Eponine), Lizzie Borden (Lizzie), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), Dogfight (Rose), A Chorus Line (Maggie).
Hobbies and interests: plants, coffee shops, books, yoga studios/fitness regimens, and friends
CATS
May 28-June 2 | 8 shows
Tickets start at $38.
Tues-Thurs @ 7 pm
Thurs @ 1:30 pm
Fri-Sat @ 8 pm
Sat-Sun @ 2 pm
Get Ready for Art of Wine - Tips, Tricks & Garden Party Outfits
The annual night out that will put you on Cloud Wine is almost here - Art of Wine’s Uncorked event is right around the corner and we are sharing all of the ways to make the most of your experience!
VIP tickets are available for Uncorked and grant you early access to the event and a private lounge with exclusive wines!
Art of Wine Boutique Partners
Looking for the perfect outfit for our modern garden party? Local boutiques across Northwest Arkansas have partnered with the event to put together easy, gorgeous looks for Uncorked!
Skye on the Town
620 N College Ave #103, Fayetteville, AR 72701
SIRE Boutique
106 S Blair St, Springdale, AR 72764
Art of Wine App
To help patrons remember their favorite wines, the Art of Wine mobile app is back. Easily search for wines by their location at the event, by type and by region then add wines to their favorites, to the wish list within the app or send their wish list to Liquor World.
Pro-Tip, Uncork your Night OUt with:
Art of Wine ACTIVATIONs
Entertainment will be provided by Rozenbridge and DJ Jon Teal.
Rozenbridge is a rockin' folk duo featuring Tim Warden on vocals/guitar and Christian Serrano-Torres on cello. Blending their classical and rock background, their listeners embark into a musical wormhole. Their original style and sound is a refreshing mix of folk, reggae, bluegrass, rock and metal (with a dash of Siracha).
Cocktail Classes Will Be Held Throughout the Event led By Steven Idlet from From Maxine’s Tap Room
Balloon Pop is Back
Your chance to win prizes such as tickets to Walton Arts Center & Walmart AMP shows, wine, merchandise and goodies from local boutiques - and more! All proceeds support arts education and outreach in our region.
Pop Up Shops
Underwoods Fine Jewelers Pop-Up shop will be open during Uncorked! A percentage of the proceeds from the event will fund Walton Arts Center's arts education programming.
Distinctive Dwelling Pop-Up shop will have fun wine and kitchen merchandise pop up shop at Uncorked!
PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS:
Alchemy Macarons │ Big Orange │ Bordinos │ Briar Rose Bakery │ Catering Unlimited │ Con Quesos Fusion Tacos │ Early Bird Catering │ Elevation at Mt. Sequoyah │ Ella’s Table │ Fellow Coffee │Fork & Crust Pie Co. │ Grotto Wood Fired Grill + Wine Cave │ Local Lime │ Meiji │Nellie B’s Bakery │ Sauced Barbeque & Brews │ Southern Food Company │ Theo’s │ Wood Stone Pizza │ 28 Springs
PARTICIPATING DISTRIBUTORS:
Central Distributors │ Deep Branch Winery │ De Nux Distributor │ Moon Distributors │ Post Familie Vineyards │ Rock Town Distillery │ Sassafras Winery │ Southern Glazer’s │ Wiederkehr Winery
Art of Wine Special Rooms
Bubbles Room dedicated to champagne and sparkling wines that will have you saying, "yes way rosé!" There’s also a space for beer and spirit fans to get “all hopped up” and for the luxury guest, treat yourself in the VIP Tasting in the Reserve Room with premium wines and culinary experiences - you’ll be on cloud wine.
ART OF WINE
Winemaker’s Dinner - Thursday, May 16
Uncorked - Friday, May 17
Proceeds from the Art of Wine Festival support Walton Arts Center, a nonprofit arts presenting organization serving the region for more than 27 years. Each year more than 195,000 community members experience a variety of performing arts at Walton Arts Center and approximately 45,000 school children and teachers in Arkansas participate in our arts education and outreach programs.
Starrlight Jazz Series Shines in the Upcoming Season
Six incredible performances are lined up for the Starrlight Jazz 2019/20 Season including centennial acts and music legends. With something for every jazz lover, subscriptions are available now and this series is one not to miss.
FreddY Cole Quartet – Tribute to Nat “King” Cole Centennial
(Four time Grammy nominee, 2019 Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Recording)
Freddy Cole is one of American popular music’s great performers. Like pop icon Tony Bennett, Freddy is a beloved musician and a living link to the Great American Songbook.
While there are certain unmistakable similarities in timbre to his brother Nat, his voice is raspier, smokier, jazzier even. In truth, his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother, and his timing swings even more. His vocals – suave, elegant, formidable, sometimes spoken and articulate – make him the most respected lyrical storyteller in jazz.
Cole’s career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of America’s homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own. While evoking the suave styling of Earl “Fatha” Hines and Teddy Wilson, Cole is very much his own man, whose toe-tapping forays recall the bluesy minimalism of Count Basie, the urbane sophistication of George Shearing and the uptown swagger of Duke Ellington.
“Gorgeous autumnal baritone, expressive phrasing and pitch-perfect feel for jazz standards, pop tunes and love ballads.”
– People Magazine
Jason Marsalis Quartet
Jason Marsalis is the youngest sibling of Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo. Together, the four brothers and their patriarch Ellis, comprise New Orleans’ venerable first family of jazz. By age six, not only had Jason gotten his first real drum set, but he was also taking lessons from the legendary New Orleans drummer James Black. At age seven he was sitting in with his father’s jazz group, as well as playing with his trombonist brother, Delfeayo.
Throughout his high school years, he continued to hone his skills by playing gigs with his father and brothers, as well as studying orchestral percussion techniques. Shortly after graduation in 1995, Jason ascended to the drum throne of the group lead by virtuoso pianist Marcus Roberts. In 1998, he co-founded the Latin-jazz group Los Hombres Calientes. Jason left the Los Hombres group to attain more focus with the Marcus Roberts trio in 2000. It was around that time the Jason started to play the vibraphone on gigs in New Orleans. This evolved in yet another chapter in Jason’s career as he recorded on the vibes while starting to lead his own band. In 2009, the Marsalis Family would receive the NEA Jazz Masters award and later that year, Jason would release his first new albums in nine years and his debut album on vibes Music Update.
With each passing year Jason Marsalis continues to grow and develop as both a composer and performer. With a fire in his heart and a passion for the music, his will to swing has never been more resolute.
Catherine Russell
Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a legendary pianist/bandleader/arranger/composer and Louis Armstrong’s musical director. Her mother, Carline Ray, was a pioneering bassist/guitarist/vocalist and holder of advanced degrees from Julliard and Manhattan School of Music, who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm and Mary Lou Williams. Not surprising considering her pedigree, Catherine is a one-of-a-kind musician and vocalist. A graduate of American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Russell has toured the world, performing and recording with David Bowie, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Feinstein, Levon Helm, Paul Simon, Rosanne Cash, Wynton Marsalis, Dr. John, Vince Giordano and many others, appearing on over 200 albums.
Since the 2006 release of her debut album, Cat, Russell has released six acclaimed and chart topping albums have followed. In 2012, Russell won a Grammy Award for her appearance as a featured artist on the soundtrack album for the HBO TV series “Boardwalk Empire.”
Russell is that rarest of entities – a genuine jazz and blues singer – who can sing virtually anything. Her voice is full blown femininity incarnate; a dusky, stalwart and soulful instrument that radiates interpretive power yet remains touchingly vulnerable. Her repertoire features a selection of gems from the 1920's through the present; vital interpretations, bursting with soul and humor.
Fred Hersch Trio
A 12-time Grammy nominee, Fred Hersch has garnered jazz’s most prestigious awards, including the 2016 Doris Duke Artist, 2016 and 2018 Jazz Pianist of the Year from the Jazz Journalists Association and the 2017 Prix Honorem de Jazz from L’Acádemie Charles Cros. The trio, in which Hersch has been joined by bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson for the last decade, was voted the No. 2 Jazz Group in the 2018 DownBeat Critics Poll. Recognizing the trios unique ability to traverse a wide range of styles and approaches while maintaining profound depths of emotion and the exhilarating spark of invention is what leaves audiences craving more. In 2006, Hersch became the first artist in the 75-year history of New York’s legendary Village Vanguard to play a week long engagement as a solo pianist.
For two decades, Hersch has been a passionate spokesman and fund-raiser for AIDS services and education agencies. He has produced and performed on four benefit recordings and in numerous concerts for charities.
Art Blakey Centennial - The Messenger Legacy Band
Art Blakey was often called the father of hard bop. He was responsible for producing and developing more jazz talent than any other band leader of his era. During his more than six decade career, Art Blakey’s band The Jazz Messengers was considered the quintessential forum for musicians who wished to hone their talent and leave their own mark on the jazz scene. Trumpeter Terrance Blanchard said, “No one has brought more to jazz than Art Blakey.”
The Messenger Legacy is an elite line-up of alumni members of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, each now a longtime leader on his own and considered among jazz’s most accomplished players. The current configuration is Bobby Watson (alto sax), Essiet Essiet (bass), Geoff Keezer (piano), Brian Lynch (trumpet), Bill Pierce (tenor sax) and at the drums, the last drummer chosen by Art Blakey to play at his side in the Jazz Messenger 2-Drummer Big Band, Ralph Peterson.
This group of musicians wishes to preserve, protect and honor the legacy of a man who was much more than a bandleader to all of them. This group has helped launch renewed appreciation for one of the most important institutions of apprenticeship in American music history. The list of jazz musicians who came through Blakey’s Jazz Messenger band numbers well over 200 and includes icons like John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Chick Corea, Benny Green, Branford Marsalis, Bud Powell, Cedar Walton, Chuck Mangione, Horace Silver, Jon Hendricks, Keith Jarrett, Lee Morgan, Wynton Marsalis and Yusef Lateef!
Arun Luthra's Konnakol Jazz Project with Selvaganesh
Arun Luthra is one of the premier saxophonists and composers on New York’s jazz scene, and is one of the small group of American jazz musicians of Indian heritage who have continued to explore to possibilities of fusing the modern post-bop sound with elements of Indian classical music, as well drawing from a wide variety of modern and classic musical influences to create a vibrant new sound and style. He has performed the music of his Konnakol Jazz Project worldwide and throughout the United States. As a performer he has shared the stage and recorded with many of the greatest jazz, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and pop artists in the world including Bobby Short, Eddie Henderson, Mike Stern, Kenny Garrett, Charli Persip, The Temptations and Frankie Valli. Luthra is also a faculty member at the renowned School of Jazz in The New School’s College of Performing Arts.
Joing Luthra’s ensemble will be Selvaganesh Vinayakram. Preferring to go by his first name, Selvaganesh is the son of T.H. “Vikku” Vinayakram, the legendary Indian percussionist best-known for his ghatam work in the pioneering acoustic fusion group Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin. From 1999 to 2013, Selvaganesh performed in Remember Shakti, a successor to the original group, together with McLaughlin, tabla master Zakir Hussain and vocalist Shankar Mahadevan.
2019/20 Unilever Starrlight Jazz Club on sale now!
Subscriptions are available for the best seats and 15% off single ticket prices. Visit the Box Office or call 479.443.5600.
Brave, Beautiful Broadway! Sara Bareilles' Music in Waitress the Musical Has Got it All!
Seven years ago, Sara Bareilles was "just" a successful musician living in LA. With multiple chart-topping hits, such as "Love Song" and "Brave," under her belt, she felt comfortable. But something was stirring inside of her—a craving for change.
So she packed up her things and moved across the country to New York, where her agent reached out with a new opportunity, this time, in theater. There was a small production in the works based off a 2007 movie called Waitress, and the director, Diane Paulus, wanted Sara to be a part of it.
It certainly wasn't what Sara was expecting, but she figured she'd at least hear her out. It was then that Sara fell in love with the story and decided to take a leap of faith, joining the production as the lead songwriter. It was a risky move, and Sara admits she probably wouldn't have taken the project on if she had known how much work it would require.
"It's really good for you as a person to do something you don't know how to do, and to learn, and to ask questions, and to be a student again," she says.
Sara had zero theater experience, but she obviously had music chops, and was able to translate her skills to create the entire score for the production. After the show made its 2015 premiere at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it moved to Broadway and quickly became a hit.
Sara’s 11 o’clock number, “She Used to Be Mine,” seemed so insanely specific to the musical (“she is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie”) that she felt self-conscious performing it in concert. But audiences have a way of making decisions for themselves. The song, written for a pregnant, abused waitress, reflecting back on the dreams she did not achieve, has been claimed, unexpectedly, by men, by children, by singers of all sorts.
“The range of who this song speaks to is much broader than I could have anticipated,” Bareilles said. “The chasm between who we are, and who we thought we would be, is always something we’re negotiating.”
Covers of the song caught Bareilles’ attention when a video of a gut-punching version by a 14-year-old boy from western Pennsylvania went viral in the fall. Then she started to notice it popping up on set lists. Heather Headley, a Tony winner for “Aida,” put her version on a new album alongside standards like “Over the Rainbow.” Just last week, Kathryn Gallagher, an actress in the cast of the Broadway-bound “Jagged Little Pill,” performed her own take, accompanied by a cello, at a Midtown bar, encouraged to do so, she said, by fans online.
"(Waitress) has turned into the deepest love and the most incredible turning point in my artistic life and also my life just as a person on the earth," Bareilles says. She even got the chance to step into the main role of Jenna Hunterson. Although it was certainly a challenge, she doesn't regret a thing. "Stay open-minded about doing the thing that's hard because I think that's where the real reward lives," recommends Sara.
Sara Bareilles is releasing her newest album, Amidst the Chaos on April 5. Here’s a note from Sara about the album:
“Amidst the Chaos is a collection of songs that came to life over the last couple of years and now they are ready for you.
This summer, in Los Angeles, along side some incredible collaborators and one inimitable producer named T Bone Burnett, the record came together swiftly and softly. It has been a lifelong dream to make music with T Bone, and I was so moved by his wisdom and his interest in soulful human expression, versus perfection. I want more of that in my life and it lives loud (and soft) and proud on this record and I can't wait for you to hear it. My eternal love and gratitude for your listening.”
xo, Sara
Waitress
"The women of Waitress are changing Broadway!" - Time Magazine
April 9-14
Tickets start at $38
Family Art Night at WAC: You and Me and the Space Between
Families are invited to play, create and learn at Walton Arts Center Then stay for the imaginative tale of You and Me and the Space Between by Terrapin Puppet THEATER.
Free arts & crafts, puzzles, games and interactive learning stations will be set up throughout the lobby with a fantastic group of community partners. These partners are committed to the ideas of culture, sustainability, climate change and reducing our global footprint!
Participating Partners include:
Ozark Natural Science Center
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Canopy NWA
NWA Land Trust
Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks
Fayetteville & Washington County Recycling
Tri Cycle Farms
University of Arkansas EntomologY
Make a night of it and stay to see You and Me and the Space Between. the play tells the story of a young girl who FInds a way to save her imperiled island home.
From the imagination of one of Australia’s most accomplished children’s playwrights comes a tale of wonder and invention. Storytelling, choreographed projections and live drawn animation explore the plight of refugees fleeing environmental change through the eyes of a child. Step inside a picture book with an artist and storyteller, amidst a paper set that’s cut, ripped, patched and manipulated live to create a world of play.
Best for ages 7+. Tickets are just $9.
You and Me and the Space Between local Narrator
Erika Wilhite
Erika Wilhite is a voice over actor, immersive theater artist, producer, playwright, director and dramaturg. She founded Artist’s Laboratory Theatre (ALT), a community-centered, site-specific theater in Northwest Arkansas whose mission is to embolden and empower individuals as “change agents” through theater and storytelling.
“We love using a local actor to narrate the story, because we want the children to hear the story in their local dialect or accent, so it is more personal for them,” said Sam Routledge, artistic director for Terrapin Puppet Theatre Company.
Family Art Night at WAC: You and Me and the Space Between
Thursday, March 28, starting at 6 pm
Performance of You and Me and the Space Between starts at 7 pm
Take a Bite Out of Delicious Recipes from Local Pie Bakers
Three local pie bakers answered the call to bring their best recipes to Walton Arts Center for our Baked from the Heart Pie Competition, inspired by the upcoming musical Waitress.
Three local judges, Chef Steven Brooks, cookbook author and owner of Euna Mae’s Amy Hannon and KNWA’s morning show anchor Chris Frye had the difficult task of tasting them all and picking a winner.
The pies were delicious and the bakers have been so kind to share the recipes with us! Much like Jenna from Waitress, our three bakers pour their hearts in their pies and craft scrumptious treats that are a little slice of heaven.
Nana Lucyanna's Coconut Cream Pie
Finalist
Ingredients & Instructions
CRUST
1 cup flour
0.5 t salt
1/3 cup Crisco
Work Crisco in to sifted flour and salt mixture. Your goal is to stir as little as possible. Add drops of ICE WATER (very important)…carefully add the water; too much water makes tough dough that will stick when you roll out. If you do put a little too much, be generous with your use of flour as you roll it out. Mix. Roll out.
FILLING
3/4 cup sugar
¼ cup flour
¼ cup corn starch
¼ t salt
2 eggs
14 oz coconut milk
1 ½ cup half and half
1 cup coconut
1 t vanilla
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, add two eggs, beat mixture for 6-8 minutes under medium-high speed. Add one 14 oz can of coconut milk and 1 ½ cups half and half. Cook on low to medium heat until boils, stirring continuously. Cook another 4-5 minutes to make pudding creamier. Take off burner and put in a t of vanilla and 1 cup coconut. Put into pre-baked piecrust.
*cook crust at 360 for 15 minutes before putting in filling.
WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING
1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
½ cup powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
Mix ingredients until thickens and then put it on pie when the pie is COOL. Toast coconut in a pie pan and bake for few minutes until golden brown. Let the toasted coconut cool and then place on top of homemade whipped topping.
With Love,
Carissa Freeman
Ozark Mountain Grape
Winner
Ingredients & Instructions
Crust:
254 gr (approximately 2 Cups) All Purpose Flour
5 gr (approximately 1 Tsp.) Salt
141 gr (approximately ¾ Cup) Shortening
⅓ - ½ Cup very cold water
Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender or fork until coarse (pea size) crumbs develop. Stir in enough water with fork just until dough will form a ball.
Divide ball in half and shape each half into a ¾” thick disk. Wrap and chill 20-30 minutes.
During this time prepare the filling.
Filling:
24 oz seeded Campbell Early Grapes (weighed after seeds are taken out)
1 ⅛ Cup Sugar
3 ½ Tablespoons Instant Clear Jel
Very slight pinch Salt
¼ Tsp. (compacted) Orange Zest
2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
Whisk 3 dry ingredients together
Fold dry mix, butter and zest into seeded grapes.
Set aside while rolling out the dough
Roll out one disk slightly larger than pie plate on a lightly floured surface
Place it in the pie plate
Place filling into bottom pie shell pastry
Roll out second disk for a full cover, lattice, or decoration as desired
Brush edge of bottom pastry with water
Cover with top pastry, slightly press edge of top pastry onto bottom pastry shell to seal the edge
Trim off excess dough
Slit top to allow steam to vent
Bake at 425 degrees on middle rack for 15 minutes
Lower temp to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.
-Jerry Leding
Boppy's Knee-Slappin', Mouth smackin', Eyes roll back in your head it's so good Sour Cream Raisin Pie
Finalist
Ingredients & Instructions
CRUST: This makes 2 crusts ... one for now, an extra because you'll want to make it again VERY soon!
6 Tbsp. and 3 Tbsp. unsalted softened butter, divided
1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
3 Tbsp. granulated white sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup AP flour
3/4 cup (plus about 2 Tbsp. more) quick cook rolled oats
1/8 tsp of baking powder
1/8 tsp of baking soda
1/4 heaping tsp coarse kosher salt
Cream butter and both sugars with an electric hand mixer in medium sized bowl for about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed until light and fluffy. (you can use a stand mixer, but dang! Why make the clean up harder?)
Add egg and continue to beat until pale and fluffy.
Add oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and beat until it's all mixed together good, about 1 minute. Turn oat mixture out onto a prepared cookie sheet (which you have either lined with parchment or a non stick silicone mat or sprayed Pam like the devil to cover the sheet) and press out until you have an even layer about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. (Basically, one big 'ole misshapen cookie ... looks right now are NOT important.)
Bake at 350 until it is just lightly golden on top, about 15 to 18 minutes ... you know your oven best, just keep an eye on it. Let cool on rack until completely cooled.
Once your "cookie" is completely cool crumble it up with your hands into a big bowl.
Add the other 3 Tbsp. of butter and a tablespoon of light brown sugar and mix it all together until it will stick together to form a crust. (Now's the time to split the mixture in half, one for now and one for "later". It freezes beautifully!)
Press mixture into a 9 inch pie pan, be it glass, tin, or ceramic. (Tins make the best pies, but I won't judge.) Work the mixture from the bottom up the sides until you have a full solid covering of crust in the pie pan interior. Just be sure to bring the sides up to the top edge of the pan ... you'll need to have it for the meringue to hang on to later!
FILLING:
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
In a small saucepan, cover the raisins with just enough water and heat to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and set aside. (you are plumping them up!)
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt, cloves and cinnamon.
Stir in sour cream and milk until mixture is nice and smooth. Cook slow over medium heat until just thickened and bubbly.
Reduce heat to low; cook and stir for 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Now's when you get to temper the eggs!
Stir a small amount of your hot filling into egg yolks whisking like crazy to combine them ... you don't want the eggs to scramble! Once it your eggs have adjusted to the heat, you can now add them to the rest of the cooked mixture in the pan, stirring constantly while doing so.
Remember, you are on low heat ... bring it up in temp just a hair until it starts a low, gentle boil. (that stage between a simmer and too many bubbles) Continue to stir it and let that cook for a couple more minutes. Remove from the heat.
Drain your raisins, but reserve about 1/2 cup of the water you cooked them in and gently stir that in to your filling mixture. Then add your raisins and mix it all together. Pour this filling into your Oat Cookie Crust and get your oven back to 350 degrees.
Meringue:
NOW, you can haul out your stand mixer. But for gosh sakes, make sure your mixing bowl and whisk are clean as all get out ... just the least little bit of dust or food residue will cause your egg whites not to set up proper.
Put the three egg whites in the bowl that were left over from the filling recipe and add another for good measure ... maybe even a fifth if you want mile high pie meringue. It's up to you, but I vote for no less than 4 egg whites.
Wisk on high in your stand mixture and sprinkle in a little cream of tartar and a couple, two, or three tablespoons of granulated white sugar, adding gradually, until you reach stiff peak consistency. (Meringue sweetness is definitely a matter of personal opinion and this recipe is already pretty darned sweet, so I'd err on the side of DO MORE SUGAR! Nah, just kidding ... I think 5 tablespoons are plenty.)
Spread over hot filling, sealing the meringue edges to the crust.
Pop this beauty into your 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes ... the meringue should be gloriously golden and browned on the peaks. Let cool for at least 1 hour before serving and refrigerate what little, if any, that is left.
-Kay Weiderhaft
VoiceJam A Cappella Festival
people all over the world are rediscovering the power and magic of the human voice - A cappella is one of the oldest forms of music and yet it’s fresh, evolving and alive in popular culture. Between the successes of the hit NBC show “The Sing-Off,” musical films like Pitch Perfect and superstar a cappella groups.
We’re proud to bring outstanding a cappella professionals together with collegiate, high school and semi-professional singers to showcase some of the best contemporary a cappella talent in the country. Creating an international forum in Northwest Arkansas for a cappella music is an important goal for VoiceJam, and we’re excited to continue doing this in our fifth festival year.
THE COMPETITORS:
The Beartones – Missouri State University, Springfield
Natural State of Mind – Jacksonville High School, Ark.
KeyHarmony – University of Central Florida, Orlando
Green Tones – University of North Texas, Denton
Lark – University of Colorado, Denver
Top Shelf Vocal – Los Angeles, California
Euphoria – Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Mich.
Business Casual – San Mateo, California
VoiceJam is so much more than just a performance competition. Throughout the festival, participants enhance their music skills through a variety of workshops led by internationally and locally renowned vocal coaches; masterclasses are also offered for new and experienced singers, including sessions on vocal percussion, harmony blending, collaborative arranging and the history of a cappella.
In every community—at every moment—someone is singing. VoiceJam is a festival where people come to savor the vocal vibrancy from across the country and around the world. We’re cultivating musical friendships and hoping to inspire Northwest Arkansas to sing beyond this weekend and throughout the year. We think it’s great to live in a community where people of all ages are creating and experiencing a variety of music!
Sip, Sip Hooray! New Wines at Walton Arts Center
Walton Arts Center’s patrons have shared their thoughts regarding the selection of wines available At Concessions and we’ve listened to your feedback. We are upping our wine game- Sip, Sip, Hooray!
Sweeter whites, richer reds and wine notes that meet everyone’s taste profile - take a sip and learn more about our new wine options. And the best part of this sweet indulgence… all concessions profits help to fund our arts education programs at Walton Arts Center. So, sip and savor away - these new reds and whites are here to stay!
Conundrum Red
“We believe in being both serious and playful, and this wine fits the bill. A rich, dark red, it offers aromas of ripe berries and plums, warmed by a hint of cocoa. Dried fruit and the taste of chocolate-covered cherries come through on the palate, while a wisp of smokiness makes this wine – created from dark red varietals including Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon – the perfect complement to grilled meats and full-flavored dishes. Tannins are rounded out by the ripeness of the berries for a texturous but smooth mouth feel. The finish makes us think of lingering at the end of a long evening and still not wanting to go home, with layers of rich flavor that teasingly trail off.” - Charlie Wagner, Director of Winemaking at Conundrum
19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon
Bright red to crimson hues, this wine confidently takes charge with intense lifted vanilla aromatics balanced with red currants, violets and mulberry fruits. Firm and full on the palate with a subtle sweetness giving a rich mouth feel. The vanilla aromatics carry through on the palate and compliment subtle flavors of red currants, dark cherries and chocolate. The palate is filled with dark berry fruit and the soft tannins provide a lingering finish.
Hear the historical stories direct from The Infamous. Download the Living Wine Labels App, then point your phone and watch. It's as easy as impersonating an Egyptian and getting sentenced to deportation to Australia in 1806.
Josh Cabernet Sauvignon - Craftsman Collection series
Josh’s Cabernet Sauvignon was the first wine made by the company. It is the wine that started it all, setting the exacting standards that they hold themselves to for all of their varietals. Round and juicy, our Cabernet Sauvignon has flavors of blackberry, toasted hazelnut and cinnamon, complemented by hints of vanilla and toasted oak.
Josh’s Craftsman series is exclusive to restaurants and venues, meaning you cannot buy this in stores!
Merf Chardonnay
The 2016 Chardonnay is smooth, rich and balanced. With flavors of fresh apple, pear and tropical fruit with the oak giving it a nice rich mouthfeel and hints of oak in the nose and finish.
MERF’s goal was simply to make delicious, approachable wines that pair equally well with everyday foods and everyday life.
Apothic White
A blend of Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Grigio for a medium-bodied California white wine blend with vibrant layers of flavor featuring peach, apricot and floral notes. Riesling lends Apothic White its floral notes and firm acidity. Chardonnay adds texture and body, while Pinot Grigio contributes refreshing flavors of peach and apricot leading to a crisp, balanced finish.
Inspired by "Apotheca," a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in 13th century Europe, the wines of Apothic are truly unique in style and taste.
Cast Your Vote By Purchasing Your Favorite in Our…
BATTLE OF THE REDS
These two big, bold Reds are battling it out for a space on our concessions menu. The concessions team is closely monitoring sales to see which of the two, Josh or Conundrum, come out ahead and secure their spot. Vote with your purchase - may the odds be ever in your flavor!
WELCOME TO THE 2019-20 BROADWAY SEASON AT WALTON ARTS CENTER
A home for Broadway, right here in your own back yard. welcome to the biggest season yet with seven Blockbuster shows! Five shows are coming straight from New York City to Northwest Arkansas on their first national tours, and the season includes the 2018 Tony winner for Best Musical and Best Musical Revival.
Bringing the best of Broadway to the heart of Northwest Arkansas, Walton Arts Center’s 2019-20 season includes Escape to Margaritaville, The Play that Goes Wrong, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Once on This Island, Anastasia, Fiddler on the Roof and The Band’s Visit.
Set your mind to island time and get away from it all – you may find something you never expected in Jimmy Buffett’s Escape To Margaritaville, packed with Buffet’s iconic hits and a story line that ties them all together.
USA Today calls it “A little slice of paradise!” and Entertainment Weekly raves, “It will knock your flip-flops off!” So don't let the party start without you.
Parrotheads, unite! Hear the songs that define a star’s career, including “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
Wrong moves have never been so right in the funniest and longest-running play on Broadway, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. A mashup of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes, this Oliver Award®-winning comedy was called “a gut-busting hit” by The New York Times.
Welcome to opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. With an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines), it’s “A riotous explosion of comedy!” (The Daily Beast) and “Tons of fun for all ages!” (HuffPost). The New York Post has just one word for you: “GO!”
Based on the perennial holiday movie favorite, A Christmas Story, The Musical chronicles young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, an official Red Ryder® Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle (“You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”). An infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas wish.
Hailed by The Associated Press as “a joyous Christmas miracle,” The New York Times writes “I was dazzled. You’d have to have a Grinch-sized heart not to feel a smile spreading across your face.” A Christmas Story, The Musical is a triple-dog-dare of a good time and it is sure to warm your heart this holiday season!
“What a delight it is to enter the world of Once on This Island!” raves The New York Times. Time Out New York cheers, “After seeing this imaginative and dynamic musical, you may feel once is not enough!”
Rain falls, fire burns, wind blows and hearts soar. Set on a stunningly detailed re-creation of a sea-swept Caribbean village, this Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival Once on This Island surrounds the audience with the vibrant story of a woman who travels far and wide to reunite with the man who has captured her heart.
Journey to the twilight of the Russian Empire when the stunningly beautiful Anastasia takes the stage. Inspired by the beloved film of the same name, the story follows a brave young woman as she sets out to discover the mystery of her past. This is an epic quest to find love, family and home.
With its opulent settings, dazzling costumes and a soaring score including the song favorites from the hit animated film, “Journey to the Past” and “Once Upon a December,” Anastasia is the spectacular new musical about discovering who you are and defining who you’re meant to be.
Rich with musical hits you know and love, including “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “To Life (L’Chaim!),” Fiddler on the Roof is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter.
Tony®-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind South Pacific, The King and I and 2017 Tony-winning Best Play Oslo, bring a fresh and authentic vision to this beloved theatrical masterpiece from Tony winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. Featuring a talented cast, lavish orchestra and stunning movement and dance from Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins, Fiddler on the Roof will introduce a new generation to the uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life!
The Band’s Visit is the winner of 10 Tony Awards, making it one of the most Tony-winning musicals in history. It is also a 2019 Grammy Awards® winner for Best Musical Theater Album. In this delightfully offbeat story, set in a town that’s way off the beaten path, a band of musicians arrive lost, out of the blue. Under the spell of the desert sky, and with beautiful music perfuming the air, the band brings the town to life in unexpected and tantalizing ways. Even the briefest visit can stay with you forever.
With a score that seduces your soul and sweeps you off your feet, and featuring Tony-winning performances and thrillingly talented onstage musicians, The Band’s Visit rejoices in the way music makes us laugh, makes us cry and ultimately, brings us together.
Add Ons to Your Broadway Season
Blue Man Group
NOW, LET’S GET STARTED. 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.
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!
The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to Uganda. One missionary, Elder Price, is an enthusiastic go-getter with a strong dedication to his faith, while his partner, Elder Cunningham, is a socially awkward but well meaning nerd whose tendency to embroider the truth soon lands him in trouble. Upon their arrival in Africa, Elders Price and Cunningham learn that in a society plagued by AIDS, poverty and violence, a successful mission may not be as easy as they expected.
Take Your Seat
You don’t have to take a trip to New York City to see the best of Broadway. Season subscriptions are available now!
Call 479.571.2785 to talk with a Subscriber Concierge or visit waltonartscenter.org for more information.
*Single tickets will go on-sale later in the summer.
Unparalleled A Cappella Pushed to the Edge - The Edge Effect
Comprised of Winners of MTV's Top Pop Group and Boyz II Men's Next Great A Cappella Group, America's Got Talent finalists and international recording artists, The Edge Effect is a group of a cappella all-stars taking music to a whole new level - and in ways you might not expect.
The Edge Effect's signature sound blurs the genre line and weaves a colorful tapestry of infectious beats, intricate harmonies and spectacular vocal acrobatics. Their vast repertoire knows no boundaries to style or genre, and the band's stunning reinterpretations of musical favorites, as well as inventive, contemporary original songs make for an unparalleled entertainment experience.
A five-man vocal band, The Edge Effect combines pop, R & B, jazz, rock and funk in a show that must be seen and heard to believe.
The Edge Effect Q&A
1. How did The Edge Effect come to be?
The Edge Effect was born out of a love for vocal music and years of relationships. We all wanted to create something we could be proud of and that we could grow into something special. Sean, John and Troy were founders of the Las Vegas-based group Mosaic. When they decided to leave the desert, they reached out to Danny who was singing with 42Five (now Voiceplay). Danny knew Karl from the Voices of Liberty at EPCOT center and the group was born.
2. The five of you have spent a lot of time together over your years of performing. If you were to give each member a title, what would it be?
Troy - mad scientist
Danny -mr practical
Karl - payday karl
Sean - the idea machine
John - mr chill
3. Do you have a favorite a capella mash up of songs? If so, what are they?
We love our new arrangement of Billy Joel and Elton John hits! We also really enjoy performing our Michael Jackson medley.
4. Pick 5 words—that start with the letter ‘E’—that best describe your work.
Energetic, enthusiastic, entertaining, eclectic, engaging
5. What is the best advice that you have been given; and what advice would you give to aspiring vocalists in the audience?
be prepared for opportunity. There is no such thing as luck. It’s cliche, but luck is when opportunity meets preparedness. Our advice to aspiring vocalists is to put in the time. Practice, practice, practice. Learn your craft. Study your idols and put the time in. The time on stage or in the recording booth should be the culmination of all the time you’ve put in behind the scenes. There is no substitution for time and experience.
6. Whom do you define as visionary; and why?
We all have different influences, but we can all agree on Stevie Wonder as being probably the biggest musical influence on all of us (followed closely by Prince). His fusion of R&B, funk, soul, pop, gospel and genre bending style allowed him to create a sound all his own that has influenced generations of musicians. He was so ahead of his time with his use of synthesizers, jazz progressions. Harmonic voicing, and overall song structure. Listen to his albums from 1973 - 1978 and they still sound fresh today.
7. What is the most rewarding thing about being a part of The Edge Effect?
Getting to do what we love for a living with friends who have become family.
8. What are some unique or memorable experiences you’ve had while traveling around the world to share your music?
We have been blessed to see the world through music. We often hashtag our photos #musicbroughtmehere or something similar. In the past few years we have been to Barcelona, Sicily, Lisbon, Malta, Chile, Alaska, Colombia, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Honduras, Belize and more. That never would have happened without a cappella! We have sung in cathedrals, theaters, caverns, on beaches, in mountains, near glaciers. Its been an amazing journey and we can’t wait to see where else music will take us.
9. What message do you hope to send the world via your music? That we are really all the same.
We travel everywhere and the one thing that brings us all together is music. Music is a great unifier, and everyone LOVES harmony!
10. What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to?
We are old school lol! Our current playlist would include:
Prince, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Hall & Oates, Erik B and Rakim, Beastie Boys, etc. Newer music we did includes Marc Broussard, Allen Stone, Leon Bridges, Imagine Dragons, Punch Brothers, Lake Street Dive, VulfPeck
VoiceJam A Cappella Festival Headliner Concert
The Edge Effect
Friday, April 5 at 7:30 pm
Join Our Volunteer Team & Make Theater Magic!
Support the arts in your community!
Make new friends in a fun and creative environment!
Help make world-class arts experiences accessible to all people in Northwest Arkansas!
Inspire the leaders of tomorrow with the arts, today!
Walton Arts Center volunteers are a dedicated group of individuals who commit their time, talents and resources to maintaining the arts in our community. At Walton Arts Center we strive to provide the highest quality live theater available through diverse programming, accessible costs and many educational performances that reach thousands of students in our region - and our volunteer program is essential to making theater magic happen everyday!
Opportunities
Front of House
Assist our operations team during Walton Arts Center, SoNA, and Trike performances, as well as education shows and special events doing everything from taking tickets and ushering to selling concessions and checking coats.
Studio & Education Outreach
Work with Walton Arts Center and Crystal Bridges' Arts With Education Institute, as well as with classes and camps on the WAC campus.
Special Events
Assist in special tasks during annual events including Artosphere Arts + Nature Festival, Art of Wine Festival and Masquerade Ball.
Administrative
Assist with a variety of office and clerical duties.
Resident Companies
Work during special events for TheatreSquared, Trike and SoNA and help Community Creative Center with classes and camps throughout the year.
Hear from Our Volunteers
WHAT ARE THE GREATEST REWARDS OF VOLUNTEERING?
The memories of seeing excited and vibrant youth after experiencing educational shows in Starr Theater. -Catherine
I enjoy working with the public, love working concessions and meeting new people. I love hearing someone say this is their first time here. And as a volunteer I have enjoyed our potluck gatherings - getting to know each other a little better and having some fun at the same time. -Kathy
Just seeing the awe and fascination on the faces of all those kids while they are at the WAC is all the "theater magic" I need. -Morgan
WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER AT WAC?
I really enjoy being around the performing arts. Since I'm not in a position to donate a lot of money, I can help the Walton Arts Center by volunteering my time. Also, the volunteer group and the staff members are so much fun to be around! -Morgan
The "stock" answer is to give back to my community, but it goes much deeper than that for me. It is the energy I get from the kids when we do an education show. (We can bring 1200 kids and 25-30 buses to a 9:30 show, move them out and do it all over for an 11:30 show.) It is the smiles and thank you from our patrons. It is a chance to work with a group of volunteers that is like family. -Michael
Share A Slice of Heaven - Baked from the Heart Pie Contest
CALLING ALL PIE BAKERS! SUBMIT YOUR FAVORITE ORIGINAL PIE RECIPE TO OUR “BAKED FROM THE HEART” PIE CONTEST.
Read MoreShakespeare'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