Weekly Update!
Before you totally plan out your weekend...
What can I say, it felt weird not doing a weekly update for you all and so here I am, offering what I’ve gathered from across numerous sites, posts and more to bring it to you in one, easy-to-read location for all your theatrical needs in Central Arkansas!
Don’t forget, my wonderful readers, if you’d like to join me on this journey and be a part of the writing process with reviews and speaking the the folks who make our community so amazing, just reach out with a comment or message me on Instagram! I’d love to grow the voices that are heard on here, so please don't hesitate to join me as we uplift and promote our wonderful theatrical community!
Leaving On A Jetplane
A short update on our Jimmy Award contenders, but from Instagram and Facebook posts, it looks like our young achievers are headed off to the Big Apple to prepare for the competition. From this humble writer and enormous fan of local theatre, as well as everyone here in Arkansas, I want to send another heartfelt congratulations and “break a leg” to Sascha Bass and Collin Carlton for their hard work and dedication to the craft.
If you want to read more about their thoughts and how they’ve prepared for all of this, as well as how they feel going into it, you can check out my full interview with the duo in my Arkansas Times article.
Be sure to keep an eye out as well for an updated story once they return to hear all about their experience!
Don’t Miss Out on The Prom and Ghoul(ish)
After a wildly successful opening weekend, The Prom has returned this week and is providing an amazing opportunity to go out and support Maya Johnson as she takes on the role of Emma this Saturday! If you haven’t already read my review of the show, I highly recommend going back and skimming through it. I promise, you’ll be buying your tickets faster than you can say “Talk to the Hand”!
You’ll also want to go ahead and grab your tickets for Ghoul(ish) coming up later this month, as it wouldn't surprise me if seating becomes very limited in the following days or weeks. What’s set to be a fantastic blend of theatrical magic and glamorous drag is something completely new and original to the ATLR stage.
Argenta’s ACTing Up This Summer
After waiting with bated breath to see what the genius minds of Caelon Colbert, Bob Bidewell, and Moriah Patterson have cooked up for 9 to 5, the cast announcement has finally been released and I cannot tell you how excited I am to see so many of my favorites sharing the stage together.
Not only am I finally going to be able to see Danny Troillet take the stage as the leading man (having only been able to share the stage with him, which is a blessing if you haven’t), but this cast has so many talented people that I can’t wait to support. Huge shoutouts to Jeremiah Herman, Austin Bernard, Patti Airoldi, Madisyn Sallas, Kelley Ponder, Kristen Phantazia Smith, Chris Flowers, Tru AND Josh Bass, Quinton Sanders, and Peyton Greenwood. I mean, COME ON, you know that I’ll be sitting in that balcony watching all those fantastic people kill it on the ACT stage.
Not only are we getting 9 to 5, but the ACTing Up Summer Camp is bringing one of my ABSOLUTE favorites to life for our local littles: Shrek the Musical JR. I don’t think I have to explain the plot of this one, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last twenty years, but if last years kiddo’s who partook in Annie are indicative of what this group will be like, I know it’s going to be filled with starts on the rise. I can’t wait to see what the education team over at ACT helps these little stars achieve!
Something’s Rotten in Conway!
When I tell you all that I cannot WAIT to see my homie Mikala Hicks returning to the stage as Bea, after missing her absolute talent since Legally Blonde, I am beyond estatic. And, alongside the biggest rockstar I know *cue Beaver Hunt* Ben Perry coming in as Nick Bottom, talk about some amazing casting choices from the folks over at Red Curtain Theatre.
Having grown up in Conway, there’s not much that pulls me back to town, but a damn good cast and what I know is going to be an amazing performance. Yes, sign me up, please!
I have been BEGGING for this show to return to the Central Arkansas area ever since I missed my opportunity to see it touring through UCA during the ol’ college days, so it brings me so much joy to know that I’ll be able to support my friends AND enjoy what is arguably the best portrayal of Shakespeare on stage.
Congratulations to the rest of the cast as well, though I’m not as familiar with many of the names listed (I do spy a few of you that have connected on socials/at shows), I cannot wait to see you all bring this fantastic musical to life!
Showing Up In Person Is So Yesterday
For the second year in a row, Wildwood Park for the Arts’ in-person audition slots have completely filled up! They are still accepting video auditions through today, so if you’re gunning to get out to Wildwood and take part in High School Musical or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, put on your Sunday best and get something recorded.
I’ve only managed to get out and see Newsies last year, but I honestly was impressed by the size of the production space for Wildwood AND how absolutely fantastic the performance was. I’ve never seen either of these shows staged, but obviously came from the HSM generation, so I’m interested to see what they’re like if I’m able to get out to them.
Auditions, Productions & Available Tickets
Driving Miss Daisy - Murray’s Dinner Playhouse - CALL 501.562.3131 FOR TICKETS
Me & The Devil - The Rep - Click Here - OPENING MAY 27TH
ACT Ticket Bundles - Click Here - AVAILABLE NOW
The Prom - Actors Theatre of Little Rock - Click Here - CLOSING JUNE 21ST
Barefoot in the Park - The Pocket Theatre - Click Here - CLOSING JUNE 15TH
A New Brain - The Weekend Theater - Click Here - CLOSING JUNE 22ND
The Sound of Music - The Royal Theatre - Click Here - CLOSING JUNE 22ND
9 to 5 & SIX - Click Here - AVAILABLE NOW
Flurffy’s Secret Garden - AMFA - Click Here - June 14TH
God of Carnage - The Rep - Click Here - June 18TH
Ken Ludwig’s Three Musketeers - Click Here - OPENING JUNE 20TH
The Tempest - AMFA - Click Here - July 10TH
PS. If you’ve made it this far and would like to help shape the future of CACT, I’d love for you to take a moment out of your day and fill out the survey below!
As I continue to grow this platform and bring new readers into our big, theatrical family, I’d love to know what exactly it is you’re all most interested in reading about, the theatres you love and what brought you to this Substack.
I appreciate your time, and thank you so much for being a part of all of this!