“Why ‘Shucked’ is the Perfect Show to Watch When You Need a Good Laugh”

During the festive season, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, located at Main St. in Little Rock, presents A Merrier Motown Christmas. This production features beloved holiday classics presented in innovative arrangements that pay homage to renowned Motown artists, as detailed in a recent press statement. Performances are scheduled for p.m. from Wednesday to Friday and on December ; additional shows will take place at p.m. and p.m. on Saturday and December . Music director Nygel D. Robinson will collaborate once again with local talents Bijoux, Tawanna Campbell, and Antonio Woodard, alongside musicians Corey Harris, Ricardo Richardson, and Josh Starks. The direction of the performance is under Ken-Matt Martin. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the event’s sponsor. Ticket prices are set at $, with a reduced rate of $ available for students.

Our presentation of the production Shucked is currently being performed this week at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

Presenting ‘Shucked’

The musical Shucked, recognized with a Tony Award, features a neurotic comedy writer from New York who collaborates with two renowned musicians from Nashville to create a farm-to-fable narrative centered around…corn. The score is composed by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, while the book is written by Robert Horn. A touring company will showcase this production at Fayetteville’s Walton Arts Center with performances scheduled for p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, : and p.m. on Thursday, p.m. on Friday, and p.m. on Saturday, and at p.m. on December .

Visit waltonartscenter.org.

Fort Smith ‘Nutcracker’

The Western Arkansas Ballet will present its th iteration of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, The Nutcracker, at p.m. on Saturday and again at p.m. on December at the ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center, located at S. Seventh St., Fort Smith. Under the direction of Artistic Director Jared Mesa, the performance features a cast exceeding local children and adults. Kelsey Corder, a former member of the Western Arkansas Ballet and now with the American Midwest Ballet company in Omaha, Nebraska, will portray the Sugar Plum Fairy, while Casey Kelley, also affiliated with the American Midwest Ballet, will dance the role of her Cavalier. Tickets are priced at $.

Students presenting a valid student ID may contact (- or visit waballet.org for further information.

The Our World exhibition at the South Arkansas Arts Center, located at E. Fifth St., El Dorado, features an impressive collection of works by Texas artist Douglas Darracott. Notable pieces in the Zoo series include Dallas , Fort Worth Zoo, and Zoo Atlanta . (Special contribution to the Democrat-Gazette)

‘Our World’

A reception honoring artist Douglas Darracott will take place on Tuesday from : to p.m. at the South Arkansas Arts Center, showcasing his recent works across four distinct series: the Zoo series, the American Dream series, the Sculpture series, and the People and Places series.

entitled Our World. The gallery is open from a.m. to p.m., Monday through Friday. Entry to both the exhibition and the reception is complimentary. For further information, please contact (- or visit saac-arts.org.

Mural Grant

The National Endowment for the Humanities has aded the University of Arkansas at Little Rock a grant totaling approximately $, for the development of a curriculum and digital educational resources focused on Joe Jones’ mural, The Struggle in the South.

This mural, measuring by feet, was created by Jones at Commonwealth College in Mena in and is currently located at UALR Downtown on President Clinton Avenue in Little Rock. It illustrates the challenges faced by everyday individuals.

In the s, Black Americans encountered significant challenges. The institution acquired the mural in .

The grant, amounting to $,, is designated for a project titled Contextualizing the Struggle in the South: Place-Based Experiential Learning as a Path to Public Humanities, which is scheduled to continue until December , .

The initiative highlights the historical significance captured in Jones’ mural, with a particular emphasis on Arkansas during the s and s, states Marta Cieslak, the director of UALR Downtown and the principal investigator for the grant. Many individuals in Arkansas are unaware of the mural’s existence, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to raise awareness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the recent grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock represents a significant step forward in the appreciation and understanding of Joe Jones’ powerful mural, The Struggle in the South. This initiative aims to develop a comprehensive curriculum and digital resources that will bring to light the poignant themes and historical context embedded within this remarkable artwork. As we look forward to engaging with this vital piece of our cultural heritage, we encourage everyone to visit the mural at UALR Downtown and participate in the educational offerings that will emerge from this project. For more information on this exciting development, please feel free to contact us or visit saac-arts.org. Join us in celebrating the resilience of everyday individuals as depicted by Jones, and immerse yourself in a journey that honors our shared past.