music
Chorus I
The Arkansas Chamber Singers will perform sacred and secular choral works by British composers during their spring concert. “British accent” Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, 800 Scott Street. The program includes “I Saw the Lord'' by John Steiner, “The Joy of the Lamb'' and “All About April Evening'' by Benjamin Britten. Hugh Roberton's “The Long Day Closes,” Sir Arthur Sullivan's “Londonderry Air,” arranged by Bob Chilcott, and Edward Elgar's “Song of the Bavarian Highlands.” Conducted by Tim Allen. Tickets are $15 in advance, $10 for students, $18 and $12 at the door. Call (501) 377-1121 or visit ar-chambersingers.org.
Chorale II
Soprano Maria Faciano, Arkansas Choral Society, soloist. Gregory Church, tenor.Performed by Scott Bearden (bass) and members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Franz Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G major, Friday 7:30 p.m., in the sanctuary of Calvary Baptist Church, 5700 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. This program also includes his four short sacred works by Wolfgang and his Amadeus Mozart. “Inter natos murielum”, K.72; “Laudate dominum” from “Confessional Vesperae Solenne”, K.339. and the motet “Ave Verum Corpus” K.618. Conducted by Kent Skinner. Tickets are $20, $15 for students. Visit lovetosing.org.
brahms & bernstein
The Conway Symphony Orchestra will conclude its 2023-24 season with concerts titled: “It takes two minutes!” Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the University of Central Arkansas Windgate Fine and Performing Arts Center, 2150 Bruce St., Conway. Linda Sue (violin) and Steven Feldman (cello), solo by Johannes Brahms https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/24/entertainment-amfa-dance-performance-blends/ for violin 's “Double Concerto” program also includes “Symphonic Dance” from “West Side Story” conducted by Leonard Bernstein, and tickets are $30 to $60 at a discounted rate for UCA faculty and staff. . $15 for children with adult tickets, special $9 UCA student rush tickets available Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling (501) 450-3265 one hour before the concert or , visit conwaysymphony.org.
From Bach to Bluegrass
Violinist Ariana Kim will present a recital under the auspices of the Little Rock Chamber Music Society with the following titles: “A tasting menu of music for solo violin, from Bach to bluegrass and beyond.” Today at 7:30 p.m. at New Deal Studios, 2003 Louisiana Street, Little Rock. Her programs include “Patchwork Her Quilt No. 1”, https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/apr/24/entertainment-amfa-dance-performance-blends/ “No. 2” , “No. 3” is included. “An adaptation of JS Bach's Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. 'Aria: NA' and 'Cas Cade' from John Harbison's Suite for Solo Violin. “Spell” and “Pulsar” by Augusta Reed Thomas. “Memory” by Chen Yi. “Lake Stone Moon” by Steve Heitzeg. And a bluegrass set announced from the stage. Tickets are $25, free for students. Visit chambermusicLR.com.
Gershwin et al.
little rock winds and conductor Israel Getzoff will present a program titled “Gershwin, Porgy, and Others” today at 7:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock. Soprano Nia Kelly sings “Summertime” and “My Man's Gone Now” as part of “Catfish Row,” a concert version of Gershwin's opera “Porgy and Bess.” Baritone Kendi Jensen-Loving sings “I Got Plenty O Nuttin” and “It Ain't Necessary So.” And together they sing “Beth, You Is My Woman Now” and “Oh Lord, I'm On My Way.” This work also includes Tim Brann's piano solo in the “Jazzbo Brown” movement. Gershwin's “Cuban Overture” is also included in the program. “Summerland” by William Grant Still. and “Amparito Loca” by Jaime Texidor. Sponsored by Robert and Jo Ann McQuaid. Admission is $15, free for students. Visit lrwinds.org/tickets.
fun
pie festival
Cherokee Village hosts: arkansas pie festival, Saturday 10am-3pm at Town Center. Commercial pie makers, home chefs and students will compete for a golden ticket to the dessert category and the ultimate chance to win a $100,000 grand prize at the World Food Championships in Dallas this fall. Judges and attendees will be able to sample the finished pies and will also decide on people's choices. The pies will also be on display and auctioned off for charity. The festival includes a Pi Day 5K, live entertainment, food trucks, a pie eating and pie throwing contest, an Arkansas pie pop-up shop, a photo op with Miss His Arkansas, a Cutie Pipe pet parade, and a kids zone. Admission is $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $5 for children ages 5-12, and free for children under. Festival proceeds will support STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) programming and education through the community's Spring River Innovation Hub. Visit arkansaspiefestival.com.
party at the plaza
Arkansas Hospice holds 3rd annual meeting party at the plaza, in support of the Arkansas Hospice Family of Care, will be held Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. at Argenta Plaza, 510 Main St., North Little Rock. The free afternoon and evening concerts will feature two finalists from NBC's “The Voice,” BIAS and Mac Royals. Visual of jazz R&B singer. Rocktown Sparks. and co-headliners Tyler Kinch and Bonnie Montgomery. Food trucks, children's activities, Artists on the Avenue Market and a “care fair” will also be part of the party. Bruce Halstead, a longtime volunteer and supporter of Hospice of Arkansas, will receive the third annual Michael V. Aureli Compass Award. Admission is free. Reserved seats are $30. VIP all-access tickets are $150. Visit arkansashospice.org/plaza2024.
rodeo in the rock
Riders from all over the United States and Canada participate in the Diamond State Rodeo Association. Rodeo in the Rock 2024, the Arkansas Gay Rodeo, will be held Friday through Sunday at the Arkansas Fairgrounds Equestrian Center, 2600 Howard St., Little Rock. Grand entry and rodeo performances on Saturday and Sunday begin at 11 a.m. Special “camping” events include “Wild Drag Races.” In this race, teams of three attempt to place a fully costumed “drag” contestant on the back of an uncooperative bull. Community goat dressing involves teams of two dressing goats in underwear. Admission is $10 per day and $15 both days (children under 12 are free with adult admission). A portion of the net proceeds will support local nonprofits such as Gay For Good, Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, and seis Puentes. Visit dsra.org.
theater
Pine Bluff's “Puff”
Southeast Arkansas Arts and Science Center, 701 S. Main St., Pine Bluff, Stage. “Puff, or seven increasingly eventful years at a certain school of magic and magic.” Matt Cox's parody of JK Rowling's “Harry Potter” will be held at the Center's Catherine M. Bellamy Theater on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. The focus is on a group of students who happen to be at the magic school attended by a bespectacled boy wizard, but their destiny is not to save the world. The center cited adult language and humor and noted that “Puffs” is intended for viewers 13 and older. Sponsored by Reliance Bank. Tickets are $18, $13 for center members and seniors 65 and older, and $10 for students. Call (870) 536-3375 or visit artx3.org/theater.
art
“Color and Light”
“Color and Light” Sharon Franke's paintings will be on display with a reception Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cantrell Gallery, 8208 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. The exhibition will run until July 20th. The gallery will be closed on July 12th and 13th for our annual family gathering. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the gallery and reception is free. Call (501) 224-1335 or visit cantrellgallery.com.
ASU exhibition
“Survive or die, challenge yourself.” We will exhibit the work of Aaron Conger and L. Elizabeth Vansand, graduates of the Department of Art + Design at Arkansas State University. “Brand 2024” The 2024 Graphic Design Senior Exhibition will be on display today at the Bradbury Museum in ASU's Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive in Jonesboro, with a reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Ray Allen Parker's painting “Panoply: 26 Painted Lives” is also on display. The exhibition will be held until May 1st. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Call (870) 972-3434 or email mmcmahan@AState.edu.
dance
Performance redefined
Dancers from all over the country gather at the Arkansas Art Museum, 501 East Ninth Street in Little Rock. “Action/Abstraction: Redefined Dance Performance” A blend of traditional choreography and contemporary movement, Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. It is in conjunction with the current exhibition “Action/Redefining Abstraction: Modern Native Art, 1940s to His 1970s'' and will be on view until May 26th. Admission is free. Visit events.arkmfa.org/event/action-abstraction-redefined-dance-performance.
etc.
“Iris in art”
The Central Arkansas Iris Society will hold its annual show this year with the following titles: “Iris in art” Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church Family Life Center, 5124 Kavanaugh Avenue, Hillcrest Street, Little Rock. The show will be held rain or shine. Admission is free. Visit CentralArkansasIris.org.
Bookstore tour
Five central Arkansas independent bookstores will be participating in “fun activities” during the 2nd Annual Rock City Bookstore Crawl (Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) celebrating the 11th anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day. We are offering a special sale.
◼️Wordsworth Books (5920 R Street, Little Rock) will host a book-themed scavenger hunt, a Libro.fm golden ticket hunt, and a local author happy hour. wordsworthbookstore.com.
◼️Beautywood Books, 1704 N. Main St., North Little Rock, will have story time for all ages and a roster of local vendors. beautywoodbooks.com.
◼️ The Bookstore (3832 John F Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock) will host a “Spin to Win” discount game and a wild card table of rare, odd and/or old books. thebookstorenlr.com.
◼️ Paper Hearts Bookstore, located at 420 E. 21st St. in Little Rock, will open the Paper Hearts Reading Room and also host a Golden Ticket Hunt on Libro.fm. paperheartsbooks.com.
◼️ And at Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Frames, 1001 Wright Ave. in Little Rock, the “Arkansas Writers” showcase showcases literary works from around the state with custom greeting card artisans Kimberly Highsmith and Paula Rogers. “People of Color” will be on display. . pyramid1988.com.