Here's the latest weekend entertainment roundup from Eric E. Harrison, culture reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
fun
Wildwood Park for the Arts, located at 20919 Denny Road in Little Rock, will once again light up the night with a Lantern Festival today and Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. The festival features food, performances (including a Grand Ole Opry-style stage show), and crafts from China, Argentina, England, and Nashville, Tennessee. Additionally, for children, his two fantasy lands – Fairytale Forest and Pirate Land will also be featured. Sunday will be a rainy day. In case of rainy weather. (501) 821-7275 or visit wild-woodlanterns.org.
theater
Eight third-graders each created a short play about an endangered species for the Downtown Playmakers project at the Arkansas Repertory Theater, 601 Main St. in Little Rock, and were trained by professional actors. The pair will be performed on the second floor of the Diet Building. Black Box Theatre, Fridays at 7pm and Saturdays at 2pm. Seating is limited, but admission is free. TheRep.org.
Seven young women compete for the title of Miss Delta Queen in “American Beauty'' (music and lyrics by Michael Rice, starring Jack Heifner, Romulus Linney, Kent R. Brown, Hank Bates, Mary Rhode Squad, Cliff Fannin Baker vie for the title of book). Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St. at Chester Street, Little Rock, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, May 3 and 4, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays and May 5. The show was originally titled “Pageant” and premiered in January. At the Arkansas Repertory Theater in 1988. centralkansastickets.com.
Benton's Royal Players' production of “Bonnie & Clyde'' (music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black, book by Ivan Menchel), Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday through April 28 at 2 p.m. at the Royal Theater (111 S. Market St.). Benton. TheRoyalPlayers.TicketLeap.com.
music
ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd will co-headline today at 7 p.m. at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, simmonsbankarena.com or Ticketmaster.com.
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will present “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone” on screen Saturday at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Little Rock's Robinson Center Performance Hall, W. Markham Street on Broadway. while playing John Williams' music. ticketmaster.com.
And the Metropolitan Opera will present Giacomo Puccini's “La Rondine” in its “Live in HD” series at 11:55 a.m. Saturday at the Movie Tavern in Little Rock and Central City 10 in Hot Springs. “Cinemacast'' the production. metopera.org.
Hear Eric's roundup of arts and culture events in central Arkansas every Thursday on Little Rock Public Radio at 4:44 p.m.