Key Takeaways:
- The Argenta Contemporary Theater is reprising its 2024 production of "A Christmas Story: The Musical" and has announced its 2026 season, which includes productions such as "Always, Patsy Cline" and "Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".
- Right Angle Entertainment is presenting "Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol" at the University of Central Arkansas, featuring songs by Dolly Parton and a book by David H. Bell.
- The national tour of "Kimberly Akimbo" is onstage at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, winner of five 2023 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
- The Muses Project is offering its "Voices of Angels" concerts, featuring a program titled "All Bells in Paradise" with sacred classical compositions by George Frideric Handel, Benjamin Britten, and others.
- Opera in the Ozarks is celebrating the season with "Gifts from the Heart", a brand-new musical experience combining opera, song, and storytelling.
Introduction to Upcoming Events
The holiday season is in full swing, and there are plenty of exciting events happening in the world of theater, music, and dance. From reprised productions of classic Christmas stories to brand-new musical experiences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the upcoming events that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
Theater Productions
The Argenta Contemporary Theater is reprising its 2024 production of "A Christmas Story: The Musical", which tells the story of a young boy’s quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The production features music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Joseph Robinette. The theater has also announced its 2026 season, which includes productions such as "Always, Patsy Cline" and "Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Right Angle Entertainment is presenting "Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol" at the University of Central Arkansas, featuring songs by Dolly Parton and a book by David H. Bell. The national tour of "Kimberly Akimbo" is also onstage at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, winner of five 2023 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Musical Performances
The Muses Project is offering its "Voices of Angels" concerts, featuring a program titled "All Bells in Paradise" with sacred classical compositions by George Frideric Handel, Benjamin Britten, and others. Opera in the Ozarks is celebrating the season with "Gifts from the Heart", a brand-new musical experience combining opera, song, and storytelling. The production features four singers from the 2025 Opera in the Ozarks summer season performing "Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena", a one-act opera in English inspired by the Mexican legend of a young girl’s humble gift that becomes the first poinsettia.
Dance Performances
Western Arkansas Ballet is staging its 40th annual performance of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s "The Nutcracker" at the ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center in Fort Smith. The production features a cast of over 115 area children and adults, with Western Arkansas Ballet alumna and River Valley native Kelsey Corder in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Casey Kelley, a dancer with American Midwest Ballet, as her Cavalier.
Art and Awards
The Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts is accepting applications for its annual $4,000 Artist Award, which helps an accomplished woman artist realize her vision and increase the visibility of her achievements. The recipient will be announced in March, and the award can be used for any purpose, including studio expenses, equipment or supplies, child care, research, travel, or study.
Special Events
"Radiolab", a public radio show produced by New York station WNYC, will be in Little Rock this week to record a show titled "Radiolab Presents: Viscera", which explores the theme of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The show will feature hosts Latif Nasser and Dr. Avir Mitra, as well as guests Steffanie Strathdee, an epidemiologist at University of California San Diego and Johns Hopkins, and Dr. Myles Keck, assistant professor, clinical pharmacy specialist, and infectious disease and antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Tickets are available for the event, which will take place at the Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock.
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