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T. Charles Erickson
Hadestown
Tig Notaro
Artosphere Festival Orchestra
Madagascar The Musical
Crystal Bridges | Five centuries of American art
The Momentary | Contemporary visual & performing arts
A recurring theme in Hadestown is that the arrival of spring brings new hope and a cause to celebrate. At Walton Arts Center we have a lot to celebrate this spring, including the premiere of that Tony Award® -winning musical – and there’s so much more! Our diverse programming offers entertainment options for everyone in our community.
For families, we invite you to join us for The Jungle Book in March, Hiccup! in April, Annie in May and Madagascar The Musical in June. These are exciting opportunities to introduce your kids to live theater and plant the seeds for them to become lifelong fans and patrons of the arts.
The Fayetteville Film Fest has curated four film showcases for our audiences. Each mini film festival is themed, and the movies screened are created by independent filmmakers from a variety of backgrounds and locations. Attending one of these screenings is a fun way to experience the art of film and show support for independent filmmakers.
Back again this season are two fan-favorite annual events: VoiceJam
A Cappella Festival in April and our Artosphere: Arts + Nature Festival in May. Both were created specifically for our Northwest Arkansas community and include unique, accessible and engaging performances that I know you will love.
We believe that the arts bring people together, and that belief is confirmed every time we open our doors. The arts bridge social, economic and cultural differences, bringing hope to communities even in the hardest of times. As in Hadestown, the arts show us how to embrace “the world we dream about, and the one we live in now.” Take the opportunity this spring to explore something new and “come see how the world could be.”
Enjoy the show!
Peter B. Lane Walton Arts Center President/CEOPeter B. Lane President/CEO
Walton Arts Center Council
Nate Hodne Chair
Casey Hamaker
Secretary/Treasurer
Anne O’Leary-Kelly Vice Chair
Marti Sudduth Vice Chair
Megan Timberlake Vice Chair
Matt Trantham Vice Chair
Tony Waller Vice Chair
Jody Dilday
Ryan Harrington
Laura Jacobs
Mervin Jebaraj
Shabana Kauser
Diana Marshall
Chris Nicholas
Karen Roberts
Cal Rose
Elda Scott
Shelley Simmons
Elecia Smith
Justin Tennant
Lia Uribe
Scott Varady
Walton Arts Center Foundation
Sarah Diebold Chair
Gary Peters
Secretary/Treasurer
Colleen Briney
Jeff Clapper
Brock Gearhart
Marybeth Hays
Jaclyn Henderson
Mark Power
Kelly Sudduth
At Washington Regional’s HerHealth Clinic, we’re committed to empowering every woman on her health care journey because we know that giving a woman the resources she needs to take control of her health can empower her life. Whether it’s gynecology services, prenatal care, childbirth, infertility treatments, birth control, or specialized treatments and procedures, we’re here for women of all ages.
FEBRUARY
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
February 9-19
MARCH
Ulysses Owens Jr.’s Generation Y
March 4
Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie Starring Indigo Blume
March 5
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
March 10
Arkansas Filmmakers Showcase
Curated by Fayetteville Film Fest
March 11
Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s STAR DUST: From Bach to Bowie
March 16
John Crist
March 19
Trike Theatre, Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation and Dhirana Dance present The Jungle Book
March 25
LADAMA
March 30
APRIL
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players’ The Pirates of Penzance
April 1
Blue October
April 2
Brianna Thomas Sextet
April 7
Duwendé
April 14
VoiceJam Competition
April 15
Windmill Theatre’s Hiccup!
April 16
Visceral Dance Chicago
April 20
A Letter for Elena
April 23
David Sedaris
April 25
MAY
Annie
May 5-7
Indie Films Artosphere
Curated by Fayetteville Film Fest
May 12
Artosphere Festival Orchestra
An Evening of Brahms and Beethoven
May 16
Dover Quartet
An Evening of Haydn, Walker and Dvořák
May 17
Artosphere Festival Orchestra
Respighi’s Roman Trilogy
May 20
Artosphere Festival Orchestra
Live from Crystal Bridges: Mozart in the Museum
May 24
Hadestown
May 23-28
JUNE
Madagascar The Musical
June 2-3
Pride Showcase
Curated by Fayetteville Film Fest
June 22
Tig Notaro
June 23
Brianna Thomas Sextet Annie John Crist LADAMA Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie The Pirates of Penzance Visceral Dance Chicago A Letter for Elena Artosphere Festival Orchestra
Butterfield Trail Village offers more options that come standard, more activities and amenities at your fingertips, and more choices than any other active senior living community in the area – all in a beautifully maintained neighborhood setting.
Planning for a move to the perfect retirement community doesn’t happen overnight, but as a Carriage Club member, you’ll get to enjoy a range of premier amenities – before you move in! Call to schedule your private consultation and tour today.
Star Level
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28 Springs
Alchemy Macarons
Arkansas Wine & Spirits
Arsaga’s
Atlas the Restaurant
Big Box Karaoke
Bordinos
Boston Mountain Brewing
Briar Rose Bakery
Central Distributors
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Deep Branch Winery
Ella’s Table
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Post Winery
Rise Physical Therapy
Rock Town Distillery
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Shake’s Frozen Custard
Southern Glazer’s
The Bloody Buddy
Theo’s
Urban Cellar Winery
Wiederkehr Wine Cellars
Wright’s BBQ
A cappella fans and performers alike will gather April 14 and 15 for the annual VoiceJam A Cappella Festival, which includes a weekend of workshops, a headliner concert by Duwendé and the finale event, the VoiceJam Competition.
Founded in 2014, the VoiceJam A Cappella Festival competition was started by Walton Arts Center in partnership with Vocal Asia Festival, an Asian a cappella competition started by Clare Chen in 2010. Chen wanted to create a premier a cappella festival in the U.S. and connect it to the broader world of a cappella, and approached Walton Arts Center with the idea.
The festival brings the best a cappella groups from across the country to compete for the title of VoiceJam grand champion, and there are also opportunities for local singers to learn about the art of a cappella and get involved.
Duwendé
Friday, April 14
Tickets: $10
This award-winning six-person ensemble presents a fiercely original take on a cappella music. Best known for their upbeat, electrifying funk/pop style, Duwendé pumps up the crowd with their exuberant sound, replicating a variety of instruments with their powerful and distinct voices. With ever-growing acclaim and fans all over the globe, Duwendé brings new life to the a cappella genre for contemporary audiences.
10x10 Arts Series Sponsor:
Show Sponsor:
Saturday, April 15
Workshops and masterclasses are led by experts in the a cappella community, featuring a variety of topics at different skill levels from a cappella arranging to vocal percussion and more. Workshop instructors include Rob Dietz, Dr. Jeffry Murdock, Brian Atkinson, Christine Liu and Gabriel Hahn.
Local singers, please visit waltonartscenter.org/voicejam for a workshop schedule and to register.
Saturday, April 15
Tickets: $27
This competition is one of the most-loved events on our season. Come cheer on these harmonizing, beatboxing, mindblowing groups and cast your vote for aca-fan favorite!
Show Sponsors:
Creating a new benchmark for Broadway, Hadestown demanded that theater make space for diverse voices. The show’s modern premise reflects the values of our changing culture through a transformative musical experience that reimagines Greek mythology. Hadestown intertwines two mythical tales – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone – as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.
In 2019, Hadestown garnered 14 Tony® nominations, winning eight including Best Musical. Critics praised the show as a “theatrically resonant tale” (Elysa Gardner, New York Stage Review), and “a haunting gut-punch of a new musical” (Naveen Kumar, Towleroad). Hadestown will go down in history as one of Broadway’s most celebrated productions, but beyond its critical acclaim, it is the show’s diversity that cements the musical’s lasting influence.
The women behind the show’s greatness – writer and composer Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin – accentuate and deepen. Between them, they found compatibility, commitment to the project, and the meaning of excellence.
“I will say it was an extraordinarily empowering experience working with so many women. I felt my instincts were really trusted,” says Mitchell. Hadestown’s great success shows that diversity is not simply about gender or racial differences; it is also about differences in background and mindset.
Initially a DIY community theater project in Vermont, Mitchell developed the show into a studio album and then a touring concert. Mitchell decided to seek out Chavkin’s talents to develop Hadestown into a full-length professional musical. “Rachel has a great feel for music and musicals and how to bring the best aspects of concert culture into the theater.” Hadestown became a product of each artist’s greatest strengths, blending Mitchell’s eloquent songbook with Chavkin’s innovative directorial style.
Chavkin says that she was drawn to Hadestown because of its poetic nature, admiring its balance of innovation and tradition: “I’ve never encountered a score that feels so singular in its style while still taking up some of the storytelling rules that musical theater goes by.” Although Chavkin says Hadestown is the hardest show she’s ever directed, Mitchell liked the way Chavkin challenged her and the show.
Chavkin’s contributions helped escort Hadestown to Broadway, where she was also recognized for excellence. She was the only woman nominated for a 2019 Tony for Best Direction of a Musical, which she won. Chavkin used the platform of her acceptance speech to advocate for the hiring of women and people of color in theater.
“There are so many women who are ready to go. There are so many artists of color who are ready to go. And we need to see that racial diversity and gender diversity reflected in our critical establishment, too. This is not a pipeline issue. It is a failure of imagination by a field whose job is to imagine the way the world could be,” Chavkin said in her acceptance speech.
Rachel Chavkin Director –
“Diversity is inextricable from excellence”
When assembling teams for her productions, Chavkin draws from the best and selects the most talented artists. By intentionally embracing inclusivity, she builds a diverse company that understands the needs of a global audience.
Supporters Bob & Becky
Alexander and 2022/23
8 SHOWS /
May 23-28
“I think diversity is inextricable from excellence, and I think all too often people, and in particular the dominant culture, tends to frame it as a choice that you have to make between diversity and excellence. And I personally think it’s the opposite,” Chavkin assures. “I think a [diverse] room is far more interesting, just purely on a dramatic level. It’s so much better stylistically, emotionally to have varied voices. And so, with Hadestown specifically, we have reaffirmed time and again that racial diversity in particular is core to our vision of excellence.”
There are numerous notable women working off-stage and challenging the status quo. Hadestown’s lead producer, Mara Isaacs, says there’s still more work to be done. “Hadestown is built on a set of core values – the power of community, equity, diversity and inclusion,” says Isaacs. “We are proud of the incredible women who helm this production and the talented and diverse company that brings it to life, but we recognize that there is always more work to do. We must continue to strive for equity – gender, racial and otherwise – throughout our industry, not just on stage. This is a challenge that we must recommit to every single day.”
“Theater depicts and celebrates humanity, and humanity is diverse,” asserts Mitchell. And so, thanks to the shared commitments of its creators, Hadestown strives for connection to every human experience, showing diversity to be colorful, productive and exciting.
Friends of Broadway for their additional support this season:
Brett & Kara Biggs
Cece Box
Prudy & Dale Caudle
Malcolm & Ellen Hayward
Peter B. Lane & Barbara Putman
Hannah & Greg Lee
Marybeth & Micky Mayfield
Judith McKenna & Phil Dutton
Anton & Linda Myers
David & Pam Parks
Neal & Gina Pendergraft
Elda & Eric Scott
Todd & Melissa Simmons
Kelly & Marti Sudduth
Bill & LeAnn Underwood
Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation
Tony Waller
John & Kitten Weiss
Local Show Local Show Underwriter:
Sponsor: Elda & Eric Scott
Rachel Chavkin Anaïs MitchellA special thanks to this year’s Masquerade Ball sponsors, Honorary Chair Tom Ward, and Event Co-Chairs Jeff Clapper & Tony Waller
SPONSORED BY:
Walton Arts Center’s Corporate Leadership Council hosts annual fundraisers with proceeds supporting arts programs that inspire Northwest Arkansas children, strengthen our schools and our community.
Walton Arts Center’s 10x10 Arts Series is curated for the curious and features exciting and innovative art forms, performances and experiences. Designed by our programming team specifically for our unique Northwest Arkansas community, it encourages all of us to dip into a new art form. Explore and take a chance. Try something new! After all, tickets are only $10.
10x10 performances typically include a creative conversation with the artists so you can learn more about their work and background. Audience members are also encouraged to give their feedback about each performance they attend via a handwritten Post-It ® note. Notes are collected post show and shared with the artists and the programming team.
Thursday, March 30
Experience a modern twist on Latin Alternative music with LADAMA, an international collective of women building community through sound. Blending South American and Caribbean styles like cumbia, maracatu, onda nueva and joropo with pop, soul and R&B, these four women seamlessly create a unique blend of enthralling sound, transporting listeners to a future where the world communicates across continents and cultures through sound and story.
Saturday, April 1
Join the band of swashbuckling buccaneers, bumbling British bobbies, frolicsome Victorian maidens and the delightfully dotty “model of a modern Major-General” for a rollicking romp over the rocky coast of Cornwall. Presented in its original format, this is your chance to see Gilbert’s incisive wit and Sullivan’s memorable score performed by a full orchestra.
Show Underwriter: Tom & Jill King
Friday, April 14
Kicking off this year’s VoiceJam A Cappella Festival, this award-winning six-person ensemble presents a fiercely original take on a vocals-only music. Best known for their upbeat, electrifying bass-andbeatbox-driven funk/pop style, Duwendé gets the crowd on their feet with their exuberant sound, replicating a variety of instruments through their powerful and distinct voices. With ever-growing acclaim and fans all over the globe, Duwendé brings new life to the a cappella genre for contemporary audiences.
Show Sponsor:
Thursday, April 20
Visceral Dance Chicago is a contemporary dance company dedicated to a bold and progressive world of movement that challenges audience expectations. In their Northwest Arkansas debut, the company will present a diverse repertoire featuring emerging voices and distinguished, worldrenowned choreographers. Named one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch, the company “breathes life into the Chicago arts community with their ability to intertwine complex human emotions with the raw beauty of dance and physical movement” (Chicago Stage Standard).
Tuesday, May 16
Under the direction of Maestro Corrado Rovaris, this performance will honor Johannes Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102 and Ludwig Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 “Pastoral.”
Artosphere Festival Support: Friends of Artosphere
Premier Show Underwriters: Kelly & Marti Sudduth
Principal support for Maestro Corrado Rovaris provided by: Reed & Mary Ann Greenwood
Show Underwriters: Peter B. Lane and Barbara Putnam
LADAMA Duwendé Artosphere Festival Orchestra
What inspired you to become a Friend of Walton Arts Center?
I wanted to have a role in supporting and influencing the performing arts in Northwest Arkansas. Because I am a Friend of Walton Arts Center, I am kept abreast of all that is happening. I also have the opportunity to participate in unique experiences that, otherwise, I most likely would never have access to.
What do you feel is the greatest benefit to being a Friend ?
Knowing that I am contributing to the performing arts experience of students, many of whom would never be able to have this experience if it were not for the Walton Arts Center’s commitment and those who support the organization.
How does it feel to know your contribution helps further arts education and share transformative experiences with students, educators and the community?
There are no words to adequately describe how it makes me feel. The arts changed my life. The arts kept me inspired and motivated throughout my school days and helped build up my confidence and self-esteem. I want the arts to do for others what the arts have done for me.
There are a lot of different technical terms when it comes to operating a theater and staging productions. From the performers, the crew and the staff, learn some of the words we use every day at Walton Arts Center.
The part of the stage closest to the audience. The area of the theater located between the curtain and the orchestra pit.
Direction given to actors as to where they should stand or move to during the course of the play. Actors are given these bits of direction during blocking rehearsals.
The script of the musical that includes characters, dialogue, etc.
The time that all actors and crew are expected to be at the theater.
Where the orchestra sits.
Any round of auditions after the initial audition. Depending on the production, the director uses callbacks to select principal roles (having already selected chorus/ensemble during the first round), or the director uses callbacks to review his/her short list of potential cast members.
When the actors come out at the end of the show to take their bows.
An invisible dividing “wall” between the stage and audience. Characters will sometimes “break the fourth wall” and interact with or speak directly to the audience.
Before the entire theater is closed for the evening, all lights except for a single, exposed, incandescent bulb is left on stage. For practical purposes, this is a safety precaution. For superstition, this gives the ghosts who inhabit the theater some light so that they can perform.
When you tear down the set or remove something (“strike the ladder” means to take it off the stage).
The swing is a multi-talented performer who’s responsible for learning many ensemble tracks so that they can “swing on” when someone is ill, injured or missing the performance for any reason.
Tony Waller
The annual Artosphere: Arkansas’ Arts + Nature Festival brings together world-class performers and the Northwest Arkansas community to celebrate and experience art inspired by nature. It also provides a creative framework to discuss issues of sustainability and environmental awareness.
The Artosphere Festival Orchestra (AFO) returns this year performing under the baton of acclaimed Music Director Corrado Rovaris with classical music performances that you don’t want to miss.
Artosphere Festival Orchestra
An Evening of Brahms and Beethoven
Tuesday, May 16
Baum Walker Hall at Walton Arts Center
Tickets: $10
This performance includes Johannes Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello featuring Joel Link on violin and Camden Shaw on cello, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral.”
An Evening of Haydn, Walker and Dvořák String Quartets
Wednesday, May 17
Great Hall at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Tickets: $29
The internationally acclaimed Dover Quartet will present an evening of exquisite entertainment. Named one of the greatest string quartets of this century by BBC, the group will highlight over 160 years of classical music, from Franz Joseph Haydn’s Quartet in E-flat major “The Joke” to Antonín Leopold Dvořák’s Quartet No. 10 in E-flat major to George Walker’s String Quartet No. 1.
Artosphere Festival Orchestra
Respighi’s Roman Trilogy
Saturday, May 20
Baum Walker Hall at Walton Arts Center
Tickets: $15-50
The AFO performs a program showcasing Italian composer Ottorino Respighi’s masterpiece, Roman Trilogy including Roman Festivals, Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome
Artosphere Festival Orchestra
Live from Crystal Bridges: Mozart in the Museum
Wednesday, May 24
Great Hall at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Tickets: $49
This finale performance, in memory of Mary Ann Greenwood, will be a stunning salute to Mozart, highlighting the musical talents of the orchestra’s oboes, horns and strings. The performance includes Symphony No. 11, Exsultate jubilate featuring soprano Alexandra Nowakowski and Symphony No. 25
In addition to these performances, there will be other chances to experience more intimate performances by AFO musicians during Artosphere, including the popular Off the Grid performances. Purchase tickets and find a full Artosphere schedule at waltonartscenter.org.
Artosphere Festival is sponsored by Walmart. Reed & Mary Ann Greenwood provide Artosphere Festival Orchestra Principle Support for Maestro Corrado Rovaris and are Show Underwriters for Dover Quartet. Premier Show Underwriters are Kelly and Marti Sudduth and Show Underwriters are Peter B. Lane and Barbara Putman for An Evening of Brahms and Beethoven, Respighi’s Roman Trilogy and Mozart in the Museum. Artosphere Festival is made possible by Friends of Artosphere.
Corrado Rovaris Dover Quartet Artosphere Festival Orchestra Artosphere Festival Orchestra
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How do arts organizations connect with schools who need their arts programming?
Where do schools find arts resources for their classrooms?
How do funders identify arts programming that they want to support?
Until recently, there was no one place to find this information, but now it is just a few clicks away with artlook.
Walton Arts Center and CACHE (Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange) joined forces to bring the artlook map to Washington, Benton and Madison counties. This online tool connects schools, arts organizations and the funding community with the goal of increasing access, equity and quality arts programs in every public school and every grade in these counties.
“Since our organization began, arts education training for teachers and arts programming for students were the first community services we provided,” said Sallie Zazal, Walton Arts Center director of learning and engagement. “But even with our resources, we have struggled to get in touch with the right contacts within schools to let them know about arts education opportunities. As a result, we tended to work with those schools where we had good contacts, but that left out some schools.”
organizations that serve them. Among other valuable information, artlook contains data on the presence of arts teachers and partners in schools, minutes and disciplines of instruction, school and partner arts programs and school needs. This information can then be used to advocate or fundraise to bring similar resources to other schools.
“Our goal has always been to ensure that every student in our region has access to arts experiences.”
“This platform helps identify districts or schools that are lacking in arts education opportunities so that arts organizations and teaching artists can reach out and offer help to fill those voids,” Zazal said.
artlook has been used in Chicago since 2012 to monitor arts education, and they have seen great success with the program. They now have 1,200 arts organizations bringing services into their schools and 100,000 more students annually receive weekly access to arts instructions.
“Our goal has always been to ensure that every student in our region has access to arts experiences. artlook is the tool that connects all parties in one platform, making that goal a reality –not just for us, but for arts organizations of all sizes.”
artlook provides easy access to information about our local arts education environment, allowing users to explore and download information about both the schools and the community-based arts
“We are just now launching our artlook map, and it could take another couple of years to see full participation by all schools and arts organizations, but it is a start,” Zazal said. “It is an important first step, and one that we can all continue to build upon.”
You can access the artlook site at nwarkansas.artlookmap.com. The artlook platform is made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.
A recent survey conducted by dance artist Karen Castleman looked at our region’s dance community. It identified a high level of interest in attending dance performances and documented that people are leaving NWA to attend dance performances in other cities, some as close as Little Rock and Tulsa.
While we at Walton Arts Center recognize the need to continue bringing world-class dance performances to the region, there’s also an opportunity to support the development of local dancers and dance organizations.
CONTRA-TIEMPO, a bold multi-lingual activist dance theater company, performed at Walton Arts Center in spring 2022. They also hosted a workshop for a dozen local dancers that was part dance instruction and part social activism training.
Walton Arts Center, with the help of NWA Movement Hub, sent four professional performers, CeCe Marie, Blake Worthey, Todd Belin and Garrett McCarty, to FUTURO spring workshop in Los Angeles in August so they could continue learning and growing.
Hosted by CONTRA-TIEMPO, this yearly two-week dance intensive teaches ancestral movement practices such as salsa, Afro-Cuban and hip hop. Along with learning new dance styles, students learned the history and meaning of each.
This group of Arkansas dancers, now known as Rooted Movement Collective, is the first to participate in Walton Arts Center’s Performing Artists Exchange. Local artists study with professionals in their field, and then they share what they learn with their local community through performances and workshops in schools and public spaces. This program invests in local artists and further develops dance opportunities in NWA.
During Black History Month in February, Rooted Movement Collective brought their Reclaiming Our Roots tour to 600 local middle and high school students. After performances, students engaged in interactive programs, including dance and history lessons on social dances of Afro-Caribbean and black culture.
Everyone benefits when dance thrives, and programs like Performing Artists Exchange pave the way for future performers and organizations.
Can you describe your primary role at WAC and what that looks like on a typical day?
My primary role is to oversee the entire arc of artistic programming and entertainment that we present – from our school matinee performances to our Broadway series and everything in between. I work with a great team in our programming and learning & engagement departments, and we all work together to find artists for our stages – as well as artists for our fundraising events and community events like blood drives. A typical day for me is filled by conversations with agents about artists or research on artists, working through financial proformas for shows, drafting offers and working through artist contracts. The work we do is very collaborative internally and externally, so there are always conversations!
How did you get into this industry?
Missy Darwin Kincaid, a former Walton Arts Center colleague, told me about an open position in the education department one
I applied for the position and was so excited to get the job! I have held many different positions here since, such as school performance coordinator, programming manager, artist services director and director of programming. I am so lucky to have worked with amazing mentors throughout my journey and have also met many colleagues across the country who have helped me grow in my knowledge of the different art forms and the broader performing arts industry.
What is the most interesting thing about your job?
To bring a diverse palette of artists to our stages, I see a lot of performances! Concerts, Broadway shows, dance . . . it is important to see the work live when possible because audience reaction and engagement is part of the performance. I also think the deal-making aspect of my job is fun and interesting!
EXECUTIVE
Peter B. Lane President & CEO
Jeff Mann ............................. Chief Operating Officer
COMMUNICATIONS
Heather Holland ............................. Creative Director
Hillary Morgan Director, Marketing
Jill Suel Senior Director, Marketing & Sales
Casey Weiss ........................ Digital Marketing Manager
Jennifer Wilson Director, Public Relations
DEVELOPMENT
Becky Brink Vice President
Kaylin Mason Director, Institutional Giving
Kyle May .............................. Director, Walmart AMP
Rachel Pianalto Strickland Director, Individual Giving
Zach Strickland Development Manager, Walmart AMP
EVENTS
Shannon Eubanks Director
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS
Jason Smith Director of Executive Administration, Classical Music, & Special Initiatives
Lorinda Smith Administrative Services Manager
FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE
Thomas DeBari Director, Facility Services
Mike Herbert Maintenance Engineer, Walton Arts Center
Bob Pless ................. General Manager, Walton Arts Center
Jorge Vazquez Maintenance Engineer, Walmart AMP
Beth Washington Facility Services Supervisor
FINANCE
Leslie Cowles Accounting Manager
Tim Vogt ............... Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ginny Wilson Director
FOOD & BEVERAGE
J.O. Bailey Director
Hayley Drake Manager
Maurie Edwards .............................. Senior Manager
Dillon Hager Warehouse Supervisor
HUMAN RESOURCES
Kristin Coffman Director
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Jon Downey Director
Gilles Grandidier Systems Infrastructure Engineer
LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT
Dr. Samantha Stinson School Engagement Manager
Sallie Zazal Director
PATRON SERVICES
Nathan Bell Manager, Volunteer Programs
Kaitlin Higgins Director
Ranny Kulink Manager
PRODUCTION
Cody Kopp Production Manager
Alex Newby Technical Director
Honnah Sartin Audio Supervisor
Josh Spurgers Assistant Technical Director
PROGRAMMING
Curt Owens Director
Jennifer Ross Vice President
SAFETY & SECURITY
Tommy Sisemore Director
TICKETING & BOX OFFICE
Ryan Bradshaw Ticketing Services Manager
Andrew Crowe Box Office Manager, Walmart AMP
Tiffin Feltner Director, Ticketing Services
WALMART AMP
Brian Crowne Vice President
Patrick Orndorff Director, Production
Heath Parnell Assistant Director, Production
Stephanie Simpson Director, Operations
Nick Zazal General Manager
As a non-profit organization, the revenue from Walton Arts Center programming supports learning and education programs and ensures that the arts remain an essential part of the lives of students, teachers and families in Northwest Arkansas. Through the generosity of our supporters, all of our school programs are offered free for students.
We believe that integrating arts into classrooms is a critical part of the learning process. Research has shown that there is a positive cumulative effect on students who participate in arts experiences and field trips. Students benefit when they can create and express their own knowledge, vision and voice in school projects. The arts provide the platform and skill set to promote student collaboration and creativity. With arts integration, students are empowered!
When students come to Walton Arts Center, they see innovative performances based on literature they already know and also hear new languages and music from around the world. Students respond enthusiastically and are often given the opportunity to meet the artists following the performance, ask questions and reflect on great works. Further, children remember these performances from years past and grow into theater-loving adults.
Additionally, researchers have learned that students have a desire to participate in cultural activities – not just attend them. That’s where we come in with our commitment to putting arts resources and education in the hands of teachers. As an arts venue, we know we are in a unique position to pass learning experiences on to students in Northwest Arkansas and it is a responsibility we take very seriously.
In 2022, Walton Arts Center proudly celebrated 31 years of partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative as an arts integration training provider. Walton Arts Center helps public schools by providing arts integration training programs at both the elementary and secondary school levels. We have collaborated with all 17 school districts in our region.
In total, more than 600,000 students and teachers have been served by our arts education programs since 2001. Each season, more than 26,000 students from nearly 90 schools experience a live performance at Walton Arts Center as part of the classroom series. Each year, nearly 100 teachers and teaching artists learn to use the arts to teach core curriculum subjects like literacy, social studies and science. These exemplary educators bring the arts to more than 1,000 students from kindergarten to high school, annually.
Walton Arts Center is proud to serve the students and teachers of Northwest Arkansas through thoughtful programming designed to educate, entertain and engage – and we’re not slowing down anytime soon.
“We believe that integrating arts into classrooms is a critical part of the learning process.”
Fresh on the heels of three sold-out holiday performances in December and a bold kickoff to 2023 with Mother and Child in January, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) continues its 2022-23 mainstage season at Walton Arts Center with more performances in March and April.
The symphony is releasing a groundbreaking debut album with music that artfully blends virtual and “real life” performances by SoNA musicians, special guest soloists and ensembles from around the world. They will be celebrating this release and performing new works from the album on March 11 with New Canons. Under the baton of Musical Director Paul Haas, SoNA will feature music from the album including Trevor New’s Cohere I, with virtual tieins to multiple international locations, and Paul Haas’ In saecula saeculorum. Following intermission, the orchestra will perform the joyously beautiful Symphony No. 3 in F Major by Johannes Brahms.
Next, on April 8, Battle of the Bands brings SoNA and the Fayetteville Jazz Collective together, alternating between pieces played by the jazz band, pieces played by the orchestra, and then pieces played together, for an evening of genre-defying music that will be enjoyed by a wide variety of music lovers.
And later that same month, SoNA will close the season on April 29 with Evoking Folklore. This program speaks to SoNA’s wide view
of orchestral music and its commitment to uncover music that has been historically and unjustifiably ignored by the classical industry. Each of the works are captivating storytelling of folklore: starting with Chickasaw Nation tales through Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate’s Chokfi (Rabbit), then traditional Spanish stories with Manuel de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain featuring pianist Angela Cheng, and lastly classic Americana evocations with Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3
“This season, we imagine big and present music that reflects our bold vision for our orchestra and the wide possibilities of orchestral music,” says Haas. “We represent the past and present of our artform through time-honored works by Copland, William Grant Still, Brahms, and so much more. But we also show the powerful future of our artform through works by contemporary visionaries, and through collaborations with guest artists that also point to our artform’s bright future.”
Single ticket prices for SoNA’s mainstage performances range from $36 to $60, based on seating preferences. Discount student tickets are available with a student photo I.D. Children under 18 are free with the purchase of an adult ticket (limited quantities). To purchase tickets, visit sonamusic.org, or call the Walton Arts Center Box Office at 479.443.5600.
Don’t miss Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria as they bound out of the zoo and onto Walton Arts Center’s stage in a musical adaptation of the animated movie, Madagascar. This brand-new musical from Dreamworks will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!” We sat down with the producers and found out what makes this show so special.
What are the challenges you faced adapting this animated movie into a musical theater production?
When you have a film franchise as popular as Madagascar, the challenge becomes knowing which parts of the story to tell while giving audiences what they expect to see. As we bring these beloved characters to life, I believe we have found the right balance of heart and humor that won’t disappoint and will be fun for the whole family.
Why do you think Madagascar lends itself to being a musical theater adaptation?
It was a no-brainer. The larger-than-life characters and the colorful backdrop from the film made the leap to stage an easy one. The fun part is figuring out how to bring the animated world to life through scenic elements and using stage craft to enhance the story. We must give credit to Kevin Del Aguila for his great work with the book and our
composers Joel Somellian and George Noriega. These elements really propel the story and make it feel like a party.
What are the biggest differences between the film and the theater production and can you explain what led to these choices?
The biggest difference is the new music and the focus on pivotal moments from the original story. Film allows you to cover more time and space in the storytelling, but in theater you have to focus on important moments. The use of original songs in these moments enriches the story.
Is this a show for kids or for the whole family?
This is for the whole family. It is visually stimulating and very funny. It will keep everyone entertained and having a good time. I mean the penguins alone… come on!
How can this show get younger audiences interested in theater and Broadway?
Live theater is a magical experience. Seeing a show like this come together with the lights, sets and music will give a joyful, positive message will always inspire future storytellers and supporters of the arts.
“This is for the whole family. It is visually stimulating and very funny. It will keep everyone entertained and having a good time.”
What about the story of Madagascar makes it so beloved worldwide and what is exciting about this new adaptation?
4 SHOWS / June
2-3
I think the story resonates with people of all ages. We all get restless and want to find where we belong, but we can’t do it alone. It’s a simple story of adventure and community wrapped in a party. And you watch it come to life right before your eyes. What’s not to love?
Show Underwriter: Todd & Melissa Simmons
Show Sponsor:
There’s an age-old saying in theater: “the show must go on.” At Walton Arts Center, we say something similar about our volunteer team: the show can’t go on without them! Our dedicated corps of volunteers are involved in every aspect of the work at Walton Arts Center – helping in the administrative office, box office, the Friends lounge, ushering in the hall and more. The volunteers say that a major perk of volunteering at Walton Arts Center is that it is so much fun! Who wouldn’t want to wear their PJs to work at The Polar Express screening?
Volunteering isn’t all work and no play. There is an incredible sense of community that is established inside and outside of the performance hall. The volunteer team is a great place to meet other service-minded individuals. Friendships are formed as volunteers work alongside each other in a supportive and creative environment.
As a thank you to our volunteers, we host an annual volunteer appreciation night, complete with a party and awards. The fun doesn’t stop there! The volunteers gather socially throughout the year at various events and locations, including concerts at Gulley Park, happy hours at Boston Mountain Brewery, nature hikes, Lights of the Ozarks, a night at Arvest Ballpark and even backstage tours at the Walmart AMP.
To learn more or become a volunteer, please visit waltonartscenter.org/edu/volunteer.
Happy Hour
Gulley Park
Lights of the Ozarks
Group Hike
Wearing Pajamas for Polar Express
Northwest Arkansas Naturals Game
Face it, we all need to laugh, especially after the last few years. So grab your friends and head to Walton Arts Center where you can see several very funny people this spring including an internet sensation, one of today’s best and funniest storytellers and someone who knows the comedic value of vulnerability. Pick your favorite entertainer, grab a snack or a specialty drink, take a seat and laugh your cares away.
Sunday, March 19
Tickets: $29.75-149.75
Viral sensation John Crist is one of today’s fast-rising stand-up comedians, with more than one billion video views, over five million fans on social media and sold-out
Tuesday, April 25
Tickets: $53
For more than 25 years, David Sedaris has charmed audiences with his sometimes neurotic and seemingly mundane, yet profound storytelling. Beloved for his personal conversational essays, short
Friday, June 23
Tickets: $39-69
Tig Notaro is a groundbreaking stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer and director. Hailed for her effortless storytelling and fearless stage presence, her subject matter ranges from the delightfully absurd to the
Walton Arts Center’s Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) is one way for local businesses to give back to the community through the arts. The group works to secure resources for arts education and supports our mission of bringing arts experiences to Northwest Arkansas. Kent Arnold, senior vice president of business development at Signature Bank of Arkansas and member of the CLC sat down with us to share more about the group and what it means to him.
“The CLC brings together the top leaders of the community and aligns them towards a common cause that is near to all our hearts.” Arnold is referring to the guiding responsibilities of the CLC, called the 3 C’s: Engaging children through funding for arts education, enhancing culture by hosting the annual Masquerade Ball and connecting the community through networking opportunities.
Signature Bank chose to join the CLC because it felt like a natural extension of their values. “We strive to be a trusted pillar of our community by keeping the best interest of our customers at the forefront of what we do,” Arnold said. “We decided to support Walton Arts Center’s CLC because they mirror our values and seek to enrich the lives of all residents in NWA.”
The council is made up of 28 individuals, each representing influential organizations in the local area. From banks to law firms and food suppliers, CLC members represent businesses that, on the surface, seem to have different priorities. Yet, they all support the arts as one way to improve the quality of life in our region. Arnold says these representatives share a common goal to “better serve the community in which we all live, work and play.”
Walton Arts Center benefits from the expertise and insight of these successful business professionals – Arnold was named one of Arkansas Money & Politics Magazine’s 2022 Top 100 Professionals. Likewise, Arnold explained that the business world has a lot to learn from the arts. “The level of organization and precise timing it takes — with all of the moving parts required to put on a top-tier traveling show for a two-week run — is one of the most impressive things I have ever seen and can be used in the business world to maximize efficiency,” he said.
Arnold specifically highlighted Hamilton from the 2021-2022 Broadway season. “The cast, crew and Arts Center staff did a phenomenal job, and I kept thinking throughout the show of how fortunate the NWA community is to have the No. 1 show on Broadway travel and perform here,” he said.
Members of the CLC know that time they spend serving is a necessary investment into the future of Northwest Arkansas. Ensuring arts education is a part of local schools helps children grow into arts-loving adults that can collaborate and communicate effectively. Likewise, the performances at our venues encourage future generations to find their passions.
It would be impossible for Walton Arts Center to operate without the support of the CLC and the local businesses they represent.
If you’d like more information about becoming a member of the Corporate Leadership Council, please visit waltonartscenter.org/support/clc/.
“...the business world has a lot to learn from the arts.”
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