Richard Thomas in To Kill A Mockingbird
Understanding the Impact of the Arts
The performing arts are about so much more than just seeing a show. It is through arts experiences that we realize we are not alone, and through the stories and struggles of others that we gain empathy and understanding for one another. We believe in the power of the arts to help build vibrant communities that ignite economic growth for everyone.
In 2022, Americans for the Arts launched a new Arts & Economic Prosperity survey and we teamed up with CACHE, Arkansas Arts Council and Arkansans for the Arts to gather data about the overall impact of creative arts in Arkansas. The results, called AEP6, are an economic and social impact study of the state’s and the region’s growing nonprofit arts and culture industry.
By every measure, the data is impressive. In Washington and Benton counties, the nonprofit entertainment sector – which included 42 organizations – generated $232.7 million in economic output. That is a 77% increase from AEP5 in 2018.
We know that when you attend an event at Walton Arts Center, you often make an outing of it – dining at a restaurant, paying for parking or transportation, enjoying dessert after the show and returning home to pay for child or pet care. In the Northwest Arkansas Region, attendees spent $75.2 million in event-related expenditures, supporting local businesses and making an incredible impact to our economic growth.
While we are committed to bringing the best touring acts to our region, our unique position also allows us to support local artists, art makers and other arts organizations. From resident companies including the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and Community Creative Center to artistic affiliates such as Trike Theatre and NWA Jazz Society, hundreds of artists are featured annually on our stages, in our schools and in Joy Pratt Markham Gallery. We couldn’t support these local art makers without your support. We take very seriously our role in the local arts ecosystem, and we appreciate your ongoing commitment that helps us continue to grow and contribute to the quality of life for everyone.
From every staff member and volunteer at Walton Arts Center, thank you for considering us to be a part of your neighborhood and for your support. We are proud to be a place where Northwest Arkansas gathers to experience the arts, and we are equally excited to be able to give back to the region that we serve.
Peter B. Lane Walton Arts Center President/CEO
Peter B. Lane President/CEO
Walton Arts Center Council
Nate Hodne, Chair
Karen Roberts, Vice Chair/Treasurer
Laura Jacobs, Vice Chair
Marti Sudduth, Vice Chair
Megan Timberlake, Vice Chair
Tony Waller, Vice Chair
Barry Bryan
Anthony DiNicola
Joel Freund
Ryan Harrington
Claire Kolberg
Diana Marshall
Chris Nicholas
Elda Scott
Justin Tennant
Scott Verady
Matthew Waller
Danielle Williams
Walton Arts Center Foundation
Gary Peters, Chair
Kelly Sudduth, Vice Chair
Jaclyn Henderson, Secretary/Treasurer
Brock Gearhart
Colleen Briney
Jeff Clapper
Marybeth Hays
Mark Power
This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.
Contents © 2024.
All rights reserved. Produced by DOXA/VANTAGE.
Cover clockwise: Richard Thomas and the company of To Kill a Mockingbird - photo by Julieta Cervantes. Artosphere Festival Orchestra. Caroline Eiseman in Hairsprayphoto by Jeremy Daniel. 360 ALL STARS.
Our 2024 Season Continues!
FEBRUARY
Company
Feb. 20-25
Ailey II
Feb. 27
Dave Williamson
Feb. 29
An Intimate Evening with David Foster & Katharine McPhee
Feb. 29
MARCH
Menopause the Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change’ ®
March 2
Lee Rocker
Drum Tao
March 12
Pilobolus Re:Creation Tour
March 14
U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters
March 16
Disney’s Aladdin
March 26-31
APRIL
Michael Palascak
April 4
Jackie Venson
April 5
Arkansas Filmmakers
Showcase
April 6
VoiceJam Competition
April 13
Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird
April 16-21
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
April 26
Aubrey Logan Band
April 27
NORTH
April 28
MAY
John Waters’ Devil’s Advocate
May 1
Hairspray
Compagnia TPO’s +ERBA –A Forest in the City
May 14-15
Artosphere Festival Orchestra
Verdi’s Requiem
May 18
360 ALLSTARS
May 21
Artosphere Festival Orchestra
Live from Crystal Bridges: Mozart in the Museum
May 22
John
Thank You Sponsors & Funders!
Star Level
Producing Level
Directing Level
Performing Level
Contributing Level
Supporting Level
Bienvenue
The Cake Occasion
Theo’s
Urban Cellar Winery
Vino Distribution
Wiederkehr Wine Cellars
Zelli Pasta
Walton Arts Center Friends
Special
Greg and Rachel Billingsley
What inspired you to become Friends of Walton Arts Center?
It started with our love of the arts and seeing what Walton Arts Center has brought to Northwest Arkansas consistently over the years. The venue is a cultural cornerstone in our community, and we wanted to make sure that it continues to be the model of excellence in arts programming, community outreach and educational impact.
What
is the biggest benefit of being a
Friend?
Knowing that we have contributed in some small way to the growth of culture through the arts, in Fayetteville and beyond, is the biggest benefit of being a Friend. Artists, musicians and performers from all over the world are able to share their incredible gifts with our community, and we, in turn, get to grow in our appreciation of the arts through their amazing talent. Being able to be a part of all of it is truly a blessing to us.
How does it make you feel to know that your contribution helps further arts education and share transformative experiences with students and the community?
This part of being a Friend really hits home with us. All three of our girls have been able to participate in the arts education programs through their local schools. Field trips to Walton Arts Center were always met with excitement the night before and fabulous stories when they got home. It has meant so much to us to see our children, their classmates, teachers and our community become enriched by the support, time and energy of Walton Arts Center and its wonderful staff and volunteers!
Be a Light. Set the Stage.
Friends of Walton Arts Center help us share the transformative experience of the arts with our community through free school field trips, educator professional development, our Take A Seat free ticket program and comunity outreach projects.
Make a Friends gift today to support these initiatives and get the star treatment all season long with benefits like:
+ Reserved Friends Parking
+ Friends Lounge access with complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres
+ Invitations to behind-the-scenes receptions and events
+ Access to Non-Broadway pre-sales
Explore all the exciting benefits we offer and become a Friend today by visiting waltonartscenter.org/friends.
Don’t Miss Artosphere Festival Orchestra’s Final Performances
After 12 seasons and more than 35 performances, the Artosphere Festival Orchestra ends on a high note for its finale season. The 90-member orchestra will converge in Northwest Arkansas for the final time in May 2024. Under the baton of internationally acclaimed Maestro Corrado Rovaris, the AFO features premier musicians from major symphonies, prestigious ensembles and distinguished programs across the globe performing both classic and new works by leading composers.
In addition to three performances by the full orchestra, there will be other opportunities to experience more intimate performances by AFO musicians during Artosphere, including the popular Off the Grid and Chapel Music Series performances. Purchase tickets and find a full Artosphere schedule at waltonartscenter.org.
American Soundscapes
Tuesday, May 14
Walton Arts Center
Baum Walker Hall
Tickets: $10
This performance includes Aaron Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo, Nick DiBeradino’s Percussion Concerto featuring percussionists Sijia Huang and Garrett Arney of arx duo and Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 From the New World
Verdi’s Requiem
Saturday, May 18
Walton Arts Center
Baum Walker Hall
Tickets: $15-50
The orchestra will be joined by 120 voices from Tulsa, University of Arkansas and Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Featured soloists are soprano Tiffany Townsend, mezzo-soprano Allison McHardy, tenor Matthew Plenk and bass Adam Lau.
Mozart in the Museum
Wednesday, May 22
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Great Hall Tickets: $54
This finale performance will be a stunning salute to Mozart, highlighting the piano with Serenade No. 6 for Orchestra in D major, Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor and Symphony No. 41 in C Major “Jupiter.”
While the Artosphere Festival Orchestra is ending, Artosphere, Walton Arts Center’s monthlong arts and nature festival, will continue offering programming and opportunities to experience art in nature around the region in May.
Artosphere Festival is sponsored by Walmart. Premier Artosphere Festival support is provided by Kelly & Marti Sudduth. Artosphere Festival Orchestra Principal Support for Maestro Corrado Rovaris and Dover Quartet is provided by Reed and MaryAnn Greenwood. Artosphere Festival Orchestra Show Underwriters are Greg & Hannah Lee and Peter B. Lane & Barbara Putman. Artosphere Festival is made possible by Tyson Foods and the generosity of all our Friends of Artosphere.
Scan for full Artosphere schedule
Kids & Family Series
Engaging and Inspiring Shows for Kids
The Kellogg’s Kids and Family Series is the perfect way to introduce your little ones to the magic of live music and theater! See history come to life in NORTH – or introduce our newest generation of theatergoer to the familiar fable of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. For a more modern take on storytelling, BRUSH Theatre and Compagnia TPO offer colorful, playful shows that use interactive animations and projection mapping, delighting audience members of all ages. Join us and let your imaginations run wild at these special shows!
The Boy Who Cried Wolf offers adapted performances to incorporate special modifications for adults and children
tutti frutti’s
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Tuesday, March 5, 7pm
Tickets $25
Starr Theater
Inspired by Aesop’s famous fable, this is a beautifully crafted production about a boy who learns that “nobody believes a liar, even when they’re telling the truth.”
NORTH
with sensory-input disorders, autism or other developmental or cognitive disabilities, as well as anyone who might feel uncomfortable attending a typical live theater performance. To make the shows more accessible, the sound will be lowered, lights in the seating area will be dimmed rather than fully dark and audience members are welcome to bring any necessary food, drinks or hand fidgets into the theater. Learn more about sensory-friendly performances at waltonartscenter.org or scan the QR code.
Sunday, April 28, 4pm
Tickets $10
Baum Walker Hall
A powerful new musical about a teenage boy and his mother who escape slavery in the deep south through the Underground Railroad. While acknowledging the realities of slavery, the narrative explores themes of optimism, bravery, playfulness, wonder, suspense and mystery, with original musical compositions steeped in jazz and other historically Black music genres.
Scan to learn more about sensory-friendly performances
Compagnia TPO’s +ERBA - A Forest in the City
Tuesday, May 14, 6:30pm
Wednesday, May 15, 6:30pm
Tickets $10
Starr Theater
In this interactive show, children from the audience are invited to the stage floor to create an imaginary city with two dancers from Compagnia TPO.
tutti frutti’s
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Compagnia TPO
Shannon Shelton
Human Resources Manager
Can you describe your primary role at Walton Arts Center and what your typical day looks like?
I am a part of the human resources team dedicated to recruiting for all full-time and part-time positions at Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP. My typical day involves balancing administrative tasks and recruiting talented, passionate and intelligent individuals. I enjoy having meaningful conversations with candidates, which often lead to a return on the investment in hiring good people. It takes time to develop a connection with applicants. It takes cultivating strong relationships with hiring managers and working in the trenches with each department to find the best employees. Finding great talent is the most rewarding part of my job.
How did you get into this industry?
My journey into this industry was not typical. Although I wanted to be a professional ballerina and danced through my college years, I started out by working as a volunteer chairperson for John Daly, the former Razorback golfer. Before the Walmart AMP moved to the fairgrounds, we held the John Daly Days golf tournament and concert during the AMP’s first season in 2006 with musical
performers Steve Azar, Billy Pierson, Doug Stone and Hootie and the Blowfish. I learned a ton and am so grateful because now I am part of the Walton Arts Center team. My experience has come full circle!
What is the most interesting thing about your job?
I think the most interesting thing about my job is watching the journey and growth of my co-workers and our organization. It is very rewarding to know we can help our employees have fun while being the best in the business. Of course, the performances are some serious fun as well.
What would you like patrons to know about Walton Arts Center?
I’d like patrons to know working at Walton Arts Center is mission driven. There is a greater purpose than the shows – it’s the kids that get to attend performances on a school field trip and it takes a lot of hands to bring shows to our stages. I want guests to know we are all dedicated and passionate and want everyone to experience the arts.
LIKE YOU, WE’RE 100% FOCUSED ON PEAK PERFORMANCE
Shannon Shelton
Your Event Takes Center Stage
Walton Arts Center is a unique, hidden gem among event venues in Arkansas.
Located in the heart of Fayetteville’s entertainment district. Booking your event with the region’s premier arts center comes with an array of beautiful spaces to choose from.
architecture is stunning with beautiful features including floor-to-ceiling windows in Walker Atrium, our signature chandelier and more. Walton Arts Center has ample space for guests and provides an exquisite backdrop for your party, dinner or wedding photos.
More than 30,000 square feet were added and improvements were made throughout the venue during a 2016 renovation.
“Flexibility was key in the design,” says Shannon Eubanks, events director at Walton Arts Center. “We wanted to develop spaces that could be configured to fit different sized audiences and events.
We’re a non-traditional venue in the sense that we were not constructed with just shows or meetings in mind, but rather we sought to extend the beauty of the stage beyond the main performing hall, into our other spaces.”
The modern design of Walton Arts Center is perfect for parties, weddings and event planners who are looking for something different than a typical ballroom, conference center or barn venue. The
Speaking of weddings – the Walker Atrium Lobby and Pace Balcony make for a grand entrance for any bride, with beautiful natural light and a staircase leading to guests below. The Bradberry Amphitheater and Rose Garden is a gorgeous outdoor space featuring climbing roses on trellises and twinkling lights, perfect for a mixer, ceremony or reception. As a black box, Starr Theater is one of our most flexible rental options – a blank space that can be custom-configured and designed for any event.
Walton Arts Center’s location is prime real estate when it comes to hosting an unforgettable event on Dickson Street –within walking distance to some of the best restaurants, bars and shopping the area has to offer.
Other venue perks include:
+ Multiple dressing rooms that can accommodate up to 30 people
+ An award-winning, on-site events staff
+ Bar services with licensed bartenders and specialty drink options
+ Tables, banquet chairs, set-up and tear down included in booking
+ A selection of event decor and supplies to choose from for your event needs.
Walton Arts Center offers an elegant location for any number of occasions. To find out more about hosting your event in this remarkable venue, visit waltonartscenter.org or email events@waltonartscenter.org
Arkansas Vault Project Documents Walton Arts Center’s History
As Walton Arts Center nears its 35th anniversary, our staff coordinated a series of interviews with the founders of the nonprofit performing arts center and those who helped it grow into the arts organization you know today. These interviews now live in the Arkansas Story Vault.
The Arkansas Story Vault documents Arkansas’ cultural heritage through a collection of stories about Northwest Arkansas and the institutions that helped put it on the map. Founded by the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, this initiative is in cooperation with the University of Arkansas’ School of Journalism and Strategic Media and creates opportunities for students to gain hands-on documentary and media production experience.
As with all oral histories, it’s important to record the stories of those who have first-hand knowledge. The collection includes interviews with Billie Jo Starr, Frank Sharp, Reed and Mary Ann Greenwood, Mark Hennenberger, Lioneld Jordan and others.
“With the sheer volume of programming and events that we do here, it’s easy for us to miss telling our own story,” says Jason Smith, director of executive administration, classical music and special initiatives at Walton Arts Center. “As an organization we are always looking to the future. But the Arkansas Story Vault allows us to look back and appreciate our past.”
“...from [a] dream, it’s grown into what Walton Arts Center is today – the arts and cultural center of NWA.”
The founders of Walton Arts Center knew they caught lightning in a bottle when they created the first dedicated arts center in the Northwest Arkansas area. Before Baum Walker Hall and Starr Theater existed, performances took place in gyms, churches and even parks, or people would travel out of town to see Broadway shows. Through the founders’ collaboration with the city of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas – and later, the Walton Family Foundation – Walton Arts Center ignited the renaissance of Dickson Street and became a key cultural resource for recruiting business to the area.
Walton Arts Center began as “a dream, and it started small,” said Dick Trammel, who was on the Arkansas Arts Council during the center’s brainstorming and fundraising phase. “It was the beginning of something great. And from the dream, it’s grown into what Walton Arts Center is today – the arts and cultural center of NWA.”
We invite you to explore this collection of stories from the visionaries and community leaders behind Walton Arts Center, as well as those of other local institutions, as we celebrate the past and look forward to the future of Northwest Arkansas.
WAC Grand Opening
Jim Walton & Pat Walker
WAC Grand Opening
Baum Walker Hall
Chamber ribbon cutting with Mayor Lionel Jordan
Dick Trammel
Billie Jo Starr & Helen Walton at the WAC Grand Opening in 1992
Scan to view interviews in the Arkansas Story Vault
From Educator to Arts Volunteer:
Helping Walton Arts Center Serve Students and Teachers
Our volunteers are vital to our mission and one of the things that we appreciate most about them is that they come with a variety of backgrounds, ages and vast life experiences. Within the volunteer corps, we have a special group of educators-turned-volunteers who still get to work with students through their work here.
Becky Timmons spent 30 years at University of Arkansas Ft. Smith, both as a professor and administrator. Timmons has a background in business, but she has also always loved the arts. She served as president of the Western Arkansas Ballet nonprofit and on the arts advisory board that brought shows into University of Arkansas Ft. Smith.
Education shows were a big draw for her to start volunteering here. “I loved the kids shows. Seeing something through the eyes of the students is one of the most exciting things.” Timmons fondly recalled the memory of a young student who came up to her after a show and said “I didn’t like this show – I loved it!”
Integrating arts into education is so important because “students learn in different ways,” according to Timmons. “These shows reinforce what the students learn in the classroom and allow students to come into the arts through a different lens, along with just seeing new and beautiful things.”
She remembers being on an elementary school field trip and seeing Babes in Toyland. “This was a positive memory that I have carried with me all this time,” Timmons expressed. “And now I get to be a part of it from the other side.”
Aside from education shows, “volunteering is a great resource when you move to a new place,” she said. “You look for friends and try to find people with like interests. For me, it’s about the connection and the friendships.”
Karla Bradley, a volunteer for almost 10 years, taught for 34 years in Arkansas and Missouri (27 of those years in Fayetteville) before retiring in spring 2020. She remembers coming to Walton Arts Center for education shows when she was a teacher. And as the drama club sponsor at her school, she saw how live theater was exciting and inspirational for her students.
“As a teacher I was here many times with classes, and it was always a great experience. I would often hear the kids talk about it or reference what they had seen later in classes,” Bradley said. “It’s about the engagement, watching whatever reaction students have, and the experience that some kids would not get otherwise. In some cases, it makes students more open to thinking they could do something too and gives them a safe place to explore.”
To learn more or become a volunteer, please visit waltonartscenter.org/volunteer.
Karla Bradley
Becky Timmons
Walton Arts Center would like to share our appreciation for the many generous volunteers whose time and dedication make our programming possible. We couldn’t do it without you!
Heather Agerton
Bruce Ahrendsen
Jolene Ahrendsen
Brenda Alison
Jacque Allen
Michael Allen
Amy Anthony
Pamela Ashford
Pamela Austin
Pat Bader
Ray Bader
Cassie Baker
Ruth Baker
Jeanie Baltz
Andreina Barrett
Diane Bashuk
Betsy Batey
Bobbye Beecher
Chris Bell
Marianne Bieker
David Boddie
Karmen Boddie
Cathe Bowman
Karla Bradley
Sharon Brasko
Lisa Breivogel
Ruth Brenneman
Rene Cheek
Elaine Cheney
Kay Coley
Terie Collison
Jennifer Cooksey
Karen Coyne
Diana Danforth
MJ Danforth
Rhonda Darden
Henry Daut
Shannon Davis
Jerry Davison
Judy Davison
Patti Deen
Mary DeGolyer
Melody DeVere
Dennis Dinkel
John Dixon
Rebecca Doretti
Helen Edsall
Mary Foster
Steph Freeman
Katie Gallico
Susan Garriss
Richard Gerety
Joel Giarrusso
Sue Gidney
Sharon Gray
Avi Greene
Nicole Gulas
Ann Hafar
Ali Haines
Gina Harris
Mark Harris
Mary Harvey
Curtis Hendricks
Jeremy Hess
Jeanne Hickman
Candace Hoggatt
Diana Hoke
Gayle Howard
Lee Howard
Kathryn Hunt
Farzana Huq
Amy Huycke
Mark Huycke
Carole Jackson
Katie Jackson
Mark Jackson
Linda Jenkins
Donn Johnson
Paula Johnson
Rick Jones
Rifat Ara Karim
Jenny Lee
Pat Lemmer
Annette Lewis
Michael Lietzke
Morgan Lindsey
Pamela Lipinski
Gayl Lippert
Annee Littell
Marj Little
Gabrielle Marcy
Pam Marsh
Leslie Martinez
Denise May
Sharon McCone
Donna McKellar
Jim McKinney
Barbara McMullen
Julie Mellor
Katie Mercer
Diane Merritt
Laura Minick
James Minyard
Shannon Mitchell
Nancy Mock
Mario Moreno
Pat Moriarity
Peggy Moriarity
Janet Oxford
Mary Oxford
Michael Oxford
Glenda Patterson
Allie Peduto
Tom Perry
Jeannie Philpott
Kymberli Philpott
Ann Porta
Ronit Portet
Michelle Rathgaber
Leslie Redmon
Laurie Reh
Teresita Reisinger
Robyn Rektor
Jerry Retallick
MariAnne Retallick
Joyce Richards
Jacki Riffey
Connie Robbins
Barbara Salmons
Joe Salmons
Anita Sampley
Karen Scoles
Charlotte Shaffer
Terri Shea
Teresa Shelden
Clifton Sherrer
Paulette Sherrer
Jeanne Silvestri
Charlotte Sorenson
Carol Spears
Stephanie Springate
Shelley Steele
Peggy Stovesand
Kerry Stricker
Jerald Swenson
Marie Swenson
Jhonnie Taylor
Lauren Terry
Theresa Thibado
Sharon Thomason
Vicki Thompson
Becky Timmons
Patty Tisdale
Peter Tooker
Peggy Treiber
Roene Trevisan
Jorge Vega
Marc Villalva
Fawne Wallace
Ben Walworth
Terry Wamsher
Rana Weidman
Laura Welkey
Yvette Wilkins
Angelika Will
Elisa Willard
Tiff Wimberly
Rachel Wolverton
Donna Wood
Michael Wulf
Susan Wylie
Nan Yarnelle
Katy Young
Amanda Zoellick
Arkansas’ #1 Hospital
Three Years in a Row
HIGH PERFORMING RATING IN TWELVE AREAS OF CARE
For the third consecutive year, Washington Regional Medical Center has been named the #1 hospital in Arkansas by U.S. News & World Report, earning a high performing rating in 12 areas of care – more than any other hospital in the state.
+ Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
+ Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
+ Diabetes
+ Heart Attack
+ Heart Failure
+ Hip Fracture
+ Hip Replacement
+ Kidney Failure
+ Knee Replacement
+ Lung Cancer Surgery
+ Pneumonia
+ Stroke
Washington Regional is proud to be here for you with compassionate, high quality care.
Broadway Series
Bringing Aladdin to the Stage
By Courtney Potter
Early in the evolution of Aladdin, composer Alan Menken, book writer and lyricist Chad Beguelin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw got together to write a brand-new song for the stage musical – a unique collaboration that could only happen on Broadway.
“The task was to create Aladdin ‘the new stage musical,’ but also integrate these lost songs — which are really wonderful. It was like putting together a musical puzzle.”
- Chad Beguelin
“We needed to write a new song for the Genie, [for] when he’s going to free Aladdin from the dungeon in Act II” said Menken.
“And we wrote this song called ‘Somebody’s Got Your Back.’
It was just one of these oldfashioned theater moments where you lock three people in a room. I run over to the piano and try an idea; Nicholaw gets up and gets kind of a movement idea and Beguelin shouts out lyric ideas ... and within a half an hour, we had the beginning of this song. And we’re very proud of it. The best part of the process is always the initial creativity, the initial writing – and that was a great moment.”
It’s hard to imagine that the late, great lyricist Howard Ashman wouldn’t be ridiculously pleased with the success of his Disneybased collaborations with longtime songwriting partner Menken. The duo’s iconic scores for the animated films The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast were given continued life as Broadway musicals, seen by millions all over the country and the world. But
what about the pair’s last Disney project — 1992’s Aladdin? Die-hard fans know Menken and Ashman wrote 11 songs for the film, only to have most of them cut from early drafts of the screenplay; production was later marred by Ashman’s woefully early passing from AIDSrelated complications in 1991.
Did any of those original songs still exist? Could a reimagined Aladdin ever make it to Broadway? The answer, thankfully, was “yes” — and the final product joins several of Ashman’s original ideas for the film with brand-new, wholly theatrical notions from the musical’s blue-chip creative team.
It all started when Tony®-nominated lyricist Chad Beguelin (The Prom, The Wedding Singer, Elf ) was asked to help put together a draft of a stage version of Aladdin. When Menken saw Beguelin’s initial draft, he realized the time was right to resurrect the film’s littleheard deleted songs and debut them to a new generation.
Beguelin explains: “The task was to create Aladdin ‘the new stage musical,’ but also integrate these lost songs — which are really wonderful. It was like putting together a musical puzzle.” While a host of new or previously-unheard songs take flight, fans can expect all their favorites — including the Menken/Tim Rice Oscar®winner “A Whole New World” and a totally swingin’ version of “Friend Like Me.”
This article originally ran in Disney twenty-three, a publication of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
Bringing Aladdin to Broadway was a memorable experience, even for stage adaptation-maestro Menken.
“Coming to the show was like opening up, in a sense, a treasure trove – or a ‘Cave of Wonders,’ if you will – of material that was intended for the animated movie,” he says.
8 SHOWS / March 26-31
Ultimately, Nicholaw says audiences hail the “new” Menken/ Ashman tunes and the new Menken/Beguelin songs and fully embrace this fresh, joyful take on a classic. “It’s about keeping all the stuff that everyone loves from the movie and in order to get it on stage, giving it a musical-comedy heart.”
Series Sponsor:
Premier Broadway Series Support: Bob & Becky Alexander
Broadway Series Support: Friends of Broadway
Show Underwriter: Starr Foundation & Family in Memory of Billie Jo Starr
Left clockwise: Jake Letts, Ben Chavez, Adi Roy and Colt Prattes in Aladdin Tour. Senzel Ahmady and Company. Adi Roy. Marcus M. Martin and Company. Photos by Deen van Meer, courtesy of Disney.
VoiceJam Festival Draws the Best A Cappella Talent to NWA
The annual VoiceJam A Cappella Festival is a fan-favorite event in our season lineup. When some of the best a cappella groups from across the country descend on Northwest Arkansas to compete for the title of VoiceJam Grand Champion, music magic happens.
Before the 2023 competition, we sat down with someone who knows VoiceJam and a cappella music very well – Erin Hackel, associate professor of music and interim chair of music and entertainment studies at University of Colorado, Denver, who has served as a VoiceJam Competition judge and masterclass instructor for five years, and brought a competing group twice.
What is your role in VoiceJam?
VoiceJam is one of my favorite festivals, if not my very favorite. I look forward to it every year and have a few different roles when I come here. I serve as a clinician, so I teach classes about singing techniques, how to sing healthily and sustainably, how to make an a cappella arrangement without any written music and how to perform well. Sometimes I get to judge the competition, which is so much fun. When I bring a group, I don’t get to judge. I sweat it out in the back of the theater while they compete against all the other amazing groups.
What are some of your favorite memories from VoiceJam?
I love the year that I taught a room full of singers an entire arrangement by ear in 45 minutes – they were incredible! And
I’ll never forget when the judges couldn’t agree on a winner and the hosts had to improvise on stage for what must have felt like an eternity.
What part of VoiceJam do you look forward to each year?
I love being in Fayetteville! It’s so charming, and it’s easy to walk anywhere you might need to go. VoiceJam also really strikes the right balance of classes and performances. The participants get a chance to socialize and workshop their music while they are there. I also love the VoiceJam audience, they are there to enjoy themselves, and the groups know how to put on a great show.
What makes a cappella different than other performing arts?
Who else can walk on a stage with absolutely nothing but a microphone and hold an audience in the palm of their hands? There is a vulnerability and bravery to a cappella that I find striking. There is absolutely no hiding from a flaw in a performance. Poor pitch? It’s terrible. Forget the words? Bad. Someone stops singing? You can hear it right away. But when it’s great, there’s nothing better or more exciting to listen to. Singing truly brings us together. It’s a way of communicating and showing that we have a shared experience that transcends conflict and differences. I see people make deep, life-long connections who don’t even share a language; that’s powerful.
Media Sponsors:
Purchase a combo ticket for $29.
A Standing Ovation for Our Amazing Supporters
By Elyse Partee, development project specialist at Walton Arts Center
As a nonprofit organization, we could not operate without the generous support of many community members and business partners. That generosity has been cause for extra celebration recently as several supporters of Walton Arts Center have been honored with prestigious awards acknowledging their commitment to the arts.
Kelly and Marti Sudduth were selected by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northwest Arkansas Chapter, to receive the 2023 National Philanthropy Day outstanding philanthropists award. This award honors the Sudduths’ unwavering support, including over a decade of financial gifts that have made accessible arts programs possible, like the annual Artosphere Arts + Nature Festival. They also provided leading support for the 2016 expansion of the Walton Arts Center building.
Tony Waller received the patron award at the 2024 Governor’s Arts Awards, which honors significant philanthropic contributions to the arts in Arkansas. A member of Walton Arts Center’s Board of Directors and Corporate Leadership Council for over 10 years, Waller has provided key leadership and inspired millions of dollars in individual and corporate giving, benefitting accessible arts education initiatives.
Also honored during the 2024 Governor’s Arts Awards was General Mills, whose Rogers team has been a strong corporate partner of Walton Arts Center for 21 years. They have provided more than $4.8 million in corporate contributions to support arts programs and the 2015 construction of the Walmart AMP.
These awards are an opportunity to express gratitude for the generosity of just a few of Northwest Arkansas’ many philanthropic community leaders who give to and support powerful arts experiences.
3M Proudly Supports Walton Arts Center
Kelly & Marti Sudduth
General Mills Team
Tony Waller
Sustainability
Sustainable Operations for the Good of All
Sustainability is a value that permeates our organization and our day-to-day operations. When you are responsible for managing two large venues, you quickly realize the value of a good recycling program.
By establishing some key partnerships and making a few operational changes, the Walmart AMP has been able to divert thousands of pounds of food, glass and mixed recycling away from local landfills each season. These efforts include prebatching cocktails to reduce waste, working with the venue’s food and beverage team to make sure glass is cleaned and separated, recycling at the pit entrances when artists request drinks be decanted and picking up recyclables separately from trash after each show.
that was made possible by our sustainability partners, Alff Construction and Reynolds Consumer Products. One show achieved 87% waste diversion and each of the additional shows achieved 91% waste diversion.
Glass recycled this season at the AMP totaled 21,182 pounds, up from last year’s total of 14,850. Food waste collected totaled 7,436 pounds, almost four times as much as last year. Mixed recycling collected (paper, plastic, aluminum and cardboard) totaled 53,568 pounds.
Our staff calls Northwest Arkansas home and wants to keep it a great place to live for everyone. Each year we mobilize staff members for trash pick-up along our trail system in Fayetteville. Staff has the opportunity to participate in four clean-ups annually, and 20-30 employees volunteer their time to help each year. We do
Experience the Uncharted
10x10 Arts Series Brings Artistic Innovation to Northwest Arkansas
Walton Arts Center’s 10x10 Arts Series is an intriguing and innovative showcase of performances, meticulously curated to satisfy the artistic curiosity of our Northwest Arkansas community. This collection of 10 shows invites everyone to venture into uncharted artistic territories, to explore and try something new! The best part? All tickets are only $10.
10x10 Arts Series performances come to life with post-show creative conversations with the artists – allowing you to dive deeper into their work and background. Audience members are also encouraged to give their feedback about each performance via hand-written Post-it® notes that are collected after the show and shared with the artists and the programming team.
Drum Tao
Tuesday, March 12, 7pm
Drum Tao brings their high-energy show back to Northwest Arkansas after more than nine years. Powerful drums combine with the physicality of the performers and the beautiful melody of the Japanese shinobue (flute), koto (harp) and syamisen (guitar), creating a spectacle for the senses.
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Friday, April 26, 8pm
Artosphere Festival Orchestra 10x10 Concert
Tuesday, May 14, 7pm
Show Underwriter: Anton & Linda Myers
Take 6
Friday, April 12, 8pm
Receiving praise from luminaries including Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and Quincy Jones, the multi-Platinum® a cappella sextet Take 6 has collaborated across genres and toured the globe with their funky grooves that bubble into an intoxicating brew of gospel, jazz, R&B and pop. Don’t miss their Northwest Arkansas debut as the 2024 VoiceJam A Cappella Festival Headliner!
Show Underwriter: Ellis & Kay Melton
There are no drums, pianos, backing tracks or banjos. No pitch shifters or electronic trickery. Only an astonishing revelation of the richness of sound afforded by seven ukuleles and singing (and a bit of whistling). Join us for “an evening of sheer entertainment” ( The New York Times) through different musical genres, from ABBA to ZZ Top, Tchaikovsky to Nirvana, Lady Gaga and occasionally a Spaghetti Western.
Talented young musicians from around the world come together in Northwest Arkansas for an inspiring music-making experience performing under the baton of Maestro Corrado Rovaris for the final time. Enjoy refreshing interpretations of your favorite orchestral works filled with shimmering strings, rippling woodwinds, percussive crescendos and more during the annual Artosphere Festival.
Support for Maestro Corrado Rovaris provided by:
Reed & Mary Ann Greenwood
Show Underwriter:
Peter B Lane & Barbara Putman
360 ALLSTARS
Tuesday, May 21, 7pm
A phenomenal physical performance exploring all forms of rotation, 360 ALLSTARS connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus with BMX, basketball, breakdancing, beatboxing, acrobatics, drumming and more.
Artosphere Festival Orchestra Take 6
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Drum Tao
360 ALLSTARS
Did You Know?
Performing arts bring us together, entertain and inspire. From teachers to veterans to four-legged friends, the arts give us a chance to connect and build community. Just in the last season at Walton Arts Center and the Walmart AMP we…
Offered 820 complimentary tickets to 17 local nonprofit organizations through our Take A Seat Program, giving students, families and others from underserved communities the opportunity to experience live entertainment.
Hosted three American Red Cross blood drives with entertainment provided by local musicians, and collected 53 units of life-saving blood
Cleaned more than 300 blankets left behind at the Walmart AMP and donated them to animal rescues and facilities serving the unhoused in Bentonville, Rogers, Fayetteville, Siloam Springs and Huntsville.
Gave 2,730 tickets to veterans to attend shows at the Walmart AMP and Walton Arts Center through Vet Tix.
Hosted 375 individual teachers from 10 different school districts through our professional development programs. Those teachers went on to impact 9,375 students during the school year.
Hired 11 local musicians to perform in orchestras for theatrical performances and showcased 323 works by 80 local and regional artists in the Joy Pratt Markham Gallery.
Hosted more than 400,000 people at a public performance, event or school show between June 2022 and October 2023.
13th
by
Thank You
A special thanks to this year’s Masquerade Ball sponsors, Honorary Chair Tom Ward, and Event Co-Chairs Jessica DuQuesne & Brock McKeel
Additional Sponsors:
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. CORPORATE
Presented
American Red Cross Blood Drive
Take A Seat Program
Blanket Donations
Vet Tix
The SoNA Season Continues! Resident Affiliate Spotlight
Great Music That Pushes Beyond Barriers and Expectations
Fresh on the heels of three sold-out holiday performances in December and a bold kickoff to 2024 with The Great Unknown in January, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) continues its 2023-24 mainstage season at Walton Arts Center with more performances in February and April.
Under the baton of Music Director Paul Haas, SoNA’s 2024 concert lineup continues on February 17 with Defying Expectations, a concert featuring music that, well, defies expectations. On the evening’s program, SoNA will perform what is potentially the greatest piece of music you’ve never heard: Louise Farrenc’s Symphony No. 3. This work — and the rest of Farrenc’s output — was lost to many until recently due to the music world often ignoring and dismissing female composers. “We are thrilled to be able to bring this outstanding and passionate music to patrons, some 177 years after Farrenc wrote it in 1847,” says SoNA Music Director Paul Haas.
SoNA musicians will also perform Darius Milhaud’s Le Bœuf sur le toit, which despite its name is not about a cow or an ox on a roof – it’s the music written for Jean Cocteau’s farcical pantomime about a nonexistent speakeasy in America during Prohibition, performed for the first time in Paris in 1919. “Milhaud’s score is kaleidoscopic in color, with multiple keys and tonalities jostling with each other for supremacy,” Haas says. “And it’s just plain fun, featuring incredibly virtuosic passages for the entire orchestra, all the way through.”
Rounding out the Defying Expectations program, Winona Fifield, SoNA’s esteemed concertmaster will perform Max Bruch’s beloved and romantic Violin Concerto in G Minor, a piece that was a big success despite being written early in the composer’s career. “It’s a rare treat to hear our esteemed concertmaster play a concerto,”
says Haas. “And I’ve been looking forward to playing the Bruch with her for ages. Winona is one of those rare musicians who grips your heart with her playing, and I know everyone in the audience is going to feel like they’ve witnessed something truly extraordinary.”
Next, on April 6, SoNA concludes its mainstage season with Ode to Joy: Beethoven’s Ninth. Through this program, SoNA will honor the 200th anniversary of the world premiere of perhaps THE most famous piece of orchestral music ever written: Beethoven’s towering Ninth Symphony – the first symphony ever to feature vocalists and a chorus. It was judged to be the greatest symphony ever when it was composed in 1824 – so great, in fact, that Brahms famously avoided writing his first symphony for decades, scared to death of the comparison with Beethoven’s masterpiece. The sung text is taken from the German poet Schiller’s “Ode to Joy,” a paean to what used to be referred to as the “Brotherhood of Man,” but which is now better understood as the vast interconnectedness of the entire human species. Lofty ideas and unforgettable music. The spirit of the work truly is an “ode to joy” and will leave listeners feeling uplifted, connected, and awed by the ability for music to highlight the best aspects of our shared humanity.
Single ticket prices for SoNA’s mainstage performances range from $36 to $61, 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
with Collective Soul & Edwin McCain
JUNE 26 New Kids On The Block with Paula Abdul & DJ Jazzy Jeff
JULY 30 Sarah McLachlan with Feist
JULY 6 The Doobie Brothers with The Robert Cray Band
JULY 19 KIDZ BOP LIVE 2024
SEPTEMBER 6 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert featuring members of SoNA
SEPTEMBER 10 Creed with Daughtry & Finger Eleven
SEPTEMBER 17 Rob Zombie & Alice Cooper with Ministry and Filter
OCTOBER 5 Melissa Etheridge & Jewel
Night Out Series
Backcombing Hairspray for Familiar and New Audiences
By Jack
How is it that the creation of certain theatrical events seems as unfeasible as mining uranium on Mars, and others rush by with the blitheness of an afternoon at Disneyland? And what distinguishes one event from the other?
I suppose if we knew the answer, all musicals would be as energized and filled with joy as Hairspray is. I know it must have happened. I was there when the balloon went up, but to define exactly what it was that produced the alchemy of an eight-time Tony ® winning best musical that has been beloved around the world is beyond my powers of analysis.
I do know that the chicken came before the egg; in other words, each of us, Jerry Mitchell, Tom Meehan and Mark O’Donnell, and that array of gifted designers were all borne instantly aloft by the brilliance of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s breathtaking score. This was an instance when one listened to the very first musical cut offered for consideration, and before Tracy had finished her first “oh…oh…oh…” one was irretrievably hooked. If only the rest of the score could be anywhere near that good!
It wasn’t, of course. It was even better! And that template, that footprint for innocence, sass and foot-tapping contained in this remarkable score suffused every single collaborator and every moment in the rehearsal hall, and finally permeated that out-of-body experience we later were able to identify as our Seattle try-out.
Oh yes. Alchemy, I believe, involves the perfect blend of secret ingredients, like the Coca-Cola formula, lost somewhere in the mists of time. In this case, the music, the lyrics, the book and the world created by David
Rockwell, William Ivey Long and Ken Posner were fueled by the secret weapon others would have to identify as perpetual motion. We learned to call it Jerry Mitchell, and the zip – the faster-than-light and lighter-than-fast stepping he created – gave us the beat you can’t, according to Tracy and her gang, stop.
So we don’t stop that beat, and we don’t stop smiling as we obey it. And to this day, although I still don’t fully understand how it happened, I’m awfully glad it did.
John Waters’ Devil’s Advocate
Wednesday, May 1, 7pm
Tickets start at $25
Hairspray
Friday, May 3 at 8pm Saturday, May 4 2 and 8pm
Sunday, May 5, 2pm Tickets start at $50
This spring, Northwest Arkansas audiences have a special opportunity to hear from the creative force behind Hairspray. John Waters, original creator and director of the 1988 movie that started it all, is bringing his comedy special Devil’s Advocate to Walton Arts Center. So you can come experience Waters in all of his comedic glory and then celebrate 34 years of Hairspray on stage.
Series Sponsor:
O’Brien, director of the 2002 Broadway musical
John Waters
Show Underwriter for Hairspray : Brett & Kara Biggs
Clockwise: Caroline Eiseman as Tracy Turnblad and Company in Hairspray. Ashia Collins, Leiah Lewis and Kynnedi Moryaé Porter as The Dynamites. Caroline Eiseman, Greg Kalafatas as Edna Turnblad and Company. Photos by Jeremy Daniel.
Spotlight on the Corporate Leadership Council
Behind the scenes, a group of 30 business leaders is making a difference at Walton Arts Center and beyond. The Corporate Leadership Council plans and helps promote fundraising events that support arts education programs, impacting over 30,000 students and educators in Northwest Arkansas each year.
CLC members Jessica Duquesne with The Hershey Company and Brock McKeel with Walmart, co-chairs of the 13th annual Masquerade Ball fundraiser, guide the event in partnership with honorary chair Tom Ward, executive executive vice president and chief e-commerce officer at Walmart U.S. By serving on the CLC, Duquesne and McKeel have committed their time and talents to Walton Arts Center’s mission, showing how corporate partners can be champions for the arts in Northwest Arkansas.
Kyle May, director of development at Walmart AMP, sat down with Duquesne and McKeel to find out why they volunteer their time to support Walton Arts Center.
What’s been your favorite Walton Arts Center or Walmart AMP show and why?
McKeel: Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Walton Arts Center and the Avett Brothers at the Walmart AMP were chances to introduce my parents to both venues, and they became new fans. My favorite aspect of any show is making new memories with friends and family; memories are what last a lifetime.
Was there any specific reason that led you to serve on CLC?
Duquesne: Arts have always been a big part of my life. My parents always shared their love for it with my sister and me. I have seen firsthand the impact that it makes in people’s lives – art changes the way we see the world.
Why did your company decide to support Walton Arts Center’s CLC?
McKeel: Our company is always focused on saving money to live better. As you think about living better, our children and the arts are so key to the community, and I wanted to do my part to contribute back to both.
What do you think arts organizations can learn from businesses or vice versa?
Duquesne: Creativity, innovation, out-of-the-box thinking and the importance of fostering a vibrant culture are immediately some practices that come to mind.
What have you learned about Walton Arts Center while serving on CLC?
McKeel: The impact it has on the schools and their ability to provide a way for kids who may have never experienced the arts. My spouse is a teacher and sees firsthand the joy art brings to children. I can see that access has made a profound impact.
What do you see as the biggest contribution that CLC brings to Walton Arts Center?
Duquesne: The CLC is a very influential group of professionals that share the same love of the arts and understand the benefits of providing arts access to all children. They are a critical connection to the community and to sharing the mission of Walton Arts Center.
For more information on how your business can impact the arts, contact Kyle May at kmay@waltonartscenter.org.
Brock McKeel
Jessica Duquesne
Guests at Masquerade Ball
artlook® Connects Local Schools to Community Arts
Walton Arts Center and CACHE joined forces in 2022 to launch artlook ® in Northwest Arkansas. The map-based online tool is a one-stop shop for information about arts education and resources in Washington, Benton and Madison counties, and with a year of data, artlook is giving us a better picture of the state of arts education in local schools.
The goal of artlook is to increase access, equity and quality arts programs in every public school and grade in Northwest Arkansas. artlook facilitates this by providing easy access to information about the arts education environment, allowing users to explore and download information about both the schools and the community-based arts 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 their schools.
Arts education still has room to expand in Arkansas, but we have already seen growth since last year. artlook data shows that local schools reporting any instructor or administrator having artsspecific development during the school year has grown 9% since 2022.
Most elementary schools participating in the program report that they have an arts teacher. At 62% of reporting elementary schools in the program, one arts teacher serves between 251-500 students. For 34% of participating schools, that ratio is one arts teacher to 250 or fewer students.
From 2021 to 2023 there’s been a 16% increase in schools interested in partnering with an arts organization. Schools are particularly interested in using these partner organizations to supplement their programs, and of those, 11% are interested in
visual arts, 6% want more music programming and 5% each want more media arts or theatre arts.
And the good news is there are arts organizations available to help these schools. artlook includes 35 approved arts partners who offer a total of 59 programs that range from literary arts to theater and visual arts.
The goal of artlook is to increase access, equity and quality arts programs in every public school and grade in Northwest Arkansas.
We’ve already started to see those connections being made between schools and arts organizations. Gentry Schools recently reported and booked a month-long art exhibit with the Art Gallery at the NWA Mall. They needed a gallery space for student art shows and connected with the gallery through artlook.
artlook has also connected local schools with funding for various arts programs, including music, theater, painting and more. “The money sent to us this year went for scripts and royalties for our introduction to theater class play, Our Place, and for our spring school play, The Audition,” said Van Stewman, a Lakeside Jr. High teacher. “We’ll use what is left over for a little paint for our sets. This money has meant so much for our kids. We don’t have a budget, so our only money comes from donations and what little we can bring in for admission.”
Explore artlook today at nwarkansas.artlookmap.com and see how this platform can bridge the gap between arts providers and places where arts are needed.
artlook is made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.
REGENERATING OUR COMMUNITIES.
At General Mills, we put the people we serve and the planet we depend on at the heart of our business. We’re proud to advance impactful sustainability work with many partners.
In 2023, we joined forces with Walmart to help accelerate regenerative agriculture across 600,000 acres by 2030.
The collaboration seeks to support farmers to help improve soil health, water quality, and carbon sequestration across the Northern and Southern Plains areas. Together, we are creating a regenerative future.
