Texarkana Entertainment Blog

And it was remarkably fun with strange critters and elaborate flora slithering, standing and dancing around the colorful stage. There was plenty of daring-do and blood-pumping action that inspired gasps and applause from the audience. Here I’m thinking particularly of a gravity-defying balancing act involving tables and what looked to be various metal cylinders. It was incredible and dramatic. The aerial acrobatics were impressive for both the athletic form shown and the choreography that set performers flying into the air. The kids in the audience looked mesmerized. The frogs and ostriches were really fun and provided plenty of humor. Kudos to the Cirque Dreams folks, TRAHC and the Perot Theatre crew. Looked like a packed house too. 

- Aaron Brand

TRAHC’s season will move from “Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy,” staged tonight at the Perot Theatre, to a group of Texas brothers for Valentine’s Day. Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers take the stage that February day at the Perot (the 14th, just in case you need a reminder). I had a chance to talk with Larry earlier this week and he said he and the boys are about to have a Curb Records release out within the next few months. I have more on tomorrow’s Accent page. 

- Aaron Brand

Submitted photo: 

Steve, Rudy and Larry Gatlin.

Next up for Texarkana Repertory Co. is “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” a gripping thriller for the stage. Director Michael Cooper calls  it a “very dark comedy thriller” for mature audiences. Set in an Irish town, it follows a mother and daughter who live unhappily with each other. The daughter, 40 years old, finally has a chance to leave home and from there the plot unfolds in a most dramatic way. It plays at Texarkana College’s Stilwell Theatre Feb. 6,7, 13 and 14 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 8 and 15 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students, seniors and TexRep members. Reservations: 903-831-7827. Down below is a rehearsal shot from Wednesday night. See Friday’s Accent page in the Gazette for the story. 

- Aaron Brand 

Staff photo by Tanner Spendley: 

At least two Black History Month concerts are coming up soon to celebrate African-American contributions to music—each dealing with different eras and styles of music composition:

1) The Lonoke Baptist Church Choir, the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, and Texarkana Regional Chorale will team up for a concert on Sunday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m. at the Lonoke Baptist Church in Texarkana, Ark. Traditional African-American classical compositions will be performed with music from, among others, Undine Moore, William Dawson, Moses Hogan and William Grant Still. Poetry will also become a part of the festivities. 

2) The “Second Time Around Band” plays Monday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m., at the Pleasant Grove Performing Arts Center. On tap for what’s also known as the Texarkana Community Band is music from Count Basie, Billy Strayhorn, Sonny Rollins, and Earth, Wind & Fire. They’ll also perform a Motown medley. Joining them will be the Josh Lawrence trio; they will get some Miles Davis brewing on stage. 

Both events are free. 

- Aaron Brand

I caught a bit of the festivities Sunday night with the Screen Actors Guild Awards show. A couple thoughts: 1) Brad Pitt is starting to look a bit like Clark Gable with that faint mustache; 2) The “Slumdog Millionaire” win for best ensemble cast should bode well for the Oscar run-up. It’s not a lock, though. 

It was also nice to see James Earl Jones, one of the truly great and captivating voices and actors (not to mention full of class), be honored with a lifetime achievement award. I had no idea “Dr. Strangelove” was his first film. (He played a pilot.) 

- Aaron Brand

Photo courtesy of the SAG: 

Yesterday I sat down at Merfeld’s Bread Co. to talk with Jonathan Elder, a young Texarkana fella who has some infectious energy and real talent with the ukulele. Yes, the ukulele. He combined his happy attitude with his musical chops to fare well (third place) in an international ukulele promotion contest, the 2008 Bushman World Ukulele Video Contest. Here’s the video and a snapshot;he came into the office and gave an impromptu concert from the photo studio. Stay tuned to the Accent page for a story soon. 

- Aaron Brand

Staff photo by Megumi Rooze: 

Texarkana resident Jonathan Elder recently placed third in an international online video contest that promotes ukuleles.

Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant, Texas, is getting some talented singers stopping by to perform. Earlier this month, the Whiffenpoofs from Yale University shared their a cappella talents. Now it’s the Harlem Gospel Choir, slated to perform at NTCC’s Whatley Center on Saturday, Feb. 7. Singers from Harlem’s very own churches are in the group, and the touring group coming to Texas has nine singers and two musicians along for performances. More than 40 members are in the full choir. Founded in 1986 by Allen Bailey, the Harlem Gospel Choir has performed with a diverse selection of musicians, such as Lyle Lovett and Harry Belafonte. More info on the choir: harlemgospelchoir.com. 

Tickets ($30 for adults and $10 for NTCC students and those 17 and under) and info: 903-434-8181 or ntcc.edu/whatley. 

- Aaron Brand

Submitted photo: 

For the last Saturday of the month, Music City Texas will prep the stage for talented musicians in the area. MCT holds its Spotlight Series Talent Show final competition on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m., featuring thee local men who are up for the top prize. Two Linden performers, Blake Hall and Kevin Lee, and Seth Parker from Atlanta are competing for Spotlight Series Champion. You can vote on the winner. A few former contestants will also perform: Jlynn Adams, John Dylan, Rodney Williams, and Daniel Jones. Tickets: $10. Doors open at MCT at 5:30 p.m.. For more information, check out MCT’s Website at musiccitytexas.org or give them a call at 903-756-9934. 

Also on tap soon at Music City: on Feb. 7 it’s Battle of the Bands with Mark Cooke and the Cooke County Band, Framed, and The Blackwater Band; and on Feb. 21 it’s the Winter Bluegrass Show with Hickory Hill Band and Acousticatz. 

- Aaron Brand

For Sunday Accent this week, among other things we have a story on the Harlem Globetrotters planned. Check Sunday’s Gazette to learn about the history of this esteemed hoops team. 

Down below, Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain makes a slam dunk. He played with the team before embarking on an incredible NBA career. 

- Aaron Brand

Photo courtesy of Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc.: 

That’s how the nominees shape up for the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” earned 13 nominations while “Slumdog Millionaire” garnered 10, both landing nods for the Best Picture category. Other nominees for that most coveted award are “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” and “The Reader.” I still think “Slumdog” has the upper hand (and have predicted it will win on this blog), but that many noms (and Brad Pitt’s great performance) make “Button” a powerhouse. Despite the bleak setting and some brutal sights, “Slumdog Millionaire” is essentially a romantic, life-affirming film about destiny, the kind of film perfect for big Oscar. But “Benjamin Button” is artful and masterful, weird and wonderful, and has hearthrob starpower in Pitt. I’ll root for “Slumdog” but if “Benjamin Button” should win, I’ll be nearly as happy. 

The surefire chatter is bound to bubble over “The Dark Knight” and its lack of a Best Picture nomination. A couple aspects of the film may have barred it from getting a best flick nomination – its massive, mainstream popularity, for one thing, and the fact it’s a pretty bleak and scary film. Heath Ledger, to no one’s surprise, gets a Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination. I believe he’ll win. 

The other categories I’m still pondering. 

A full list of nominees: 81st Annual Academy Awards. 

- Aaron Brand