Texarkana Entertainment Blog

Saturday morning there will be a reception for the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s 23rd Annual Adult Regional Juried Exhibition with a ceremony and announcement of winners ’round noon. Like local art? Check it out and meet some local artists.

I visited the gallery space today and enjoyed much of the work. There are great pieces by familiar faces like Cindy Holmes, Carol Flori, Polly Cook, Nicole Brisco and others, plus some new artists in there, as well. At just under 50 works displayed on the first and second floors at the Regional Arts Center, it’s a little scaled back from other regional juried shows I have seen at the RAC, but there is great depth and quality to be found. For one thing, I’m always amazed at the quality of light in Carol Flori’s pieces. We’ll have an advance story next week; if you like local art, you should get down and see the exhibit. It’s there until Aug. 20.

- Aaron Brand

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Officials with the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council announced the 2011-2012 Perot Theatre Series last night at a membership party. After a disappointing turnout for ticket sales this past season, TRAHC is hoping to ramp up sales for its upcoming show series at the venerable, ever-elegant Perot.

They’ve gone for musicals, acrobats, the ballet and Elvis for the new season. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s on tap for the year:

Oct. 11 (Tuesday) – The National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China

Dec. 8 (Thursday) – “Miracle on 34th Street”

Jan. 21 (Saturday) – “Elvis Lives”

Jan. 30 (Monday) – Moscow Festival Ballet’s “Cinderella”

March 3 (Saturday) – “Clifford the Big Red Dog”

March 9 (Friday) – “Young Frankenstein”

April 14 (Saturday) – Ed Asner as “FDR”

Chinese acrobats in a cirque-style show. A Christmas miracle musical with a charming, heartfelt story. A three-Elvis extravaganza with the King through the decades. A timeless, classic story set to ballet. A TRAHC family musical starring a lovable red pooch. The stage version of a popular Mel Brooks-directed screwball comedy. And a great veteran of the stage and screen (who will be giving a master class to local theater students). Oh, and local band Jawbone will be playing a TRAHC benefit show in August at the Perot Theatre.

What do you think?

- Aaron Brand

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Catching up here on some odds and ends, some this and that.

1) For any writer, a chance for word play and silly puns is welcome, and so on that note let’s talk about the PurpleHull Pea Festival coming up in Emerson, Ark., this weekend. Writing about this festival, which is so unique, is always fun, in part because the self-described “Pea-R” man for the festival is so enthusiastic about the job. The festival is also a real slice of life for Southwest Arkansas. The main festival day is this Saturday, and if you have a tiller you’re invited to bring it with for the Million Tiller Parade. As that “Pea-R” man himself, Bill Dailey, observed, they were even one million tillers short one year. Hopefully, tiller time will be living larger this year. There’s also a pea shelling competition (that wows in the spectators), a cornbread and peas cook-off (which is increasing in popularity), tractors and the actual rotary tiller race (kids division too). More info: PurpleHull.com.

2) We’ve written about composer and Texarkana native Clint Needham before, particularly the exciting composition he was commissioned to write for the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra. Needham was also commissioned to write a new piece for the 2011 Mizzzou New Music Summer Festival, specifically for the musicians in the ensemble Alarm Will Sound. The festival runs July 11 through July 16 in Columbia, Mo. Congrats to the busy and productive Needham!

3) Randy Sam’s Outreach Shelter will benefit from an acoustic guitar concert benefit show this Saturday, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Cabe Center of First United Methodist Church. It’s a $5 donation to see the show. Scheduled to perform are Mark Meadows, Paul Capps and other guests.

4) Tomorrow, Thursday, brings the annual TRAHC announcement of the upcoming Perot Theatre series season lineup. TRAHC will announce what shows are coming to the Perot during its membership party, starting at 6 p.m. in the Regional Arts Center. I’m looking forward to it.

- Aaron Brand

Youngsters compete in the kid's division of the World Cup PurpleHull Pea Shelling Competition in this photo courtesy of Bill Dailey.

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I’ve seen four juried student art exhibits at the Regional Arts Center during my time as the Gazette’s arts and entertainment reporter, and this year’s exhibit is the best I’ve seen. The 19th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit has roughly 130 works displayed through June 11, and I encourage local arts lovers to get down and see it.

Middle school to high school students from all over the area submitted their best efforts and show both great imagination and solid technique at work. Among the exhibit works you’ll find a human figure on a swing set, copper-colored assemblages and layers of dripping, colorful paint. There are some interesting experimental pieces and impressive representational works alike to be discovered on the three Arts Center floors housing the exhibit. Truly an eclectic mix.

Admission is free. See tomorrow’s Gazette for full coverage of the exhibit, including a winners list. Below are snapshots of three works I really enjoyed seeing.

- Aaron Brand

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I’m catching up on a couple news and notes items that I’ve meant to jot down here on the blog.

Klipsch will continue its Klipsch Music Festival held in conjunction with its annual pilgrimage tour for Klipsch speaker fans. This year’s second annual music fest on Saturday, June 11, has five bands set to play, according to the festival Website, with an emphasis on country, rock and blues. Jason Helms Band, Liquid Kitty, Hazy Jayne, The Night Hawk Band and Black Water are tapped to perform. Helms and Hazy both played the festival last year. Free is the exact price of admission and the public is invited to come on out to Fair Park in Hope, Ark., to enjoy the festivities. Live music kicks off at 3 p.m. and the stage show runs until around midnight. It’s all ages. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for cozy seating.

The 19th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit kicks off this Saturday at the Regional Arts Center with a noon reception. The exhibit runs through June 11 and shows off the many artistic talents and visions of young, local artists in the schools. I think year in and year out, to be honest, the kids give their elders a run for their money at this show (which is typically followed by the adult juried show exhibition). Sometimes kids have an imagination more unbridled than their adult counterparts, making for some interesting art. Check it out if you can.

- Aaron Brand

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TRAHC’s reader’s theater event,”Voices of Freedom: Overcoming Barriers,” is coming up Thursday with a performance starting at 6 p.m. at the Regional Arts Center downtown. Six historically significant and fascinating Americans will be explored in dramatic monologue fashion. They are baseball player Jackie Robinson, singer Lena Horne, civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, educator Mary McLeod Bethune, author James Weldon Johnson and sculptress Edmonia Lewis. What a collection of great people! I’ve been able to see two of the performances so far and TRAHC’s African American committee has impressed me each time. The crew of amateur actors and actresses puts their heart and soul into this more casual theatrical entertainment, and the focus is on the words, the storytelling and the power behind them. If you can catch it, go see it; I highly recommend it.

- Aaron Brand

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Inspired by Elle Woods of “Legally Blonde” and her little pooch pal Bruiser, TRAHC is hosting a Best Dressed Bruiser Contest downtown at the ArtsPark on Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. to noon.

It’s a free “best dressed” competition for any dolled-up canine who wishes to participate.  To sign up, just bring your dog’s name and your name, their tricks and your tricks (if you have some) to registration that morning. TRAHC asks that you keep the dogs on a leash. It’s recommended you bring your own lawn chair too.

What’s the big prize? Beyond the glory it’s two tickets to see “Legally Blonde the Musical” at the Perot Theatre and a doggie grab bag.

In conjunction with the contest are animal adoptions taking place courtesy of the ARTEX Animal League, Texarkana Animal League and Texarkana Humane Society. In addition, wildlife rehabilitator and animal expert Lori Anderson will bring Toby the Tortoise, a nine-year-old African Desert Tortoise who has his own Facebook page called Toby’s Tales to educate people about different animals and wildlife in our world.

More info: 903-792-8681. The ArtsPark is located at the corner of 4th and Main streets.

- Aaron Brand

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While it’s not quite spring (it is oh so close, though), there’s always time for spring break and that’s as great a time as any for some art.

During the week of March 14 to 18, TRAHC is hosting art activities for kids 6 to 10 at its downtown Arts on Main building right across from the Perot Theatre. “Art Springs: Marching into Art” is a celebration of African drums, dancing and Jamaican music. Kids will make fun stuff like drums, masks, rainsticks and maracas. Get those beats and rhythms rolling.

“Art Springs” goes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday of that week and from 10 a.m. to noon that Friday. The cost is $125 and scholarships are available. For more info, get in touch with Mary Armstrong at the Regional Arts Center: 903-792-8681 or marmstrong@trahc.org.

- Aaron Brand

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Anyone walking into the Perot Theatre this morning may have thought they stepped into the thick forests of western Uganda.

The calls of monkeys, slithers of snakes and sounds other African critters were recreated through the singing of Samite, his mesmerizing kalimba and his percussionist’s rhythmic drumming. Samite got nearly 1,400 kids to wiggle in their seats, stand up and dance, bebop and bob their heads, and sing something approximating “Whoooaaa whoa whoa!!”

“Can I hear some monkey sounds?” Samite asked of the local students. They obliged with gusto.

A former political refugee who grew up in Uganda, fled to Kenya, and came to the United States in the 1980s, Samite helped establish Musicians for World Harmony. A talented photographer who shared his photographs of mountain gorillas, he mentioned his tough past but also discussed the power of the musician to make people happy or sad. And though his drummer is from Senegal and their home country’s primary languages are different, Samite and his drummer connect precisely through what kids experienced today.

“We’re able to communicate through music,” Samite said. Important lessons from someone who said he started learning music at the same age as the kids who were listening to today’s performance. Many of his songs come to him in dreams and it can take him four months to learn them.

Samite encouraged the kids to tell their parents about Saturday night’s show at the Perot Theatre. (Samite plays at 7:30 p.m. as part of TRAHC’s Perot Theare series.)

“Let’s make your parents dance,” he said.

- Aaron Brand

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Last night’s Celtic Crossroads show at downtown Texarkana’s historic Perot Theatre was thoroughly enjoyable and at times rousing with its mix of both traditional Irish music and tunes with a bit of a twist. Celtic Crossroads just arrived in the U.S. and made Texarkana the first stop on their “World Fusion” tour of North America.

Taking the idea of the crossroads beyond the traditional Irish meeting place, these young musicians also performed compelling numbers with a jazzier, folkier and bluegrassier vibe to them. While much of the traditional material was nearly ethereal in its beauty, the fiddle was furious and the banjo was rolling. Particularly lovely was Amy McAllister’s work on Irish harp and her spellbinding rendition of the U2 song “With or Without You.” Also extra impressive was Diarmaid Hurley’s work with the bodhrán, a traditional Irish drum worked with both hands. Great traditions reimagined by young, smart musicians. Kudos to the Crossroads crew and to TRAHC for bringing them to town.

- Aaron Brand

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