HOPE, Ark.-The Southwest Arkansas Arts Council and Hempstead Hall have announced the next season of shows they'll bring to the theater stage.
SWAAC's director, George Smith, calls it one of the busiest seasons in the arts agency's history.
"With our partnership with Hempstead Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, the council has one of the best show schedules in our 32 years serving the artistic needs of Southwest Arkansas," Smith said in a statement about the season.
SWAAC President John Hollis sees a season lineup with shows that "reach across the spectrum of those that enjoy stage productions." There's something for everyone, he says.
"We are hitting all of the music classics-from American folk music of the Leatherwoods, to the iconic pop and soul sounds of the "Masters of Soul," to the aura of the Arkansas Symphony," Hollis said. "Children of all ages can delight at classics of children's literature from 'Peter Pan' (on ice, no less!) to 'Snow White,' 'The Tortoise and the Hare,' and 'The Emperor's New Clothes.' The Southwest Arkansas Arts Council is pleased to partner with the beautiful Hempstead Hall in fulfilling its mission to bring community enrichment through experience, expression, and education in the arts."
The 2018-2019 season starts with The Leatherwoods, a Mountain View, Ark.-based touring group who come to Hempstead Hall for a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, Sept. 23. They'll help the county commemorate a year-long celebration.
"The Leatherwoods will help celebrate Hempstead County's bicentennial with a performance of gospel songs, old tunes of the South and folk dance tunes that offer a glimpse into the history of folk music in Arkansas," Smith said.
They play instruments like the guitar, mandolin, autoharp and dulcimer, and a clogger performs as part of the group. Look for them to also perform a student show at 10 a.m. the next day.
Next up is the show "Masters of Soul" on Saturday, Oct. 22, start time 7:30 p.m., which brings what Smith calls a show that includes "joyous, madcap, romantic, movin', groovin' pop and soul classics that changed the landscape of American music."
This Motown-inspired concert features a live band, six singers included. Expect to hear songs from Smokey Robinson, The Supremes and James Brown during the evening.
Following up that show of soulful hits will be the classic tale of "Snow White," which hits the Hempstead stage at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, brought to town as a touring show.
A week later on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., Hempstead Hall will be filled with the seasonal sounds of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra performing Christmas music. It's a concert that Smith expects to sell out, so he encourages people to get tickets early.
Geared toward school groups but open to anyone who wishes to attend, "The Tortoise and the Hare and Other Turtle Tales" is performed Wednesday, Jan. 23, starting at 10 a.m. Likewise, "The Emperor's New Clothes" at the same time on Tuesday, April 2, is a school show open to all. It actually rounds out the year's offerings.
"We strive to include student performances and this year's series is a wonderful opportunity for families to attend together," said Dolly Henley, director at Hempstead Hall.
After the Christmas holiday comes a world premiere gliding along the Hempstead stage, and that's "Peter Pan on Ice," which retells the classic about Peter Pan and his cohorts as an ice skating tale. It will be staged on Friday, Feb. 22, starting at 7 p.m.
(Look for tickets to be available soon at HempsteadHall.com.)