This is a sponsored post by Wild River Country. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.
As a new teacher, I’ve relished in my first summer break since I was in college (long, long ago). My kids and I have just been hanging out, having playdates, visiting family, and enjoying lots of pool time. So for my last week of freedom (my school starts mid-July), we decided to go to Wild River Country again. Quinn, Maya, Lucy (Maya’s friend) and I hurried out the door, and we were the first in line to get in when the gates opened at 10 a.m.
This post is sponsored by Pop Pop Shoppe, but all opinions here are my own.
Without fail, every December I wait until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts for everyone besides my kids. (They always get clothes because KIDS GROW.) I did however remember teacher gifts in advance this year (hallelujah!). Since I have three kids at home now with 12 teachers between them, I went the cheap-but-yummy route with four homemade cookies per teacher wrapped in clear little bags and a “teachery” printable I found on Pinterest.
But alas, Christmas is just around the corner, and there are people that I want to give a little something-something without spending a fortune — like the postman who braves the crazy Arkansas weather six days a week to bring us the mail or my sweet friend down the street who will come over in her jammies for a glass of wine just to hear me moan about life or catch up on our busy days. Luckily a new shop recently opened in Midtown Little Rock called the Pop Pop Shoppe.
Pop Pop Shoppe is located in the Park Avenue Plaza next to Target. The owners started with a store in Texarkana, TX, and just opened this Little Rock location back in October. They offer fresh, high-quality gourmet popcorn along with specialty foods like fudge and cinnamon-sugar almonds. But their assortment of popcorn is what makes this store so much fun! I mean, who doesn’t want to sample more than 25 flavors of popcorn ranging from plain butter to “cornferno”?!?!
Right now they have gourmet popcorn gift baskets already made up, so all you have to do is stop by and buy a few. Their prices are super reasonable too.
They also have specialty tins if you have a sports fan or just want a jumbo tin of popcorn. They can fill it with any of the flavors.
If you’re out Christmas shopping (or really anytime you are near University and Markham in Little Rock), you should stop by and get a bag of “Hot n Yummy” Chicago-style popcorn (a combo of the cheddar and caramel popcorn). IT IS SO GOOD.
Another cool thing that they do is fundraisers for schools and non-profits— and they make it really fun and easy. For more info on their fundraisers, check out their website or give them a call.
Now for the exciting GIVEAWAY part — enter here Dec 17-19.
The winner MUST be able to pick up the prize from the Little Rock Pop Pop Shoppe location (address below). Prize can not be shipped to the winner, so I recommend that only folks in Central Arkansas participate. Winner will be selected by random drawing and announced on December 20. Good luck!
Pop Pop Shoppe
416 S. University Ave, Suite 130
Little Rock, AR 72205
THE STUDIO THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF
Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
DECEMBER 1-18, 2016
DATES AND TIMES
Performances are December 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 2016
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances (December 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10,
15, 16, 17) will begin at 7:30pm
Sunday matinees (December 4, 11, 18 ) will begin at 2:30pm
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $25.00 for general admission.
Tickets are $20.00 for Seniors (65+), Military, and Students.
Tickets are $15.00 for children 12 and under.
There are no assigned seats at The Studio Theatre.
The box office will open at 6:30pm on performance dates and the house
will open approximately 20 minutes prior to curtain. Tickets may be purchased at eventbrite.com
We highly recommend that tickets be purchased in advance, as we
cannot guarantee availability at the door.
The Lobby Bar is open before and after the show and during intermission.
This production is rated G.
THEATRE LOCATION & CONTACT INFORMATION
THE STUDIO THEATRE
230 W. 7TH Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501.374.2615
Follow The Studio Theatre on social media:
@StudioTheatreLR (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter)
THE STUDIO THEATRE’S AUDITIONS BY APPOINTMENT FOR BONNIE & CLYDE – The Musical November 12 &13, 2016
DATES AND TIMES
Auditions appointments are available:
Saturday November 12 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Sunday November 13 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm
AUDITION INFORMATION
Auditions will be conducted by appointment only.
Those auditioning are encouraged to bring a head shot and resume, if
available, with them to auditions.
Those auditioning should prepare 32 measures in the style of the show.
Please bring sheet music for accompanist. Vocal range will also be checked. After singing, some auditionees may be asked to read selected sides from the show.
Appointments can be made by emailing studiotheatreauditions@gmail.com.
ABOUT OUR PRODUCTION
Bonnie & Clyde will be directed by Hannah M. Sawyer with music direction by Bob Bidewell.
Bonnie & Clyde has music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black, and book by Ivan Menchell.
Performances will be February 9-12 and 16-19, 2017. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm. Company read-through and meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 17, 2016. All other rehearsals will begin Tuesday, January 3, 2017.
SYNOPSIS
At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town nobodies in West Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes and Texas law enforcement’s worst nightmares. Fearless, shameless and alluring, the Tony-nominated Bonnie & Clyde, from the legendary Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, Civil War, Dracula) is the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire country. When Bonnie and Clyde meet, their mutual cravings for excitement and fame immediately set them on a mission to chase their dreams. Their bold and reckless behavior turns the young lovers’ thrilling adventure into a downward spiral, putting themselves and their loved ones in trouble with the law. Forced to stay on the run, the lovers resort to robbery and murder to survive. As the infamous duo’s fame grows bigger, their inevitable end draws nearer. Bonnie & Clyde is a thrilling and sexy musical with a non-traditional score combining blues, gospel and rockabilly music.
ROLES AVAILABLE
• Clyde Barrow
A charming small-town boy who craves notoriety. Bonnie’s reckless, bold, daring lover.
Gender: Male
Age: 18 to 30
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: A2
• Bonnie Parker
A beautiful girl torn between love and fame. Clyde’s ambitious, stubborn lover.
Gender: Female
Age: 18 to 30
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: G3
• Marvin “Buck” Barrow
Clyde’s brother and an outlaw troubled by his wife’s distaste for his lifestyle. Adventurous and loyal.
Gender: Male
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: B2
• Blanche Barrow
A religious woman who disapproves of the criminal lifestyle. Honorable and righteous. Married to Buck Barrow.
Gender: Female
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: G3
• Cumie Barrow
A kind woman among those suffering in the Depression. Loyal andselfless. Mother to Clyde and Buck.
Gender: Female
Age: 40 to 55
• Sherriff Schmid
• Ted Hinton
A police officer struggling to separate his feelings from his duties. Kind and honest. Madly in love with Bonnie.
Gender: Male
Age: 18 to 25
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: C3
• Young Clyde
Gender: Male
Age: 8 to 13
Vocal range top: A5
Vocal range bottom: B3
• Young Bonnie
Gender: Female
Age: 8 to 13
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: C#4
• Emma Parker
Bonnie’s widowed mother. Fragile, caring, sensitive.
Gender: Female
Age: 40 to 55
• Preacher
The town’s evangelist. Loud, passionate, boisterous.
Gender: Male
Age: 45 to 65Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: A2
• Henry Barrow
A hard-working man, struggling to survive. Humble and quiet.
Father of Clyde and Buck.
Gender: Male
Age: 45 to 55
• Governor Miriam Ferguson
An enforcer of the law and Governor of Texas. Tough and harsh.
Gender: Female
Age: 40 to 60
• Captain Frank Hamer
A retired Texas Ranger who joins the hunt for Bonnie and Clyde.
Recruited by Governor Ferguson.
Gender: Male
Age: 45 to 65
• Bob Alcorn
The best sharpshooter in Texas. Recruited by Frank Hamer, he helps hunt down Bonnie and Clyde.
Gender: Male
Age: 30 to 45
Ensemble Store Clerks; Cops/Guards; Bank Customers; Choir; Bread Line
Folks
THEATRE LOCATION & CONTACT INFORMATION
THE STUDIO THEATRE
320 W. 7TH Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501.374.2615
thestudiotheatre@gmail.com
follow us on Social Media:
@StudioTheatreLR
(Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat)
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The Mercy Seat has also been produced in London, Lima, and Rio de Janeiro.
The Mercy Seat premiered Off-Broadway at the Acorn Theatre in an MCC Theater production on December 18, 2002, and closed on January 15, 2003. Directed by LaBute, the cast starred Liev Schreiber and Sigourney Weaver. It was both a commercial and critical success (it sold out for the length of its run).
The TheatreMania reviewer wrote: “…this 100-minute, intermissionless piece may not be the author’s most soul-searing, it’s the one in which the characters seem the most human.”
SYNOPSIS
Set on September 12, it concerns Ben, a man who worked at the World Trade Center but was away from the office during the attack, with his mistress, Abby, who is also his boss. Expecting that his family believes that he was killed in the towers’ collapse, Ben contemplates using the tragedy to run away and start a new life with his lover.
THE MERCY SEAT CREATIVE TEAM
Play by
Neil Labute
Directed & Designed by
Michael Goodbar
THE MERCY SEAT CAST
Abby
Patrice D. Phillips
Ben
Brandon Nichols
THEATRE LOCATION & CONTACT INFORMATION
THE STUDIO THEATRE
230 W. 7TH Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501.374.2615
Follow The Studio Theatre on social media:
@StudioTheatreLR (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter)
(LtoR) Jenny Moses, John Michael Murphy, Kayla Walker
THE STUDIO THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF
JAMES and the GIANT PEACH
AUGUST 11-21, 2016
DATES AND TIMES
Performances are August 11, 12 (Special Performance), 13, 14, 18,19, 20, 21, 2016
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances (August 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21) will begin at 7:30pm.
Sunday matinees (August 14 and 21) will begin at 2:30pm.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $25.00 for general admission.
Tickets are $20.00 for Seniors (65+), Military, and Students.
There are no assigned seats at The Studio Theatre.
The box office will open at 6:30pm on performance dates and the house will open approximately 20 minutes prior to curtain.
Tickets may be purchased at Eventbrite. We highly recommend that tickets be purchased in advance, as we cannot guarantee availability at the door. The Lobby Bar is open before and after the show and during intermission. The show is rated PG.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE AUGUST 12
On Friday, August 12, “James and the Giant Peach” will host a special performance, in which a portion of ticket sales will be donated to Project Zero. Tickets for this one night only even are $35 for adults, $25 for students/seniors. Additional donations will also be accepted.
Project Zero Mission statement:
The goal of Project Zero is to raise awareness about adoption through the state foster care system with the ultimate goal of finding a forever family for every child that is waiting.
Also, throughout the run of the show, a bin will be available for patrons to donate school supplies toThe Call in Pulaski County.
Needed Items:
• New mesh backpacks
• Mead Composition Notebooks
• mechanical pencils
• Other school supplies are also accepted.
The CALL is a locally-founded, statewide nonprofit that recruits, trains, and supports the needed Christian foster and adoptive families for children in foster care in Arkansas. The CALL’s vision is to achieve no waiting children in foster care in Arkansas.
ABOUT THE SOURCE MATERIAL
James and the Giant Peach was Roald Dahl’s first classic novel for
children. Although The Gremlins is sometimes referred to as an earlier example of his writing for children, James was Dahl’s first conscious attempt to write for a younger audience after several years of writing primarily adult short stories. Dahl started writing James and the Giant Peach in 1959 after encouragement from his agent, Sheila St Lawrence. In the orchard at Dahl’s home there was a cherry tree. Seeing this tree made him wonder: what if, one day, one of those cherries just kept on and on growing bigger and bigger? From giant cherries Dahl also considered ever-increasing pears and even apples, but eventually settled on a giant peach as the method for James’ magical journey.
The book was first published in 1961 to glowing reviews and marked the beginning of Dahl’s prolific career as a children’s author.
SYNOPSIS
When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach… and launches a journey of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach, among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities, but after it falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James’ quick wit and creative thinking, the residents learn to live and work together as a family. The dangerous voyage is a success, but the adventure takes a whole new twist once they land on the Empire State Building.
THE STUDIO THEATRE
320 W. 7TH Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501.374.2615
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @StudioTheatreLR
We highly recommend that tickets be purchased in advance, as we cannot guarantee availability at the door.
The Lobby Bar is open before and after the show and during intermission.
Rated R for language, adult humor, and suggestive clothing.
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION INFORMATION
Tickets for the Grand Opening Celebration (July 8, 2016) are $50 and include a catered cocktail buffet and an open bar (beer and wine) from 6:00 pm-7:30 p.m. Following the show, a champagne toast with the cast and crew will end this amazing evening!
The show is designed to be a hybrid experience that lies somewhere between rock concert and musical theatre. During the performance, the performers directly address the audience.
On July 1, 2009, the cast set a new Guinness World Record for the Largest Air Guitar Ensemble. A total of 810 participants, including audience members and fans, shattered the previous record of 440 people playing air guitar simultaneously.
SYNOPSIS
It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strip’s last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock and roll fairy-tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip–and themselves–before it’s too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer.
ROCK OF AGES CREATIVE TEAM
Music Arranged & Orchestrated by
Ethan Popp
Book by
Chris D’Arienzo
Director
Justin A. Pike
Music Director
Chuck Massey
Assistant Director
Tanner Oglesby
Chorerographer
Sara Adams Reynolds
Stage Manager
Beth Ross
Assistant Stage Manager
Jennifer Jackson Restum
Scenic Design
Justin A. Pike
Lighting Design
Joey DiPette
Costume Design
Trent Reese
Production Assistants
Tye Davis
Antwon Staton
Shawn O’Brien
Rachel Brown
ROCK OF AGES CAST
SHERRIE CHRISTIAN – Bridget Davis
DREW BOLEY – Micah Patterson
LONNY BARNETT – Michael Goodbar
DENNIS DUPREE – Danny Troillett
STACEE JAXX – Adam Smith
JUSTICE CHARLIER – Leiloni Brewer
HERTZ KLINEMANN – Harold Dean
FRANZ KLINEMANN – Benjanmin Mills
REGINA MCKAIG – Gabi Baltzley
MAYOR/JA’KEITH – Jeremiah James Herman
JOEY PRIMO – Michael Smith
WAITRESS/CONSTANCE SAK – Hannah Fairman
WATRESS/YOUNG GROUPIE – Brooke Melton
WAITRESS – Molly Rosenthal
WAITRESS – Reagan Hammonds
WAITRESS – Casey Labbate
PIT SINGERS
Tamara Murry Boggs
Cole Chandler
Mikala Hicks
Luke Johnson
THEATRE LOCATION & CONTACT INFORMATION
THE STUDIO THEATRE
320 W. 7TH Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
I’m not 100% paleo — yet. But I really do feel better eating this way, website like this and I have found a number of delicious recipes that I can make on the regular and not get bored. Here are a few of my favorites lately (mostly from Melissa Joulwan from the Well Fed cookbooks):
Red Curry with chicken and carrots (or whatever I have on hand)Brussels Sprout Hash
For snacks, pharmacy sliced carrots with guacamole is my go-to the past few weeks. I found little individual containers of guacamole at Sam’s that are perfect to take to work with my baggie of sliced carrots. I have also discovered that I like sliced whole carrots better than baby carrots. I find them sweeter and more flavorful. Other items I like to keep on hand are eggs, sweet potatoes, avocados and apples.
Here is a link to my Pinterest board where I park many of the gluten-free and paleo recipes that I find.
I still totally fail on occasion — like yesterday when I made a BREAD pudding. But hey, my family was happy.
THE STUDIO THEATRE’S OPEN AUDITIONS FOR DOUBT – A Parable by John Patrick Shanley
JUNE 18-19, link
2016
DATES AND TIMES Auditions will be held:
June 18 at 1:00pm
June 19 at 6:00pm
Auditions should last no longer than two hours each day.
Callbacks, if necessary, will be held June 20, and those called back will be notified by email.
AUDITION INFORMATION Auditions will not be conducted by appointment.
Auditions will consist of cold reading from the script.
Head shots and resumes are not required, but are strongly encouraged.
ABOUT OUR PRODUCTION Performance dates are September 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 2016.
Rehearsals will begin August 15, 2016.
The production will be directed by Bob Bidewell.
We are looking for a cast of 4 diverse actors to fill the following roles:
Sister Aloysius Beauvier – fifties/sixties
Father Brendan Flynn – late thirties
Sister James – twenties
Mrs. Muller – African American, mid-thirties
ABOUT John Patrick Shanley’s DOUBT Time/Place: 1964. Place: St. Nicholas, a Catholic church and school in the Bronx, NY. In 2005, it won the Drama Desk for Best New Play, the Lucille Lortel for Outstanding Play, the NY Drama Critics Circle for Best Play, the Pulitzer Price for Drama, and the Tony Award for Best Play.
SYNOPSIS “What do you do when you’re not sure?” So asks Father Flynn, the progressive and beloved priest at the St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx, in his sermon. It’s 1964, and things are changing, to the chagrin of rigid principal Sister Aloysius. However, when an unconscionable accusation is leveled against the Father, Sister Aloysius realizes that the only way to get justice is to create it herself. And as for the truth of the matter? As Father Flynn says, “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.” In stunning prose, John Patrick Shanley delves into the murky shadows of moral certainty, his characters always balancing on the thin line between truth and consequences. Doubt: A Parable is an exquisite, potent drama that will raise questions and answer none, leaving the audience to grapple with the discomfort of their uncertainties.
THEATRE LOCATION & CONTACT INFORMATION THE STUDIO THEATRE
320 W. 7TH Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501.374.2615
studiotheatreauditions@gmail.com
www.thestudiotheatre-lr.org
Conversation with author Garrard Conley – May 24 (see info below)
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Bridge to the Future Festival
On May 21, 2016, the Clinton Center, along with partners Hippy Arkansas and Special Olympics Arkansas, will host the Bridge to the Future Festival, a free community festival that encourages students to read throughout their summer break and will include fun activities for kids, and literacy, health, and safety resources for parents. The free festival is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Clinton Presidential Park
According to extensive research, all students experience some level of “summer learning loss” or “summer setback” while on summer breaks. Some students are more effected by the summer break than their peers. Some quick facts:
Students score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do at the beginning of summer vacation.
Students who see the biggest drops in test scores are already in higher-risk low-income groups.
“Summer setback” has a cumulative effect and can follow students through high school.
Educators, on average, spend four-to-six weeks re-teaching material that was lost during the “summer setback.”
Activities for families: –Free books from the Reading Is Fundamental “AR Kids Read” program
–Crafts and coloring activities, including making a book
–Appearances by Cookie Mouse and Curious George
–Story time
–Central Arkansas Library System library card applications
–Writing activities with Foreign Tongues Poetry Troupe
–“Commitment wall” encouraging students to commit to reading throughout the summer
–Puppet shows
–Fire safety demonstrations
–Flag Football and the Young Athletes Program
–Face painting and bounce houses
–Free vision screenings for children provided by North Little Rock and Little Rock Founder’s Lions Clubs
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Arkansas Author Returns Home for Book Tour
The Clinton Center is proud to host a conversation with Garrard Conley, author of the soon-to-be-released memoir, Boy Erased, on May 24 at 6 p.m. The son of a pastor in Arkansas, Conley writes about his experience at a church-supported conversion therapy program to be “cured” of his homosexuality after he was outed to his parents at the age of nineteen.
What does summer sound like to you?
DATES AND TIMES
ABOUT THE PLAY
SYNOPSIS
The Clinton Center is proud to host a conversation with Garrard Conley, author of the soon-to-be-released memoir, Boy Erased, on 