Weekend Entertainment Roundup for July 11, 2024

Here’s the latest Weekend Entertainment Roundup from Eric E. Harrison, culture reporter at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

THEATER

A cast of more than two dozen is kicking off its Sunday shows in the musical “Footloose” at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St., Little Rock, with a final preview at 7 p.m. today, opening night at 8 p.m. Friday and performances 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday through July 28. Music is by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, with a book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, based on Pitchford’s screenplay for the 1984 film. (501) 378-0405; TheRep.org

Actors Theatre of Little Rock has opened its production of “Chicago” (music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Ebb and Bob Fosse), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday through July 27 at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1600 Louisiana St., Little Rock. The production is in “immersive” and in the round, meaning the action — in a 1920s jazz-club setting — occurs within and surrounding the audience, allowing some audience members to join in. The theater group is rating the show PG-13 for material “which may not be suitable for all audiences,” including sexual content, strong language, gun use and death. actorstheatrelr.org/tickets

“Jersey Boys” (music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice), the origin story of the Four Seasons, is currently onstage through Aug. 17 at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock. (501) 562-3131; murrysdp.com

Five actors are playing nearly 40 characters in the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre/Shake on the Lake Theatre co-production of a shortened version of William Shakespeare’s “Henry V,” 7 p.m. today and Sunday outdoors at Hendrix Village, 1705 Altus, Conway; and indoors at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday in the Amerine/Calhoun Glass Box, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, and 7:30 p.m. Monday in Arkansas Tech University’s Witherspoon Auditorium, 407 W. Q St., Russellville. For the Little Rock shows: arkmfa.org

And Benton’s Young Players are staging “Sister Act Jr.” (music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner with additional material by Douglas Carter Beane, based on the film), 7 p.m. today-Saturday and July 18-20 and 2 p.m. Sunday and July 21 at the Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market St., Benton. TheRoyalPlayers.Ticketleap.com

MUSIC

Not exactly the weekend, unless your weekend is longer than most, but Cage the Elephant, with opening acts Young the Giant and Baker and Willow Avalon, are in concert at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Walmart AMP, 5079 W. Northgate Road in Rogers. amptickets.com

ART & EXHIBITS

The Old State House, 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock, will hold a second opening reception for its current exhibit, “Music in Focus: The Lens of Art Meripol,” as part of 2nd Friday Art Night, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday. Meripol will visit with guests and discuss his body of concert photography; he will also conduct additional gallery talks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. oldstatehouse.com

“Oil and Water,” oil and watercolor paintings on paper and panel by Stephen Lanford, goes on display with a 5-7 p.m. reception Friday (including music and refreshments) in the Parish House Gallery at Christ Episcopal Church, 509 Scott St., Little Rock. The exhibition remains up through Sept. 30.

And the “Delta Triennial,” painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, an installation and even an audio piece by 39 artists from Arkansas and six surrounding states, remains on display through Aug. 25 at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. 9th St., Little Rock. (501) 372-4000; arkmfa.org

Tune in every Thursday at 4:44pm to hear Eric’s roundup for arts and culture events in Central Arkansas during All Things Considered on Little Rock Public Radio.