ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Matilda the Musical’ in Pine Bluff; quartet plays ‘Neo-Soul’ and Taylor Swift by candlelight | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

THEATER

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., Pine Bluff, stages “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical” (music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, book by Dennis Kelly adapted from Dahl’s novel), 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and July 26-27 and 2 p.m. Sunday and July 28 in the center’s Catherine M. Bellamy Theater. Sponsor is Simmons Bank. Tickets are $25, $20 members and senior citizens 65 and older. Call (870) 536-3375 or visit artx3.org/theater.

MUSIC

Candlelight concerts

Lit only by hundreds of candles, the Listeso String Quartet performs “Neo-Soul Favorites,” featuring songs by Prince, Childish Gambino and others, for the first of two Candlelight performances, 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the William Grant Still Ballroom at Little Rock’s Robinson Center, 426 W. Markham St. at Broadway.

And at 8:45 p.m. in the same venue, the quartet pays “A Tribute to Taylor Swift.”

Tentative program for the 6:30 performance — Prince: “Purple Rain”; Lauryn Hill: “Ex-Factor”; Alicia Keys: “You Don’t Know My Name”; Sade: “Smooth Operator”; D’Angelo: “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”; Childish Gambino: “Redbone”; Frank Ocean: “Thinkin Bout You”; Boyz II Men: “The End of the Road”; Miguel: “Adorn”; SZA: “Good Days”; H.E.R.: “The Best Part”; Erykah Badu: “Tyrone”; and Solange: “Don’t Touch My Hair.”

For the Taylor Swift tribute: “Lavender Haze,” “Love Story, “Cardigan,” “Blank Space,” “Enchanted,” “Anti-Hero,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “All Too Well,” “Wildest Dreams,” “Lover,” “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “You Belong With Me.”

Attendees must be 8 or older; anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets for both shows are $30-$55; for the “Neo-Soul” show, visit tinyurl.com/5t4htf6t; for the Taylor Swift show, visit feverup.com/m/135218.

ART & EXHIBITS

‘Dovetail Purses’

“Dovetail Purses,” handmade purses by New Orleans-based artist and writer Jennifer Dove Cooper, are on display through Sept. 15 at ESSE Museum & Store, 1510 Main St., Little Rock. Cooper has sculpted purses from recycled materials including egg cartons, old checkbook covers, water bottles, clothing scraps, baby food containers and items she found on the ground in her neighborhood; many of the pieces were inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Cooper’s jewelry, ornaments and decor are for sale in the museum store. Admission is $10, $8 for students, senior citizens and military. Call (501) 916-9022 or visit essepursemuseum.com.

    Mixed media works on paper by Brad Cushman, a ceramic goat figure by Yelena Petroukhina and “Ronaldo McDonaldi,” an oil painting by Keith Runkle, go on display Saturday at Boswell Mourot Fine Art, 1501 Main St., Little Rock. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette)
  

SoMa gallery show

New mixed media on paper works by Brad Cushman, ceramic goats and wreaths by Yelena Petroukhina and hyper-realistic oil paintings by Keith Runkle go on display with a reception, 6-9 p.m. Saturday at Boswell Mourot Fine Art, 1501 Main St., Little Rock. The show remains up through Aug. 10. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday or by appointment. Admission is free. Call (501) 454-6969.

    “Give us your blessing” by Michael Shaeffer is part of the “Getaway Car” installation of paintings, drawings, photographs and artifacts collected by, inspired by the road trips he took with his late mother during his childhood, going on display Friday at the Argenta Library in North Little Rock. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette)
  

Argenta Library show

“Getaway Car,” an installation of paintings, drawings, photographs and artifacts collected by Michael Shaeffer, inspired by the road trips he took with his late mother during his childhood, opens Friday with a 5-8 p.m. Argenta Art District Third Friday Art Walk reception at the Argenta Library, 420 Main St., North Little Rock. The exhibition remains up through Aug. 9. Admission to the gallery and the reception are free. Library hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call (501) 687-1061 or visit NLRlibrary.org.

‘Sidewalk’ sale

Art Group Gallery, in the Pleasant Ridge Town Center. 11525 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, is holding its annual Sidewalk Sale, but inside the air-conditioned gallery, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Call (501) 690-2193 or visit artgrouparkansas.com.

Art & Flower Show

The River Valley Arts Center, 1001 E. B St., Russellville, hosts its second Art & Flower Show, 6-8 p.m. Friday in its Main Gallery. Area florists create arrangements to complement pieces of submitted art, including paintings, drawings, pottery, a large handmade doll “and even a couple of decorated Viking shields,” according to a news release. There’s a $100 prize for best in show. Admission is free. Call (479) 968-2452 or visit rivervalleyartscenter.org.

TICKETS

‘Bluey’s Big Play’

“Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show,” a live version of the Disney Junior/Disney Channel/Disney+ animated preschool series, returns, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2-3, to Little Rock’s Robinson Center Performance Hall, 426 W. Markham St. at Broadway. (Bluey is a 6-year-old Blue Heeler dog who loves to play and turns everyday family life into extraordinary adventures that unfold in unpredictable and hilarious ways, according to a news release.) Tickets are $24-$89, an additional $55 to join the VIP Meet ‘N Greet. Call (501) 244-8800. Visit CelebrityAttractions.com or Ticketmaster.com.

    “Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show” returns Oct. 2-3, to Little Rock’s Robinson Performance Hall. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/PhotoCo)