ENTERTAINMENT NOTES: ‘Raisin in the Sun’ opens this week at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

THEATER

‘Raisin in the Sun’

Three generations of a family on Chicago’s South Side struggle to retain dignity amid a harsh and ever-changing world in “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry. Fayetteville’s TheatreSquared, 477 W. Spring St., opens its production on Wednesday in its West Theatre, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 15. Tickets are $30-$68. Call (479) 777-7477 or visit theatre2.org/raisin-in-the-sun.

The cast includes Dominic Daniel as Walter Lee Younger, Jaquai Wade as Beneatha Younger, Kathy Tyree as Lena Younger, Vanessa R Butler as Ruth Younger, Judah Asher as Travis Younger, Tony King as Joseph Asagai, Jordan Williams as George Murchison, Justin Fletcher as Karl Lindner and Justin Stewart as Bobo.

Murry’s ‘Steel Magnolias’

Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, opens its production of Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” on Wednesday, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (12:30 p.m. Wednesday matinees only, Aug. 21, 28 and Sept. 4) and 12:45 and 6:45 p.m. Sunday. Emory Tyson Molitor plays Truvy, with Lexi Brooks as Annelle, Verda Davenport Booher as Clairee, Sarah Ring Nichols as Shelby, LeighAnn Ralston as M’Lynn and Natalie Canerday as Ouiser. The buffet opens 90 minutes before curtain time. Tickets (including meal and show): $42-$44, $30 for children 15 and younger; $30 show only. Call (501) 562-3131 or visit murrysdp.com.

    “Balcony View,” “Dora’s Hands” and “Mister Jones,” black-and-white photographs by Valaida Fullwood and Charles W. Thomas, are part of “Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited,” opening Thursday Aug. 22 at Little Rock’s Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette)
  

ART & EXHIBITS

‘Giving Back’

“Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited,” a touring exhibition of narrative and black-and-white photography from Valaida Fullwood and Charles W. Thomas that “explores the Black American experience with philanthropy and elevates giving traditions grounded in faith, mutuality, responsibility and social justice,” according to a news release, opens Thursday at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St., Little Rock. The exhibition is in partnership with the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative. August is Black Philanthropy Month.

Grand-opening events start with a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m., followed by a Soul Kitchen tasting event, featuring samples from Arkansas Black-owned restaurants and caterers, at 6. Admission is free.

The exhibit, a “reimagining” of the book “Giving Back,” illuminates Black philanthropy through “innovative and interactive presentations — photographic prints on metal, digital apps with music, animation, poetry, photography, film and more,” according to the release.

The exhibit remains up through Dec. 3. Admission is free. Center hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Visitors can share their stories of giving and contribute to “reframing portraits of philanthropy.” And the cooperative and the Cultural Center will host a “Soul Series” of educational and social programming while the exhibition is on display. Visit theabpc.org/tsop.

White ink, black paper

“draw (verb): new work by Clark Valentine,” about a dozen drawings, made with white ink on black paper, by Valentine, assistant professor of drawing in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Art and Design, opens Monday in the Ann Maners and Alex Pappas Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art + Design at UALR, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock.

The exhibition will remain up through Sept. 15 with a 5-7 p.m. reception Aug. 29 in the Windgate Center. Admission to the exhibition and the reception is free. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Call (501) 916-5117 or email byoung2@ualr.edu.

    University of Arkansas at Little Rock alumna Courtney Wilson is part of the most recent cohort of the university’s artLAUNCH program. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/courtesy of Courtney Wilson)
  

‘artLAUNCH’ alumni

UALR has selected five alumni as its 2024-25 recipients for artLAUNCH, a program to help alumni artists jumpstart their art careers:

◼️ Emma Chambers, a 2023 graduate with a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting, who will be mentored by Nate Willever

◼️ Bailey Holley, a 2024 graduate with a bachelor of fine arts degree in ceramics, who will be mentored by Amanda Salov

◼️ Courtney Wilson, a 2024 graduate with a bachelor of fine arts degree in ceramics, who will be mentored by Tip Toland

◼️ Emily Reynolds, a 2024 graduate with a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration, who will be mentored by Shane McDermott

◼️ Annika Shunn, a 2022 graduate with a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration, who will be mentored by Jamie Wolfe.

They will present their work in an exhibition at UALR during the spring 2025 semester.

The program, funded by a grant from the Windgate Foundation, is open to UALR School of Art and Design students who have graduated within the past five years. The recipients receive a $11,200 financial award that can be used for anything that allows the recipients to concentrate on creating studio work, including equipment, materials, travel and artist residency and workshop fees.

FILM

War horse documentary

The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, screens “The Waler: Australia’s Great War Horse,” 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, part of its “Movies at MacArthur” series. The documentary looks at the more than 130,000 Australian horses that served in World War I, 1914-18, known as “Walers.” Admission, popcorn and soft drinks are free. Call (501) 376-4602.

    Karin Slaughter will discuss “This Is Why We Lied,” the latest thriller in her Will Trent series, Thursday Aug. 22 at the Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave., Little Rock, under the aegis of the Central Arkansas Library System. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette)
  

AT THE PODIUM

Thriller author

Author Karin Slaughter will discuss “This Is Why We Lied,” the latest thriller in her Will Trent series, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave., Little Rock, under the aegis of the Central Arkansas Library System.

Slaughter is the author of more than 20 bestselling novels, including the Edgar Award-nominated “Cop Town.” The Will Trent novels have been translated into an ABC television series (streaming on Hulu in the United States and Disney+ internationally).

In “This Is Why We Lied,” the 12th book in the series, GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton are newlyweds honeymooning at a remote lodge “until a bone-chilling scream cuts through the night,” according to a news release. “With a storm outside and a murderer on the loose, (they) are on high alert. As they begin to investigate, they realize everyone here is lying.”

Admission is free; the first 250 people in line for the discussion will receive books, although registration does not guarantee a book will be available. Register at tinyurl.com/yafmvxmh.

Rutherford expounds

James L. “Skip” Rutherford III, political “animal” and the emeritus dean of the Clinton School of Public Service, shares tales and experiences in Arkansas and the Arkansas/national politics for Potluck and Poison Ivy on Thursday at The Joint, 301 Main St., North Little Rock. Doors open 6 p.m. Tickets, $35, include a box dinner. Visit potluckandpoisonivy.org.

ETC.

National Register training

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will hold a training session on the National Register of Historic Places — providing information on the register and on how to complete a nomination form — at 9 a.m. Sept. 14 at the headquarters of Arkansas Heritage, 1100 North St., Little Rock. The session is limited to 20 participants. Register with Ralph S. Wilcox, national register and survey coordinator and deputy state historic preservation officer for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program; call (501) 324-9787 or email ralph.wilcox@arkansas.gov. For more information on the National Register of Historic Places, visit arkansasheritage.com/arkansas-preservation/properties/national-registry.